Precipitation hardening stainless steel (PHSS) is widely used in the aerospace field due to its excellent strength, corrosion resistance, and good machinability. This type of material forms fine precipitated phases through heat treatment, significantly improving its mechanical properties while maintaining high toughness. It is particularly suitable for manufacturing aerospace components subjected to high stress, high temperature, and corrosive environments. Here are some typical application examples:

1. Aero-engine Fasteners

Aero-engines have extremely high requirements for the strength and fatigue resistance of fasteners, and precipitation hardening stainless steel (such as 17-4 PH and PH13-8Mo) is an ideal choice due to its high strength and good resistance to stress corrosion cracking. For example, 17-4 PH stainless steel is widely used in the manufacture of turbine blade connecting bolts, engine housing fasteners, etc. After aging treatment, it can achieve a tensile strength of over 1000 MPa while maintaining good toughness, ensuring long-term reliable operation in high-temperature and vibration environments.

2. Helicopter Transmission

System Components: Helicopter transmission systems (such as gears, shafts, and bearing housings) need to withstand high loads and frequent dynamic stresses, while requiring materials with excellent corrosion resistance. PH13-8Mo stainless steel, due to its excellent overall performance, is used to manufacture helicopter main gearbox gears and drive shafts. After precipitation hardening, this material possesses extremely high strength and fatigue resistance, while also resisting corrosion from aviation hydraulic oil and the atmosphere, extending the service life of components.

3. Spacecraft Structural Components

In the aerospace field, precipitation hardening stainless steel is used to manufacture critical structural components such as satellite supports and rocket engine supports. For example, 15-5 PH stainless steel, due to its good weldability and high specific strength, is used to manufacture lightweight load-bearing structures for spacecraft. These components need to remain stable under extreme temperature changes and vacuum environments, and the excellent creep resistance and corrosion resistance of precipitation hardening stainless steel make it an ideal material.

4. Landing Gear and Hydraulic

System Components: Aircraft landing gear and hydraulic system components need to withstand enormous impact loads and high-pressure environments, while requiring materials with high fatigue strength and corrosion resistance. Precipitation-hardening stainless steels (such as Custom 450) are used to manufacture landing gear support structures and high-strength hydraulic line joints. These components, after aging treatment, can achieve strengths exceeding 1300 MPa while maintaining good toughness, ensuring safety and reliability under extreme operating conditions.

5. Turbine Components in High-Temperature Environments

Certain precipitation-hardening stainless steels (such as AM-350 and AM-355) retain high strength at high temperatures, and are therefore used to manufacture turbine disk support rings and high-temperature fasteners for aero engines. These materials maintain good mechanical properties below 600°C while resisting high-temperature oxidation and corrosion, making them suitable for critical components of high-performance aero engines.