What is aluminum? Is aluminum an alloy?
Aluminum (Al) is a silvery-white metallic element found abundantly in the earth’s crust (8.23%). Its affinity for oxygen restricts its availability in the free state. Commonly, it exists as silicates – bauxite and cryolite. Bauxite, the most prevalent source of aluminum, is extracted from open pit mines and processed into alumina through the Bayer process.
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In contrast, an alloy combines two or more elements, one of which must be a metal, to boost chemical properties like strength and stiffness. An Al alloy contains aluminum with copper, magnesium, silicon, etc.
So, aluminum is a pure chemical element with a metallic structure. Alloys contain atomic components from different elements.
How strong is an aluminum alloy?
The strength depends on the constituents in the aluminum alloy, categorized from 1xx to 8xxx depending on the additives. Pure aluminum is soft, and its sturdiness increases with alloying.
The strongest alloys are the zinc grades (7xxx). Tennalum 7068 is the commercially available aluminum alloy with the highest yield strength of 683 MPa.
Is aluminum different from aluminum alloy?
Alloyed aluminum gets produced by putting additives in controlled conditions and amounts. For example, while the 1xxx series uses 99% (or higher) aluminum, 2xxx uses copper for strength and hardness. The alloys from 3xxx to 7xxx lineups use manganese, silicon, magnesium, silicon-magnesium, and zinc, respectively. Over 100 aluminum alloys work across industries, with some containing strontium and phosphorous.
In comparison, aluminum is an individual chemical element, soft and lightweight.
The density of aluminum and its Alloys
Aluminum is a light metal having a density of just 2710 kg per m3. A typical aluminium alloy maintains this property, ranging from 2600 to 2810 kg/m3 (approx.).
In which condition should you buy this material?
Aluminum alloys display superior strength over pure aluminum – up to 30 times or more. Buyers can purchase wrought alloys for applications demanding excellent ductility, like wiring and automotive parts. Casting alloys, comparatively inexpensive, work in structural machinery and engine parts. But they have lower tensile strengths and melting points, limiting usability.
Further, industries can choose between heat-treatable (heated and quenched) and non-heat-treatable alloys. The latter gets strengthened through cold working.
How can you select the right grade for electrical conductivity?
Pure aluminum has an electrical conductivity of 237 W m−1 K−1. Its alloys have lower conductivity than the pure aluminium material. Applications that need top-notch electrical properties, like overhead power lines and electric busbars, often turn to the 6xxx series.
While selecting the alloy, buyers should consider the temperature, strain, and pressure.
Qualities and Advantages
- Lightweight and versatile – This light strong metal shows a low density and good strength for its weight.
- Incredibly corrosion resistant – An oxide layer on the surface helps commercially pure aluminum resist corrosive attacks in a pH range of 4.5 to 8. (This property diminishes with alloying.)
- Eco-friendly project solution – This metal can get fully recycled at a reasonable cost without compromising metallurgical properties.
- Excellent thermal and electrical properties – Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and electricity, with a thermal expansion coefficient equaling 23.2.
- Malleable & formable – Malleability allows these alloys to get shaped based on project requirements.
Applications
The lightweight strength of an aluminum alloy makes it ideal for aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and marine applications. Its electrical properties suit power transmission, circuit breaker contacts, and satellite dishes.
Series 5xxx alloys work in formable automotive sheets, boats, and shipping containers. Aluminum and its alloys work in wind and solar energy management and transportation. Alloy 3003 is among the best for bending, often used in chemical equipment.
Conclusion
Creating alloys with aluminum is rewarding because the process elevates the characteristics of the metal. Alloys can get produced by heating the metal over its melting point and adding the components to the molten liquid. Solid or gaseous state diffusion also gets utilized for some metals. For instance, Birmabright combines aluminum with magnesium and Silumin with silicon.
Aluminum vs aluminium can get confusing, but they refer to the same material. “Aluminum” is the preferred spelling in America, but “Aluminium” is favored in Europe.
Understanding the difference between aluminum and its alloys and selecting the appropriate material for your application is critical for long-term performance.
