Aerospace

Aerospace materials are subjected not only to high stress and inertial forces but also to shock and cyclic loads resulting from takeoff and landing, engine vibrations, high-speed rotation of components, maneuvering flight, and sudden wind gusts. Exposure to engine exhaust gases and solar radiation places the aircraft in a high-temperature environment. At increasing flight speeds, aerodynamic heating creates a significant thermal barrier, and materials must endure fluctuating temperatures.

During subsonic stratospheric flight, surface temperatures can drop to around -50 °C, with polar conditions falling below -40 °C, causing embrittlement in metal parts and rubber tires. Additionally, fuels such as gasoline and kerosene, along with various lubricants and hydraulic fluids, tend to corrode metals and induce swelling in non-metallic materials. Environmental factors like solar radiation, wind, rain erosion, and prolonged underground storage in humid conditions further accelerate polymer aging.