• The strength and light weight of 7075 Aluminum makes it ideal for airplane fixtures.airplane image by Grigoriev Vitalii from Fotolia.com
  
  Aluminum is notable for being a lightweight metal. The alloy Aluminum 7075 is a cold-wrought aluminum product with the highest strength among aluminum alloys. As such, it is commonly used in aerospace, defense and commercial products. Aluminum 7075 is as strong as some lower-grade steel products, with a much smaller weight, making it ideal for aircraft use. Aluminum 7075 is composed of .4 percent silicon, .5 percent iron, 1.2 to 2 percent copper, .3 percent manganese, 2.1 to 2.9 percent magnesium, .18 to .28 percent chromium, 5.1 to 6.1 percent zinc and .2 percent titanium. The remainder is pure aluminum with no more than .05 percent of any individual unlisted element and no more than .15 percent of any combination of unlisted elements, according to the Aluminum Association.
  
  

Machinability

• Aluminum 7075 is rated "B" for machinability on the Aluminum Association's A through F scale. This rating indicates that the alloy can be shaped, chipped and manipulated by machines with ease and durability superior to most aluminum alloys. Because of its strength and flexibility, Aluminum 7075 is often processed into sheet metal or fixtures for use in airplanes, defense equipment and consumer products.
  
  

Corrosion

• The moderate resistance to corrosion offered by 7075 Aluminum is superior to metals of comparable strength such as steel. The alloy is resistant to cracking due to stress corrosion, which is essential to products used in the high stress environments of aircraft and defense equipment. Galvanic corrosion, caused by proximity to other metal types, is a concern for 7075 Aluminum, however.
  
  

Anodizing

• Anodizing is a method of coloring aluminum via an electrolytic bath. Oxygen atoms are dispersed across the metal via electronic charges. Aluminum 7075 responds well to anodizing and can take on either a clear coat or a hard (colored) coat. Anodizing aids the metal in resisting Galvanic corrosion.