Alloy in which aluminium is the predominant metal
Welded aluminium alloy bicycle frame, made in the 1990s
An aluminium alloy (UK/IUPAC) or aluminum alloy (NA; see spelling differences) is an alloy in which aluminium (Al) is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, tin, nickel and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories heat-treatable and non-heat-treatable. About 85% of aluminium is used for wrought products, for example rolled plate, foils and extrusions. Cast aluminium alloys yield cost-effective products due to the low melting point, although they generally have lower tensile strengths than wrought alloys. The most important cast aluminium alloy system is Al–Si, where the high levels of silicon (4–13%) contribute to give good casting characteristics. Aluminium alloys are widely used in engineering structures and components where light weight or corrosion resistance is required.[1]
Alloys composed mostly of aluminium have been very important in aerospace manufacturing since the introduction of metal-skinned aircraft. Aluminium–magnesium alloys are both lighter than other aluminium alloys and much less flammable than other alloys that contain a very high percentage of magnesium.[2]
Aluminium alloy surfaces will develop a white, protective layer of aluminium oxide if left unprotected by anodizing and/or correct painting procedures. In a wet environment, galvanic corrosion can occur when an aluminium alloy is placed in electrical contact with other metals with more positive corrosion potentials than aluminium, and an electrolyte is present that allows ion exchange. Also referred to as dissimilar-metal corrosion, this process can occur as exfoliation or as intergranular corrosion. Aluminium alloys can be improperly heat treated, causing internal element separation which corrodes the metal from the inside out.[citation needed]
Aluminium alloy compositions are registered with The Aluminum Association. Many organizations publish more specific standards for the manufacture of aluminium alloy, including the SAE International standards organization, specifically its aerospace standards subgroups,[3] and ASTM International.
Engineering use & properties
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Aluminium alloy bicycle wheel. 1960s Bootie Folding Cycle
Aluminium alloys with a wide range of properties are used in engineering structures. Alloy systems are classified by a number system (ANSI) or by names indicating their main alloying constituents (DIN and ISO). Selecting the right alloy for a given application entails considerations of its tensile strength, density, ductility, formability, workability, weldability, and corrosion resistance, to name a few. A brief historical overview of alloys and manufacturing technologies is given in Ref.[4] Aluminium alloys are used extensively in aircraft due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. Pure aluminium is much too soft for such uses, and it does not have the high tensile strength that is needed for building airplanes and helicopters.
Aluminium alloys versus types of steel
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Aluminium alloys typically have an elastic modulus of about 70 GPa, which is about one-third of the elastic modulus of steel alloys. Therefore, for a given load, a component or unit made of an aluminium alloy will experience a greater deformation in the elastic regime than a steel part of identical size and shape. With completely new metal products, the design choices are often governed by the choice of manufacturing technology. Extrusions are particularly important in this regard, owing to the ease with which aluminium alloys, particularly the Al-Mg-Si series, can be extruded to form complex profiles.
In general, stiffer and lighter designs can be achieved with aluminium alloy than is feasible with steels. For instance, consider the bending of a thin-walled tube: the second moment of area is inversely related to the stress in the tube wall, i.e. stresses are lower for larger values. The second moment of area is proportional to the cube of the radius times the wall thickness, thus increasing the radius (and weight) by 26% will lead to a halving of the wall stress. For this reason, bicycle frames made of aluminium alloys make use of larger tube diameters than steel or titanium in order to yield the desired stiffness and strength. In automotive engineering, cars made of aluminium alloys employ space frames made of extruded profiles to ensure rigidity. This represents a radical change from the common approach for current steel car design, which depend on the body shells for stiffness, known as unibody design.
Aluminium alloys are widely used in automotive engines, particularly in engine blocks and crankcases due to the weight savings that are possible. Since aluminium alloys are susceptible to warping at elevated temperatures, the cooling system of such engines is critical. Manufacturing techniques and metallurgical advancements have also been instrumental for the successful application in automotive engines. In the 1960s, the aluminium cylinder heads of the Chevrolet Corvair earned a reputation for failure and stripping of threads, which is not seen in current aluminium cylinder heads.
