Do you need to validate the compliance of your aluminum heat treatments according to MIL-A-6088?
Securing the integrity of aluminum alloys with MIL-A-6088
In the Aerospace, Space, and Defense (ASD) sectors, aluminum heat treatment is a decisive step that gives the material its final mechanical properties. A poorly controlled thermal cycle can lead to embrittlement or increased sensitivity to corrosion, jeopardizing the reliability of your essential parts.
The MIL-A-6088 military specification (now superseded by SAE AMS 2770 or AMS-H-6088, but still widely cited in defense specifications) defines requirements for the heat treatment of aluminum alloys. It imposes rigorous controls on solution heat treatment temperatures, soaking times, quenching media, and aging cycles.
At FILAB, we support manufacturers in the ASD supply chain with the validation and expertise of their alloys according to MIL-A-6088, with a clear goal: to ensure the reliability of your technical and industrial decisions.
MIL-A-6088 requirement: a microstructure and performance challenge
Heat treatment validation according to MIL-A-6088
Compliance with this requirement guarantees that the aluminum has reached the desired metallurgical temper (T4, T6, T73, etc.) without altering material health. FILAB intervenes to verify the success of these transformations.
It is specifically used to:
- Perform metallographic analysis to detect potential signs of "burning" (incipient melting at grain boundaries) or coarse precipitation.
- Verify heat treatment response via hardness measurements and electrical conductivity (Eddy current).
- Analyze recrystallization depth and structure homogeneity.
In the Aerospace and Defense industries, compliance with MIL-A-6088 has a direct impact on:
- Tensile strength and yield strength of components.
- Resistance to Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC), particularly on 7000 series.
- Fatigue life of strategic fuselage and wing components.
FILAB, a laboratory tailored to aerospace & defense requirements
An analytical park dedicated to MIL-A-6088 expertise
Analyzing heat treatment compliance requires high precision in micro-characterization. To meet the requirements of MIL-A-6088, FILAB provides its clients with state-of-the-art tools :
Dedicated material expertise services
At FILAB, analyses according to MIL-A-6088 are part of a production support approach. We work alongside forgers, founders, and heat treaters. Our teams intervene on :
Compliance checks after a doubtful thermal cycle (furnace breakdown, temperature drift)
Process validation when setting up new heat treatment lines
Failure analysis (rupture, premature corrosion) linked to improper treatment
Why choose FILAB?
- 45 years of recognized expertise in analysis and materials science
- Dual competence: Chemistry / Materials
- Specializing in metallic alloys and critical applications
- Customer qualification : Safran, Dassault Aviation, and Framatome
- ISO 17025 Accreditation regarding metallic alloys
Analysis of Iron, Aluminium, Molybdenum, Copper, Tin, Chromium, Titanium, Lead, Nickel, Zinc
Learn moreOur analytical services in accordance with MIL requirements for the ASD sector
Our analytical services based on ISO and ASTM standards for the ASD sector
Our FAQ
MIL-A-6088 is the legacy US military requirement. It has been largely replaced in the civil sector by AMS 2770. However, many drawings and contracts in the defense sector continue to refer to MIL-A-6088. FILAB can perform controls according to both standards.
The most common sign is an anomaly in hardness or conductivity. In case of doubt, metallographic examination is the ultimate tool: it allows for the visualization of abnormal precipitates or local melting of grain boundaries if the solution temperature was too high.
Yes, MIL-A-6088 specifies the importance of the quench rate. Quenching that is too slow can promote intergranular corrosion. FILAB can perform corrosion sensitivity tests to validate the efficiency of the quenching step.
Mainly precipitation hardening aluminum alloys, notably the 2XXX (Al-Cu), 6XXX (Al-Mg-Si), and 7XXX (Al-Zn) series, which are very present in aerospace structures.
To get a quote, you can contact our teams via our contact form, by phone, or by email. Simply send us your requirements (type of material, desired analysis, specific standard, urgency, sample quantity...). We will then send you a personalized technical and price proposal within 24-48 hours.
