There are six prominent types of aluminum series. Aluminum 1000 series is pure aluminum, and it is corrosion resistant. 2000 Aluminum series incorporates copper for better strength. Similarly, in 3000, you will find manganese. Aluminum 5000 uses manganese which is best for marine parts manufacturing. 6000 series combines silicon and magnesium which is best for welding operations. Aluminum 7000 comes with zinc that is used to make aerospace machining parts.
So our purpose in writing this article is to teach you the basics of aluminum types. You will get the knowledge of aluminum alloys, their grades, and their applications.
Fundamental Classifications of Aluminum
Wrought and cast aluminum are the two primary aluminum forms. The main differences between these types are production methods and functional applications.
Wrought vs. Cast Aluminum
| Wrought Al-Alloys | Cast Al-Alloys |
|---|---|
| 1xxx pure aluminum Al~99% | 1xx.x pure aluminum Al~99% |
| 2xxx Al-Cu | 2xx.x Al-Cu |
| 3xxx Al-Mn | 3xx.x Al-Si with add Cu and/or Mg |
| 4xxx Al-Si | 4xx.x Al-Si |
| 5xxx Al-Mg | 5xx.x Al-Mg |
| 6xxx Al-(Mg, Si) (6061) | 6xx.x unused series |
| 7xxx Al-Zn | 7xx.x Al-Zn |
| 8xxx used major alloying elements such as iron or tin. | 8xx.x Al-Tin |
| 9xx.x other elements |
The solid state of aluminum metal allows forming processes for wrought aluminum manufacturing. The creation involves three fundamental processes: rolling, extruding, and forging. The applied shaping techniques modify aluminum grain patterns, which align with specific strength vectors.
The production method of cast aluminum starts with filling molten aluminum into a specific mold. During cooling, the metal materials keep the shape of their mold. The distinct characteristic that demonstrates cast aluminium’s value is its capability to produce complicated configurations.
In this process, you will notice that the metal presents a uniform arrangement of grains. Wrought aluminum is commonly used in structural applications, yet cast aluminum works best for engine blocks and housings.
Aluminum Alloy Numbering System
| Designation | Major Alloying Element |
|---|---|
| 1xx.x | Unalloyed aluminum |
| 2xx.x | CopperV |
| 3xx.x | Silicon with Cu or Mg |
| 4xx.x | Silicon |
| 5xx.x | Magnesium |
| 7xx.x | Zinc with Cu, Mg, Cr, Mn |
| 2xx.x | Tin |
The fact remains that aluminum alloys consist of more than simple aluminum material. The combination of aluminum occurs with multiple additional components. The four-digit system serves to determine the identification of these alloys. The initial number reveals the main alloying component.
The aluminum alloy 1000 series contains pure aluminum as its main component, whereas the 6000 series includes elements such as magnesium and silicon. The first digit is a vital indicator for alloy composition, while the following digits expand the composition information.
The combination of 6061-T6 indicates a member from the 6000 series that received specific heat treatment for strength achievement.
Key Aluminum Alloy Series and Their Properties
| ANSI/ASTM | UNS | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Ni | Zn | Sn | Ti | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360 | SG100BA0 | 9.0-10.0 | 2 | 0.6 | 0.35 | 0.40-0.60 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.25 | Remainder | 3600 |
| 360 | SG100AA1 | 9.0-10.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.35 | 0.40-0.60 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.25 | Remainder | 3600 |
| 380 | SC84BA0 | 7.5-9.5 | 2 | 3.0-4.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.5 | Remainder | 3800 |
| 380 | ESC84AA1 | 7.5-9.5 | 1.3 | 3.0-4.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.5 | Remainder | 3800 |
| 383 | ESC102AA0 | 9.5-11.5 | 1.3 | 3.0-4.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.5 | Remainder | 3830 |
| 384 | ESC114AA0 | 10.5-12.0 | 1.3 | 3.0-4.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.5 | Remainder | 3540 |
| 390 | SC174AA0 | 16.0-18.0 | 1.3 | 4.0-5.0 | 0.1 | 0.45-0.65 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | Remainder | 3900 |
| 390 | SC174SA2 | 16.0-18.0 | 1.3 | 4.0-5.04.0-5.0 | 0.5 | 0.45-0.65 | 0.1 | 0.15 | 0.1 | Remainder | 3900 |
| 392 | S19A0 | 18.0-20.0 | 1.5 | 0.40-0.80 | 0.20-0.60 | 0.80-1.20 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | Remainder |
| 413 | S16A0 | 11.0-13.0 | 2 | 0.35 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.25 | – | Remainder | 4130 |
| 413 | S12AA0 | 11.0-13.0 | 1 | 0.35 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.25 | Remainder | 4130 |
| 433 | S5CA43 | 4.5-6.0 | 2 | 0.6 | 0.35 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.15 | 0.25 | Remainder | 4404 |
| 518 | G8AA0 | 0.35 | 1.8 | 0.25 | 3.5-8.5 | – | 0.15 | 0.25 | – | Remainder | 5180 |
The various aluminum alloy series presents distinctive properties for different applications. The established series recognizes specific purposes for aluminum materials.
1000 Series Pure Aluminum
This aluminum series contains 99% pure aluminum or more. Its technical makeup includes excellent corrosion resistance, outstanding electrical conductivity, and high purity. Electrical conductors and chemical processing equipment use this metal product. The material displays weak mechanical qualities. The grade 1100 is the most popular version due to its excellent formability capability.