An important structural limitation of aluminium alloys is their lower fatigue strength compared to steel. In controlled laboratory conditions, steels display a fatigue limit, which is the stress amplitude below which no failures occur – the metal does not continue to weaken with extended stress cycles. Aluminium alloys do not have this lower fatigue limit and will continue to weaken with continued stress cycles. Aluminium alloys are therefore sparsely used in parts that require high fatigue strength in the high cycle regime (more than 107 stress cycles).
Heat sensitivity considerations
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Often, the metal's sensitivity to heat must also be considered. Even a relatively routine workshop procedure involving heating is complicated by the fact that aluminium, unlike steel, will melt without first glowing red. Forming operations where a blow torch is used can reverse or remove the effects of heat treatment. No visual signs reveal how the material is internally damaged. Much like welding heat treated, high strength link chain, all strength is now lost by heat of the torch. The chain is dangerous and must be discarded.[citation needed]
Aluminium is subject to internal stresses and strains. Sometimes years later, improperly welded aluminium bicycle frames may gradually twist out of alignment from the stresses of the welding process. Thus, the aerospace industry avoids heat altogether by joining parts with rivets of like metal composition, other fasteners, or adhesives.
Stresses in overheated aluminium can be relieved by heat-treating the parts in an oven and gradually cooling it—in effect annealing the stresses. Yet these parts may still become distorted, so that heat-treating of welded bicycle frames, for instance, can result in a significant fraction becoming misaligned. If the misalignment is not too severe, the cooled parts may be bent into alignment. If the frame is properly designed for rigidity (see above), that bending will require enormous force.[citation needed]
Aluminium's intolerance to high temperatures has not precluded its use in rocketry; even for use in constructing combustion chambers where gases can reach 3500 K. The RM-81 Agena upper stage engine used a regeneratively cooled aluminium design for some parts of the nozzle, including the thermally critical throat region; in fact the extremely high thermal conductivity of aluminium prevented the throat from reaching the melting point even under massive heat flux, resulting in a reliable, lightweight component.
Household wiring
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Because of its high conductivity and relatively low price compared with copper in the 1960s, aluminium was introduced at that time for household electrical wiring in North America, even though many fixtures had not been designed to accept aluminium wire. But the new use brought some problems:
- The greater coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminium causes the wire to expand and contract relative to the dissimilar metal screw connection, eventually loosening the connection.
- Pure aluminium has a tendency to creep under steady sustained pressure (to a greater degree as the temperature rises), again loosening the connection.
- Galvanic corrosion from the dissimilar metals increases the electrical resistance of the connection.
All of this resulted in overheated and loose connections, and this in turn resulted in some fires. Builders then became wary of using the wire, and many jurisdictions outlawed its use in very small sizes, in new construction. Yet newer fixtures eventually were introduced with connections designed to avoid loosening and overheating. At first they were marked "Al/Cu", but they now bear a "CO/ALR" coding.
Another way to forestall the heating problem is to crimp the short "pigtail" of copper wire. A properly done high-pressure crimp by the proper tool is tight enough to reduce any thermal expansion of the aluminium. Today, new alloys, designs, and methods are used for aluminium wiring in combination with aluminium terminations.
Alloy designations
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Wrought and cast aluminium alloys use different identification systems. Wrought aluminium is identified with a four digit number which identifies the alloying elements.
Cast aluminium alloys use a four to five digit number with a decimal point. The digit in the hundreds place indicates the alloying elements, while the digit after the decimal point indicates the form (cast shape or ingot).
