Aluminum Wrought Alloys
Aluminum Alloys
The initial strength of the non-heat treatable group of alloys depends upon the hardening effects of elements such as manganese, magnesium, silicon, and iron, used singly or in combination. These alloys can be further strengthened only by cold working. Typical uses and characteristics of these alloys are summarized in the following table:
| Alloy | Characteristics | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1100 | Excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, excellent workability, readily welded and brazed | Chemical equipment, spun hollow ware, decorative parts and trim, sheet metal work, cooking utensils, heat exchanger fins |
| 1350 | Developed especially for electrical conductor use | Electrical conductors, coil windings, power transmission systems |
| 3003 | General purpose, moderate strength, good workability and weldability, high resistance to corrosion | Cooking utensils, refrigerator panels, chemical equipment, general sheet metal work, eyelet stock, gasoline tanks, heat exchangers, storage tanks |
| 5005 | Moderate to high strength, good welding properties, good corrosion resistance, forms easily, excellent for anodizing since it exhibits less tendency to structural streaking | Appliances, insulation jacketing, cooking utensils, chemical equipment, small boats |
| 5052 | Excellent resistance to salt water corrosion, good weldability and workability, higher strength than 1100 or 3003 alloys, good finishing characteristics | Home appliances, chemical drums, truck and bus bodies, small boats, sheet metal parts, kitchen cabinets, fencing, fan blades, tank cars and trailers |
| 5086 | Good forming properties, excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments, excellent weldability, stronger than 5052 | Shipyard plate, tanks, unfired welded pressure vessels, auto aircraft cryogenics, drilling rigs |
| Alloy | Characteristics | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1100 | Excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, excellent workability, readily welded and brazed | Chemical equipment, spun hollow ware, decorative parts and trim, sheet metal work, cooking utensils, heat exchanger fins |
| 1350 | Developed especially for electrical conductor use | Electrical conductors, coil windings, power transmission systems |
| 3003 | General purpose, moderate strength, good workability and weldability, high resistance to corrosion | Cooking utensils, refrigerator panels, chemical equipment, general sheet metal work, eyelet stock, gasoline tanks, heat exchangers, storage tanks |
| 5005 | Moderate to high strength, good welding properties, good corrosion resistance, forms easily, excellent for anodizing since it exhibits less tendency to structural streaking | Appliances, insulation jacketing, cooking utensils, chemical equipment, small boats |
| 5052 | Excellent resistance to salt water corrosion, good weldability and workability, higher strength than 1100 or 3003 alloys, good finishing characteristics | Home appliances, chemical drums, truck and bus bodies, small boats, sheet metal parts, kitchen cabinets, fencing, fan blades, tank cars and trailers |
| 5086 | Good forming properties, excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments, excellent weldability, stronger than 5052 | Shipyard plate, tanks, unfired welded pressure vessels, auto aircraft cryogenics, drilling rigs |
Temper Designation for Non-Heat Treatable Alloys
Temper designations for non-heat treatable alloys are indicated by suffixes to the alloy number as follows:
- F As fabricated
- O Annealed
- H Strain hardened
The letter “H” is always followed by 2 or 3 digits. The first digit indicates the particular method used to obtain the temper, as follows:
- H1 Strain hardened only
- H2 Strain hardened, then partially annealed
- H2 Strain hardened, then stabilized
The temper is indicated by the second digit. For instance:
- HX2 1/4 hard
- HX4 1/2 hard
- HX6 3/4 hard
- HX8 full hard
- HX9 extra hard
The third digit, if given, indicates a special control in one phase of the fabricating process. For instance:
- H112 Applies to products which acquire some temper from shaping process not having special control over the amount of strain-hardening or thermal treatment, but for which there are mechanical property limits
- H321 Strain-hardened less than required for controlled H32 temper
- H323 and H343 Specially fabricated for acceptable resistance to stress-corrosion cracking
The initial strength of the heat treatable group of alloys is heightened by the addition of elements such as copper, zinc, silicon, and magnesium, used singly or in combination. These alloys may be further strengthened by a suitable thermal treatment. Typical uses and characteristics of these alloys are summarized in the following table:
| Alloy | Characteristics | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Good machinability, good mechanical properties, excellent freecutting properties | Screw machine products, tube fittings, pipe stems, atomizer and hose parts |
| 2017 | Stronger than 2011, fair workability and corrosion resistance, good machinability | Screw machine products, rivets, fasteners, aircraft components |
