Aluminum Alloys and Grades

Common Aluminum Allloys Information, Tensile Strength and Typical Uses.

Alloys:

1100 - A "commercially pure" grade (99%) it is most commonly produced in sheet form and exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and forming capabilities, while being easily welded. Tensile strength ranges from 14,000 to 24,000 psi. General uses include air ducts, decorative applications, and general sheet metal work.

2024 - Alloyed with 4.5% copper, it is a high strength alloy, fair corrosion resistance and forming. May be available as "Alclad" sheet for improved corrosion resistance, Tensile strength ranges from 30,000 to 63,000 psi. Typical uses include aircraft parts, structural applications and any high strength application.

3003 - Alloyed with 1.2% manganese it provides a higher strength while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance, and forming and welding properties. Tensile strength from 17,000 to 30,000 psi. Typical uses include fuel tanks, general sheet metal applications and other applications where a higher strength than 1100 series is required.

5052 - Alloyed with 2.5% magnesium, it provides very good corrosion resistance, good forming, welding and strength. Tensile strength from 31,000 to 44,000 psi. Typical uses include aircraft fuel tanks, kitchen applications, panels and electronic mounting plates.

5086 - Alloyed with magnesium, manganese, and chromium. It offers a tensile strength of 40,000 to 54,000 psi. It offers superior resistance to atmospheric conditions, plus good working characteristics.
It also exhibits good stress corrosion resistance. typical uses include marine applications, trailer, rail cars and welded assemblies.

6061 - One of the most readily available grades, it is alloyed with 1% magnesium and silicon. Tensile strength from 20,000 to 42,000 psi. Good forming, welding, and corrosion resistance, makes this one of the favorite alloys for all types of structural and engineering applications.

6063 - A "extrusion" alloy, it is known for it's high quality finishing characteristics and excellent corrosion resistance, a lower strength alloy, it's typical uses include cosmetic, decorative or light structural applications.

7050 - Alloyed with zinc, copper and magnesium it offers superior strength, stress corrosion and toughness. Typical uses include aircraft and missile components and other applications requiring high strength and toughness.

7075 - Alloyed heavily with Zinc and lesser amount of magnesium, copper, and chromium, it is considered one of the strongest alloys of aluminum, Forming operations are limited, it's uses include those of the 2024 alloy, but when higher mechanical properties are needed.

7475 - A version of 7075, but with tighter tolerances on material chemistry, it exhibits the same properties as 7075, but is a higher purity version.

Tempers of Aluminum
Tempers are designated by a letter and number combination following the alloy type.

H - Strain Hardened, applies to non-thermal heat treat alloys. Three main categories are as follows:

H1 - Strain Hardened only and cold worked to obtain desired strength level.
H2 - Strain Hardened partial annealed to desired level of strength.
H3 - Strain Hardened and stabilized to desired strength, then subjected to a low level thermal operation that improves ductility.

The second digit following the H1, H2, or H3 designation indicates the amount of strain hardening remaining after the above procedures have been applied to the material.

HX2 - 1/4 Hard
HX3 - 3/8 Hard
HX4 - 1/2 Hard
HX5 - 5/8 Hard
HX6 - 3/4 Hard
HX7 - 7/8 Hard
HX8 - Full Hard

O - Annealed, softest temper of alloy. Also known as a "dead soft" temper of the alloy.

T - Thermal Heat Treatment for Heat Treatable Alloys

T1 - Cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process and naturally aged to a stable condition, most common in the 6000 series alloys.
T2 - Cooled from the shaping process, cold worked and then naturally aged. Most commonly a temper of cast products.
T3 - Solution heat treated, cold worked and naturally aged.
T4 - Solution heat treated and naturally aged.
T5 - Cooled from shaping process and artificially aged, most common in 6063 alloy extrusions.
T6 - Solution heat treated and artificially aged.