Temper designation
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The temper designation follows the cast or wrought designation number with a dash, a letter, and potentially a one to three digit number, e.g. 6061-T6. The definitions for the tempers are:[5][6]
-F : As fabricated
-H : Strain hardened (cold worked) with or without thermal treatment
- -H1 : Strain hardened without thermal treatment
- -H2 : Strain hardened and partially annealed
- -H3 : Strain hardened and stabilized by low temperature heating
- Second digit : A second digit denotes the degree of hardness
- -HX2 = 1/4 hard
- -HX4 = 1/2 hard
- -HX6 = 3/4 hard
- -HX8 = full hard
- -HX9 = extra hard
-O : Full soft (annealed)
-T : Heat treated to produce stable tempers
- -T1 : Cooled from hot working and naturally aged (at room temperature)
- -T2 : Cooled from hot working, cold-worked, and naturally aged
- -T3 : Solution heat treated and cold worked
- -T4 : Solution heat treated and naturally aged
- -T5 : Cooled from hot working and artificially aged (at elevated temperature)
- -T51 : Stress relieved by stretching
- -T510 : No further straightening after stretching
- -T511 : Minor straightening after stretching
- -T52 : Stress relieved by thermal treatment
- -T6 : Solution heat treated and artificially aged
- -T651 : Solution heat treated, stress relieved by stretching and artificially aged
- -T7 : Solution heat treated and stabilized
- -T8 : Solution heat treated, cold worked, and artificially aged
- -T9 : Solution heat treated, artificially aged, and cold worked
- -T10 : Cooled from hot working, cold-worked, and artificially aged
-W : Solution heat treated only
Note: -W is a relatively soft intermediary designation that applies after heat treat and before aging is completed. The -W condition can be extended at extremely low temperatures but not indefinitely and depending on the material will typically last no longer than 15 minutes at ambient temperatures.
Wrought alloys
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The International Alloy Designation System is the most widely accepted naming scheme for wrought alloys. Each alloy is given a four-digit number, where the first digit indicates the major alloying elements, the second — if different from 0 — indicates a variation of the alloy, and the third and fourth digits identify the specific alloy in the series. For example, in alloy 3105, the number 3 indicates the alloy is in the manganese series, 1 indicates the first modification of alloy 3005, and finally 05 identifies it in the 3000 series.[7]
1000 series (essentially pure)
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1000 series are essentially pure aluminium with a minimum 99% aluminium content by weight and can be work hardened.
# Not an International Alloy Designation System name
2000 series (copper)
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2000 series are alloyed with copper, can be precipitation hardened to strengths comparable to steel. Formerly referred to as duralumin, they were once the most common aerospace alloys, but were susceptible to stress corrosion cracking and are increasingly replaced by 7000 series in new designs.
3000 series (manganese)
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3000 series are alloyed with manganese, and can be work hardened.
3000 series aluminium alloy nominal composition (% weight) and applications
Alloy
Al contents
Alloying elements
Uses and refs
3003
98.6
Mn 1.5; Cu 0.12
Universal, sheet, rigid foil containers, signs, decorative
3004
97.8
Mn 1.2; Mg 1
Universal, beverage cans[24]
3005
98.5
Mn 1.0; Mg 0.5
Work-hardened
3102
99.8
Mn 0.2
Work-hardened[25]
3103&3303
98.8
Mn 1.2
Work-hardened
3105
97.8
Mn 0.55; Mg 0.5
Sheet
3203
98.8
Mn 1.2
Sheet, high strength foil
4000 series (silicon)
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4000 series are alloyed with silicon. Variations of aluminium–silicon alloys intended for casting (and therefore not included in 4000 series) are also known as silumin.
4000 series aluminium alloy nominal composition (% weight) and applications
Alloy
Al contents
Alloying elements
Uses and refs
4006
98.3
Si 1.0; Fe 0.65
Work-hardened or aged
4007
96.3
Si 1.4; Mn 1.2; Fe 0.7; Ni 0.3; Cr 0.1
Work-hardened
4015
96.8
Si 2.0; Mn 1.0; Mg 0.2
Work-hardened
4032
85
Si 12.2; Cu 0.9; Mg 1; Ni 0.9;
Forgings
4043
94.8
Si 5.2
Rod, Welding Filler, Brazing Filler
4047
85.5
Si 12.0; Fe 0.8; Cu 0.3; Zn 0.2; Mn 0.15; Mg 0.1
Sheet, cladding, fillers[26]
4543
93.7
Si 6.0; Mg 0.3
architectural extrusions
4643
93.7
Si 4.1; Fe 0.8; Mg 0.2; Zn 0.1
Welding filler for 6000 series
5000 series (magnesium)
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5000 series are alloyed with magnesium, and offer superb corrosion resistance, making them suitable for marine applications. 5083 alloy has the highest strength of non-heat-treated alloys. Most 5000 series alloys include manganese as well.
