Duralumin

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/duralumin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the year of commercial introduction?1909
2. What is the strengthening mechanism?Precipitation hardening (age hardening) through the formation of intermetallic copper-aluminum phases
3. Why is Duralumin stronger than plain aluminum?When Duralumin is heated and then cooled, tiny copper particles form inside the metal. These particles stop the metal from bending easily, making it much stronger.
4. How does Duralumin help airplanes fly better?Because it is very strong but still light, airplanes can be built lighter and stronger. This lets them fly faster, higher, and carry more cargo.

Age Hardenable Alloy: A metal alloy that can be strengthened by a heat treatment process that causes precipitation of fine particles.
Precipitation Hardening: A heat treatment technique used to increase the yield strength of malleable materials by forming fine precipitates.
Galvanic Corrosion: An electrochemical process where one metal corrodes preferentially when in electrical contact with another in an electrolyte.