Since 1985 the laboratories of the Materials Division of ONERA have been interested in quasicrystals, which proved to be present in aluminium and lithium based alloys, made by the manufacturer Péchiney....
For example, a new class of magnesium alloys with high corrosion resistance resulting from the development of a self healing passive surface film (like aluminium alloys but with a lower density) has been developed at ONERA....