6000 series (magnesium and silicon)
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6000 series are alloyed with magnesium and silicon. They are easy to machine, are weldable, and can be precipitation hardened, but not to the high strengths that 2000 and 7000 can reach. 6061 alloy is one of the most commonly used general-purpose aluminium alloys.
7000 series (zinc)
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7000 series are alloyed with zinc, and can be precipitation hardened to the highest strengths of any aluminium alloy. Most 7000 series alloys include magnesium and copper as well.
8000 series (other elements)
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8000 series are alloyed with other elements which are not covered by other series. Aluminium–lithium alloys are an example.[45]
8000 series aluminium alloy nominal composition (% weight) and applications
Alloy
Al content
Alloying elements
Uses and refs
8006
98.0
Fe 1.5; Mn 0.5;
Universal, weldable
8009
88.3
Fe 8.6; Si 1.8; V 1.3
High-temperature aerospace[46]
8011
98.7
Fe 0.7; Si 0.6
Work-hardened
8014
98.2
Fe 1.4; Mn 0.4;
universal[47]
8019
87.5
Fe 8.3; Ce 4.0; O 0.2
Aerospace
8025
Si 0.05; Fe 0.06–0.25; Cu 0.20; Mg 0.05; Cr 0.18; Zn 0.50; Ti 0.005–0.02; Li 3.4–4.2; Zr 0.08–0.25
[10]
8030
99.3
Fe 0.5; Cu 0.2
wire[48]
8090
Si 0.20; Fe 0.30; Cu 1.0–1.6; Mn 0.10; Mg 0.6–1.3; Cr 0.10; Zn 0.25; Ti 0.10; Li 2.2–2.7; Zr 0.04–0.16
[10]
8091
Si 0.30; Fe 0.50; Cu 1.0–1.6; Mn 0.10; Mg 0.50–1.2; Cr 0.10; Zn 0.25; Ti 0.10; Li 2.4–2.8; Zr 0.08–0.16
[10]
8093
Si 0.10; Fe 0.10; Cu 1.6–2.2; Mn 0.10; Mg 0.9–1.6; Cr 0.10; Zn 0.25; Ti 0.10; Li 1.9–2.6; Zr 0.04–0.14
[10]
8176
99.3
Fe 0.6; Si 0.1
electrical wire[49]
Mixed list
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Wrought aluminium alloy composition limits (% weight)
Alloy
Si
Fe
Cu
Mn
Mg
Cr
Zn
V
Ti
Bi
Ga
Pb
Zr
Limits††
Al
Each
Total
1050[50]
0.25
0.40
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.05
0.03
99.5 min
1060
0.25
0.35
0.05
0.028
0.03
0.03
0.05
0.05
0.028
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.028
99.6 min
1100
0.95 Si+Fe
0.05–0.20
0.05
0.10
0.05
0.15
99.0 min
1199[50]
0.006
0.006
0.006
0.002
0.006
0.006
0.005
0.002
0.005
0.002
99.99 min
2014
0.50–1.2
0.7
3.9–5.0
0.40–1.2
0.20–0.8
0.10
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
2024
0.50
0.50
3.8–4.9
0.30–0.9
1.2–1.8
0.10
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
2219
0.2
0.30
5.8–6.8
0.20–0.40
0.02
0.10
0.05–0.15
0.02–0.10
0.10–0.25
0.05
0.15
remainder
3003
0.6
0.7
0.05–0.20
1.0–1.5
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
3004
0.30
0.7
0.25
1.0–1.5
0.8–1.3
0.25
0.05
0.15
remainder
3102
0.40
0.7
0.10
0.05–0.40
0.30
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
4043
4.5–6.0
0.80
0.30
0.05
0.05
0.10
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
5005
0.3
0.7
0.2
0.2
0.5–1.1
0.1
0.25
0.05
0.15
remainder
5052
0.25
0.40
0.10
0.10
2.2–2.8
0.15–0.35
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
5083
0.40
0.40
0.10
0.40–1.0
4.0–4.9
0.05–0.25
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
5086