| 2024 | High strength, formability and workability is fair, may be spot welded | Aircraft parts, truck wheels, scientific instruments, veterinary and orthopedic braces and equipment |
| 2024 ALCLAD | Cladding provides superior corrosion resistance, good appearance | Aircraft frames and skins, washers, truck bodies, railroad car roofs and sides |
| 6013 | This alloy features B-rated machinability along with improved tensile and fatigue properties | Applications that require improved machinability over 6061 alloys |
| 6020 | A lead free alloy with A-rated machinability. High mechanical properties, excellent anodizing response, excellent corrosion resistance, good brazability and weldability | Screw machine parts |
| 6061 | One of the most versatile of heat-treatable alloys, good formability and high resistance to corrosion, medium strength relative to 2000 or 7000 alloys | Truck and bus bodies, sailboats, canoes, transmission towers, chemical equipment, paper and textile rolls |
| 6063 | High corrosion resistance, medium strength, good natural finish | Irrigation pipe, store fronts, architectural trim, pipe railing, furniture |
| 6101 | Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, used for electrical conductors | High strength bus conductors |
| 6262 | Excellent machinability, good resistance to corrosion, readily welded, good finishing characteristics | Screw machine products, camera parts, fittings, nuts, couplings |
| 7050 | This alloy retains its strength in thicker sections while maintaining good corrosion resistance and toughness | Aircraft applications including fuselage frames and bulkheads |
| 7075 | One of the strongest and hardest alloys available, good machinability, fair corrosion resistance, excellent finishing characteristics | Aircraft, ordnance, keys, small gears |
| 7075 ALCLAD | Provides strength of 7075 with superior corrosion resistance from cladding | Aerospace applications requiring maximum corrosion resistance, skis |
| Alloy | Characteristics | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Good machinability, good mechanical properties, excellent freecutting properties | Screw machine products, tube fittings, pipe stems, atomizer and hose parts |
| 2017 | Stronger than 2011, fair workability and corrosion resistance, good machinability | Screw machine products, rivets, fasteners, aircraft components |
| 2024 | High strength, formability and workability is fair, may be spot welded | Aircraft parts, truck wheels, scientific instruments, veterinary and orthopedic braces and equipment |
| 2024 ALCLAD | Cladding provides superior corrosion resistance, good appearance | Aircraft frames and skins, washers, truck bodies, railroad car roofs and sides |
| 6013 | This alloy features B-rated machinability along with improved tensile and fatigue properties | Applications that require improved machinability over 6061 alloys |
| 6020 | A lead free alloy with A-rated machinability. High mechanical properties, excellent anodizing response, excellent corrosion resistance, good brazability and weldability | Screw machine parts |
| 6061 | One of the most versatile of heat-treatable alloys, good formability and high resistance to corrosion, medium strength relative to 2000 or 7000 alloys | Truck and bus bodies, sailboats, canoes, transmission towers, chemical equipment, paper and textile rolls |
| 6063 | High corrosion resistance, medium strength, good natural finish | Irrigation pipe, store fronts, architectural trim, pipe railing, furniture |
| 6101 | Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, used for electrical conductors | High strength bus conductors |
| 6262 | Excellent machinability, good resistance to corrosion, readily welded, good finishing characteristics | Screw machine products, camera parts, fittings, nuts, couplings |
| 7050 | This alloy retains its strength in thicker sections while maintaining good corrosion resistance and toughness | Aircraft applications including fuselage frames and bulkheads |
| 7075 | One of the strongest and hardest alloys available, good machinability, fair corrosion resistance, excellent finishing characteristics | Aircraft, ordnance, keys, small gears |
| 7075 ALCLAD | Provides strength of 7075 with superior corrosion resistance from cladding | Aerospace applications requiring maximum corrosion resistance, skis |
Temper Designations for the Heat Treatable Alloys
These alloys can be heat treated to produce stable tempers other than F, O, or H and are designated as follows:
- T3 Solution heat treated, then cold worked
- T351 Solution heat treated, naturally aged, stretcher stress relieved
- T4 Solution heat treated and naturally aged to a substantially stable condition
- T6 Solution heat treated, then artificially aged
- T42 Solution heat treated from the O or F temper to demonstrate response to heat treatment, and naturally aged to a substantially stable condition
- T62 Solution heat treated from the O or F temper to demonstrate response to heat treatment, and artificially aged
- T651 and T751 Stress relieved by stretching
- T9 Solution heat treated, artificially aged, and then cold worked