The world's first mass-production usage of the 7075 aluminum alloy was for the
Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. The aircraft was known for its excellent maneuverability which was facilitated by the higher strength of 7075 compared to previous aluminum alloys. 7000 series alloys such as 7075 are often used in transport applications due to their high
specific strength, including marine, automotive and aviation. These same properties lead to its use in rock climbing equipment, bicycle components, inline-skating-frames and hang glider airframes are commonly made from 7075 aluminium alloy. Hobby-grade
RC models commonly use 7075 and 6061 for chassis plates. 7075 is used in the manufacturing of
M16 rifles for the U.S. military as well as
AR-15 style rifles for the civilian market. In particular high-quality M16 rifle lower and upper receivers, as well as extension tubes, are typically made from 7075-T6 alloy. Desert Tactical Arms,
SIG Sauer, and French armament company
PGM use it for their precision rifles. It is also commonly used in shafts for
lacrosse sticks, such as the STX sabre, and camping knife and fork sets. It is a common material used in competition yo-yos as well. Another application for the 7075-series alloy has been in
connecting rods used in
drag racing engines.
Aluminum rods do not have the
fatigue life of forged steel rods, but have less mass than their steel counterparts, resulting in lower mechanical stress during periods in which an engine is operated under full-throttle, high-RPM conditions. It has also been the standard material for crankcase guards on off-road motorcycles. Due to its high strength, low density, thermal properties, and its ability to be highly polished, 7075 is widely used in mold tool manufacturing. This alloy has been further refined into other 7000 series alloys for this application, namely 7050 and 7020.
Aerospace applications 7075 was used in the
Space Shuttle SRB nozzles, and the
external tank SRB beam in the Inter-tank section. The forward- and aft skirt as well as the
Interstage of the
S-II, the second stage of the
Saturn V was made from 7075.
Applications • Aircraft fittings • Gears and shafts • Missile parts • Regulating valve parts • Worm gears • Aerospace/defense applications • Automotive • Bicycle Chainrings • Bicycle Gearboxes • Archery equipment ==Trade names==