0.40
0.50
0.10
0.20–0.7
3.5–4.5
0.05–0.25
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
5154
0.25
0.40
0.10
0.10
3.10–3.90
0.15–0.35
0.20
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
5356
0.25
0.40
0.10
0.10
4.50–5.50
0.05–0.20
0.10
0.06–0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
5454
0.25
0.40
0.10
0.50–1.0
2.4–3.0
0.05–0.20
0.25
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
5456
0.25
0.40
0.10
0.50–1.0
4.7–5.5
0.05–0.20
0.25
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
5754
0.40
0.40
0.10
0.50
2.6–3.6
0.30
0.20
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
6005
0.6–0.9
0.35
0.10
0.10
0.40–0.6
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6005A†
0.50–0.9
0.35
0.30
0.50
0.40–0.7
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6060
0.30–0.6
0.10–0.30
0.10
0.10
0.35–0.6
0.05
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6061
0.40–0.8
0.7
0.15–0.40
0.15
0.8–1.2
0.04–0.35
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
6063
0.20–0.6
0.35
0.10
0.10
0.45–0.9
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6066
0.9–1.8
0.50
0.7–1.2
0.6–1.1
0.8–1.4
0.40
0.25
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
6070
1.0–1.7
0.50
0.15–0.40
0.40–1.0
0.50–1.2
0.10
0.25
0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
6082
0.7–1.3
0.50
0.10
0.40–1.0
0.60–1.2
0.25
0.20
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6105
0.6–1.0
0.35
0.10
0.10
0.45–0.8
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6162
0.40–0.8
0.50
0.20
0.10
0.7–1.1
0.10
0.25
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
6262
0.40–0.8
0.7
0.15–0.40
0.15
0.8–1.2
0.04–0.14
0.25
0.15
0.40–0.7
0.40–0.7
0.05
0.15
remainder
6351
0.7–1.3
0.50
0.10
0.40–0.8
0.40–0.8
0.20
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
6463
0.20–0.6
0.15
0.20
0.05
0.45–0.9
0.05
0.05
0.15
remainder
7005
0.35
0.40
0.10
0.20–0.70
1.0–1.8
0.06–0.20
4.0–5.0
0.01–0.06
0.08–0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
7022
0.50
0.50
0.50–1.00
0.10–0.40
2.60–3.70
0.10–0.30
4.30–5.20
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
7068
0.12
0.15
1.60–2.40
0.10
2.20–3.00
0.05
7.30–8.30
0.01
0.05–0.15
0.05
0.15
remainder
7072
0.7 Si+Fe
0.10
0.10
0.10
0.8–1.3
0.05
0.15
remainder
7075
0.40
0.50
1.2–2.0
0.30
2.1–2.9
0.18–0.28
5.1–6.1
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
7079
0.3
0.40
0.40–0.80
0.10–0.30
2.9–3.7
0.10–0.25
3.8–4.8
0.10
0.05
0.15
remainder
7116
0.15
0.30
0.50–1.1
0.05
0.8–1.4
4.2–5.2
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.05
0.15
remainder
7129
0.15
0.30
0.50–0.9
0.10
1.3–2.0
0.10
4.2–5.2
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.05
0.15
remainder
7178
0.40
0.50
1.6–2.4
0.30
2.4–3.1
0.18–0.28
6.3–7.3
0.20
0.05
0.15
remainder
8176[49]
0.03–0.15
0.40–1.0
0.10
0.03
0.05
0.15
remainder
Alloy
Si
Fe
Cu
Mn
Mg
Cr
Zn
V
Ti
Bi
Ga
Pb
Zr
Limits††
Al
Each
Total
†Manganese plus chromium must be between 0.12 and 0.50%.
††This limit applies to all elements for which no other limit is specified on a given row, because no column exists or because the column is blank.
