Specification Overview
BMS 7-323 is a Boeing Material Specification (BMS) covering high strength, fatigue tolerant, stress corrosion resistant 7050 aluminum alloy plate. Issued by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, this specification defines the stringent material, mechanical, and quality requirements for 7050 aluminum plate used in critical aerospace structural applications. BMS 7-323 material is widely specified for primary aircraft structures where an optimum combination of high strength, fracture toughness, fatigue resistance, and resistance to stress corrosion cracking is required.
7050 aluminum alloy (UNS A97050) belongs to the 7xxx series of high-strength aluminum alloys and is alloyed principally with zinc, magnesium, and copper. The alloy's chemistry and controlled temper conditions (typically T7451, T7452, or T7351) provide an outstanding balance of mechanical properties. The overaged temper conditions deliver superior resistance to stress corrosion cracking compared to peak-aged (T651) tempers, making BMS 7-323 plate the material of choice for thick-section aerospace structural components such as wing spars, bulkheads, and fuselage frames.
Available Product Forms
BMS 7-323 material is supplied in Plate form in the overaged / stress-relieved temper condition per Boeing specification requirements. Custom sizes, thicknesses, and cut-to-size pieces are available upon request. Contact our materials specialists for non-standard dimensions or special processing requirements.
Nominal Chemical Composition
| Element |
Symbol |
Range / Limit |
Notes |
| Zinc |
Zn |
5.7–6.7% |
Primary strengthening element |
| Magnesium |
Mg |
1.9–2.6% |
Secondary strengthening (MgZn₂ precipitates) |
| Copper |
Cu |
2.0–2.6% |
Enhances strength and SCC resistance |
| Zirconium |
Zr |
0.08–0.15% |
Grain structure control; replaces chromium |
| Iron |
Fe |
0.15% max |
Controlled impurity |
| Silicon |
Si |
0.12% max |
Controlled impurity |
| Aluminum |
Al |
Balance |
Base metal |
Chemical composition ranges are nominal per AMS 2014 / Aluminum Association 7050 limits. Consult the current issue of BMS 7-323 for precise Boeing-specific requirements. Aero-Vac provides full mill test reports (MTRs) with certified chemistry for every order.
Key Properties & Specification Details
| Property / Attribute |
Details |
| Specification Number |
BMS 7-323 |
| Issuing Organization |
Boeing Commercial Airplanes (Boeing Material Specification) |
| Material Type |
High Strength, Fatigue Tolerant, Stress Corrosion Resistant Aluminum Alloy Plate |
| Alloy |
7050 (UNS A97050) |
| Typical Tempers |
T7451, T7452, T7351 (Overaged / Stress Relieved) |
| Available Forms |
Plate |
| Typical UTS (T7451) |
~495–510 MPa (72–74 ksi) |
| Typical Yield Strength (T7451) |
~427–455 MPa (62–66 ksi) |
| Density |
2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³) |
| Stress Corrosion Resistance |
Excellent – overaged temper provides superior SCC resistance vs. T651 |
| Fatigue Tolerance |
High – optimized for damage-tolerant structure designs |
| Weldability |
Limited – not typically arc welded in structural applications |
| Certification Available |
AS9100D / ISO 9001, Certificate of Conformance, MTR |
Typical Applications
Commercial & Military Aircraft Structures: Primary structural components including wing spars, wing ribs, fuselage frames, and bulkheads where high strength combined with damage tolerance and SCC resistance is critical.
Wing Skin & Spar Applications: Thick plate sections for upper and lower wing skins, spar webs, and spar caps on commercial and business jet aircraft requiring optimum fatigue and fracture toughness.
Defense & Military Aerospace: Airframe components for fighter aircraft, military transport aircraft, and rotorcraft where the combination of light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance is essential.
Machined Structural Components: Heavy machined parts such as ribs, fittings, brackets, and frames that are machined from thick plate stock and require excellent machinability combined with high structural performance.
Aerospace Tooling & Fixtures: High-strength tooling plates, jigs, and fixtures used in aerospace manufacturing where dimensional stability and strength-to-weight ratio are important.
Related Specifications & Similar Grades