Definition

1. Noun:
   • An aluminum-based alloy: Duralumin is a strong, lightweight alloy primarily composed of aluminum, with copper as the main alloying element, and often includes small amounts of magnesium and manganese. It is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and was historically significant in aviation and aerospace construction.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The aircraft's frame was constructed from duralumin to reduce weight.
  • Early Zeppelins used duralumin for their structural skeletons.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In materials science and engineering, "duralumin" specifically refers to the family of alloys in the 2000 series (e.g., 2024), which are heat-treatable for enhanced strength.
  • The properties of duralumin make it suitable for highly stressed structural components.

Variants and Related Words

• Duraluminium (n): A less common variant spelling for duralumin.
• Dural (n): A common shortened or informal form of duralumin.

Synonyms

• Aluminum alloy: A general term for any alloy where aluminum is the base metal.
• Light alloy: A broad term for lightweight metal alloys, which often includes duralumin-type materials.

Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Alloy: A substance composed of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal.
• Heat-treatable: Describes alloys whose mechanical properties can be altered by controlled heating and cooling processes.

Noun

1. an aluminum-based alloy