Cast alloys
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The Aluminum Association (AA) has adopted a nomenclature similar to that of wrought alloys. British Standard and DIN have different designations. In the AA system, the second two digits reveal the minimum percentage of aluminium, e.g. 150.x correspond to a minimum of 99.50% aluminium. The digit after the decimal point takes a value of 0 or 1, denoting casting and ingot respectively.[1] The main alloying elements in the AA system are as follows:[51]
- 1xx.x series are minimum 99% aluminium
- 2xx.x series copper
- 3xx.x series silicon, with added copper and/or magnesium
- 4xx.x series silicon
- 5xx.x series magnesium
- 6xx.x unused series
- 7xx.x series zinc
- 8xx.x series tin
- 9xx.x other elements
Minimum tensile requirements for cast aluminium alloys[52]
Alloy type
Temper
Tensile strength (min) in ksi (MPa)
Yield strength (min) in ksi (MPa)
Elongation in 2 in %
ANSI
UNS
201.0
A02010
T7
60.0 (414)
50.0 (345)
3.0
204.0
A02040
T4
45.0 (310)
28.0 (193)
6.0
242.0
A02420
O
23.0 (159)
N/A
N/A
T61
32.0 (221)
20.0 (138)
N/A
A242.0
A12420
T75
29.0 (200)
N/A
1.0
295.0
A02950
T4
29.0 (200)
13.0 (90)
6.0
T6
32.0 (221)
20.0 (138)
3.0
T62
36.0 (248)
28.0 (193)
N/A
T7
29.0 (200)
16.0 (110)
3.0
319.0
A03190
F
23.0 (159)
13.0 (90)
1.5
T5
25.0 (172)
N/A
N/A
T6
31.0 (214)
20.0 (138)
1.5
328.0
A03280
F
25.0 (172)
14.0 (97)
1.0
T6
34.0 (234)
21.0 (145)
1.0
355.0
A03550
T6
32.0 (221)
20.0 (138)
2.0
T51
25.0 (172)
18.0 (124)
N/A
T71
30.0 (207)
22.0 (152)
N/A
C355.0
A33550
T6
36.0 (248)
25.0 (172)
2.5
356.0
A03560
F
19.0 (131)
9.5 (66)
2.0
T6
30.0 (207)
20.0 (138)
3.0
T7
31.0 (214)
N/A
N/A
T51
23.0 (159)
16.0 (110)
N/A
T71
25.0 (172)
18.0 (124)
3.0
A356.0
A13560
T6
34.0 (234)
24.0 (165)
3.5
T61
35.0 (241)
26.0 (179)
1.0
443.0
A04430
F
17.0 (117)
7.0 (48)
3.0
B443.0
A24430
F
17.0 (117)
6.0 (41)
3.0
512.0
A05120
F
17.0 (117)
10.0 (69)
N/A
514.0
A05140
F
22.0 (152)
9.0 (62)
6.0
520.0
A05200
T4
42.0 (290)
22.0 (152)
12.0
535.0
A05350
F
35.0 (241)
18.0 (124)
9.0
705.0
A07050
T5
30.0 (207)
17.0 (117)†
5.0
707.0
A07070
T7
37.0 (255)
30.0 (207)†
1.0
710.0
A07100
T5
32.0 (221)
20.0 (138)
2.0
712.0
A07120
T5
34.0 (234)
25.0 (172)†
4.0
713.0
A07130
T5
32.0 (221)
22.0 (152)
3.0
771.0
A07710
T5
42.0 (290)
38.0 (262)
1.5
T51
32.0 (221)
27.0 (186)
3.0
T52
36.0 (248)
30.0 (207)
1.5
T6
42.0 (290)
35.0 (241)
5.0
T71
48.0 (331)
45.0 (310)
5.0
850.0
A08500
T5
16.0 (110)
N/A
5.0
851.0
A08510
T5
17.0 (117)
N/A
3.0
852.0
A08520
T5
24.0 (165)
18.0 (124)
N/A
†Only when requested by the customer
Named alloys
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Applications
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Aerospace alloys
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Parts of the MiG–29 are made from Al–Sc alloy[54]
Titanium alloys, which are stronger but heavier than Al-Sc alloys, are still much more widely used.[55]
The main application of metallic scandium by weight is in aluminium–scandium alloys for minor aerospace industry components. These alloys contain between 0.1% and 0.5% (by weight) of scandium. They were used in the Russian military aircraft MiG-21 and MiG-29.[54]
Some items of sports equipment, which rely on high performance materials, have been made with scandium–aluminium alloys, including baseball bats,[56]
lacrosse sticks, as well as bicycle[57] frames and components, and tent poles.
