Boron-Aluminum materials for aircraft use

[heartofcourage]

Recently I discussed aircraft materials with an engineer and we discussed the now famous carbon fiber materials being used for aircraft construction.

But he mentioned something I never heard about before called Boron-Aluminum which supposedly is an advanced aircraft material. The few resources for layman that I can find mention that is useful for spacecraft as radiation shielding against neutrons and other high energy particles.

Does anyone know what this Boron-Aluminum might be used for in aircraft construction in general aviation atmospheric aircraft? thanks

 

[256bits]

Composite materials have been used to make airplanes since their ( airplanes ) inception, the most classic example being wood. It is just that with experimentation and testing that lighter and stronger materials have come about, along with the data of their performance under working conditions. Nothing really new under the sun. Except methods of fabrication so that larger structures can be safely assembled.

One aircraft, only a test version by Boeing, the Model 60 twin rotor helicoptor used some of the newer developed composites in a multitude of places, and that was as far back as 1987.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_Model_360

Previously though the Tomcat had a composite stabilizer from 1972. Composite skins on certain parts was used on other aircraft, and as failures and successes were noted, the spread of composite parts on aircraft has expanded.
You can get a pretty good synopsis here.
http://www.ae.iitkgp.ernet.in/ebooks/chapter1.html

My thoughts are that the Boron/Aluminium you speak of is a composite material with certain desirable characteristics.
Although, it is not that new, unless something has changed. DC10 had tests in 1977.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19780028164

I suppose you engineering friend did not mention where the new material would be used - fusalage, engine, fan blades.