U.S. gunmaker Smith & Wesson produces revolvers with frames composed of scandium alloy and cylinders of titanium.[58]
Potential use as Space Materials
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Due to its light-weight and high strength, aluminium alloys are desired materials to be applied in spacecraft, satellites and other components to be deployed in space. However, this application is limited by the energetic particle irradiation emitted by the Sun. The impact and deposition of solar energetic particles within the microstructure of conventional aluminium alloys can induce the dissolution of most common hardening phases, leading to softening. The recently introduced crossover aluminium alloys[59][60] are being tested as a surrogate to 6xxx and 7xxx series in environments where energetic particle irradiation is a major concern. Such crossover aluminium alloys can be hardened via precipitation of a chemical complex phase known as T-phase in which the radiation resistance has been proved to be superior than other hardening phases of conventional aluminium alloys.[61][62]
List of aerospace aluminium alloys
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The following aluminium alloys are commonly used in aircraft and other aerospace structures:[63][64]
Note that the term aircraft aluminium or aerospace aluminium usually refers to 7075.[65][66]
4047 aluminium is a unique alloy used in both the aerospace and automotive applications as a cladding alloy or filler material. As filler, aluminium alloy 4047 strips can be combined to intricate applications to bond two metals.[67]
6951 is a heat treatable alloy providing additional strength to the fins while increasing sag resistance; this allows the manufacturer to reduce the gauge of the sheet and therefore reducing the weight of the formed fin. These distinctive features make aluminium alloy 6951 one of the preferred alloys for heat transfer and heat exchangers manufactured for aerospace applications.[68]
6063 aluminium alloys are heat treatable with moderately high strength, excellent corrosion resistance and good extrudability.
They are regularly used as architectural and structural members.[69]
The following list of aluminium alloys are currently produced,[citation needed] but less widely[citation needed] used:
Marine alloys
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These alloys are used for boat building and shipbuilding, and other marine and salt-water sensitive shore applications.[70]
4043, 5183, 6005A, 6082 also used in marine constructions and off shore applications.
Automotive alloys
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6111 aluminium and 2008 aluminium alloy are extensively used for external automotive body panels, with 5083 and 5754 used for inner body panels. Bonnets have been manufactured from 2036, 6016, and 6111 alloys. Truck and trailer body panels have used 5456 aluminium.
Automobile frames often use 5182 aluminium or 5754 aluminium formed sheets, 6061 or 6063 extrusions.
Wheels have been cast from A356.0 aluminium or formed 5xxx sheet.[71]
Engine blocks and crankcases are often cast made of aluminium alloys. The most popular aluminium alloys used for cylinder blocks are A356, 319 and to a minor extent 242.
Aluminium alloys containing cerium are being developed and implemented in high-temperature automotive applications, such as cylinder heads and turbochargers, and in other energy generation applications.[72] These alloys were initially developed as a way to increase the usage of cerium, which is over-produced in rare-earth mining operations for more coveted elements such as neodymium and dysprosium,[73] but gained attention for its strength at high temperatures over long periods of time.[74] It gains its strength from the presence of an Al11Ce3 intermetallic phase which is stable up to temperatures of 540 °C, and retains its strength up to 300 °C, making it quite viable at elevated temperatures. Aluminium–cerium alloys are typically cast, due to their excellent casting properties, although work has also been done to show that laser-based additive manufacturing techniques can be used as well to create parts with more complex geometries and greater mechanical properties.[75] Recent work has largely focused on adding higher-order alloying elements to the binary Al-Ce system to improve its mechanical performance at room and elevated temperatures, such as iron, nickel, magnesium, or copper, and work is being done to understand the alloying element interactions further.[76]
Air and gas cylinders
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6061 aluminium and 6351 aluminium are widely used in breathing gas cylinders for scuba diving and SCBA alloys.[77]
See also
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References
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Bibliography
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