2000 Series Copper Alloys
The major alloying component of this series is copper, which appears in amounts between 2-7% by weight. The alloy’s strength increases and allows heat treatment processes. Aerospace applications depend on the specific characteristics of this material. Examples include aluminum 2024 and aluminum 2017.
Good strength is one of its main characteristics, yet weldability becomes a significant challenge. The material obtains its high strength through the process of precipitation hardening. The aircraft structure application utilizes the popular 2024 grade of this series.
3000 Series Manganese Alloys
The manganese component of this series ranges from zero to 1.5% by weight. The alloy exhibits moderate strength but combines this strength with both good workability and corrosion resistance. This material finds application in beverage cans and cookware usage. Strength improvement occurs through technical strain hardening. Popular grade 3003 aluminum and aluminum 3004 are common for general sheet metal fabrication.
4000 Series Silicon Alloys
This series contains silicon that ranges between 4% to 12% composition. The presence of silicon reduces the melting point and improves how easily the material flows. This specific feature provides numerous benefits to casting operations.
The alloy appears in welding wire and brazing alloy applications. Silicon functions to decrease the melting point range and enhance the casting characteristics. The welding filler aluminum 4043 and aluminum 4045 are regarded as this alloy’s most commonly utilized forms.
5000 Series Magnesium Alloys
The magnesium content of this series reaches up to 5% maximum. The welding properties and high tensile strength are the fundamental characteristics of this material. This material stands out since it finds practical use in marine applications. Examples include aluminum 5052 and aluminum 5083. The alloy’s strength increases when magnesium atoms increase within the metal structure because the solid solution strengthens. Modern applications utilize 5052 because it demonstrates excellent welding properties along with corrosion protection.
6000 Series Magnesium and Silicon Alloys
The magnesium silicide compound results from the combination of magnesium and silicon elements. This alloy exhibits medium to high strength and strong corrosion resistance. It serves as an excellent option for extrusions.
Examples include 6061 and 6063. This is a versatile alloy. Precipitation hardening produces its strength properties, making it heat treatable. Popular grade: 6061, a very common structural alloy.
7000 Series Zinc Alloys
This aluminum family consists mainly of zinc with added magnesium and copper elements. The series has the highest strength value and shows heat treatment capabilities among aluminum alloys. The aerospace and military sectors rely heavily on this important point. Examples include aluminum 7075 and aluminum 7050.
All these alloys need regular heat treatment processes. The strength reaches extremely high levels because of precipitation hardening processes. The high-stress application industry depends on the 7075 grade of this series as its main product.
8000 Series Aluminum Alloys
The series consists of lithium alloys and other specialty alloys. These are emerging alloys. The series extends to an extensive range of alloy combinations, encompasses multiple different alloy types, and is most popular in the aerospace industry as lithium-aluminum alloy 8090.
Aluminum Temper Designations Explained
After you pick an aluminum alloy, you will see it has a temper designation. So the basic point is, this tells you how the aluminum was processed.
F, O, H, T Designations
| Designation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| F | As fabricated, or as cast. No treatment |
| O | Annealed. Softest possible condition |
| T4 | Solution treated, quenched, then naturally aged to a stable condition |
| T5 | Cooled from casting and artificially aged |
| T6 | Solution heat treated, quenched and artificially aged |
| T7 | Solution treated, quenched and overaged/stabilized |
These are the main designations. “F” means fabricated. You will see this is for aluminum, which has no special control over the temper. “O” means annealed. The next thing is that this is for aluminum that has been softened by heating. “H” means strain hardened. This point is noticeable. It is for aluminum that has been strengthened by cold working. “T” means heat treated. So, you see, this is for aluminum strengthened by heating and cooling.
Detailed explanations of each temper
“F” (As Fabricated)
This means the aluminum is in the condition it came from the mill. One thing is clear: there is no control over its properties.
“O” (Annealed)
This means the aluminum was heated and cooled to soften it. You will see that it has high formability but low strength.
“H” (Strain Hardened)
This means the aluminum was strengthened by cold working, like rolling or drawing. This point is important. The “H” designation has numbers that show how much it was hardened. For example, H14 means half-hard.
“T” (Heat Treated)
This means the aluminum was heated and cooled to strengthen it. The “T” designation has numbers that show the specific heat treatment. For example, T6 means solution heat treated and artificially aged.
Examples of how temper affects properties
Easy deformation characterizes 6061-O aluminum, while 6061-T6 aluminum primarily serves structural applications because of its strength properties. The point becomes visible as the temper alters aluminum’s strength, hardness, and formability characteristics.
The temper represents a critical aspect that influences selecting the appropriate aluminum material.
Specific Aluminum Alloys
The use of aluminum alloys extends to specific materials that appear more frequently than others. The distinctive features of these alloys make them useful in applications.
6061 Aluminum
This is a very common alloy. The major specs of 6061 aluminum alloy is that it demonstrates excellent strength alongside corrosion resistance and manufacturing capabilities. The alloy serves structural purposes, extrusion manufacturing, and general mechanical applications.
Properties
Medium to high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, good machinability. This material offers excellent versatility, easy weldability, and easy market availability.
Disadvantages: Not as strong as 7075. This point’s strength and workability ratio makes it popular and noticeable in various applications.
7075 Aluminum
The material maintains outstanding strength as its main characteristic. It finds its applications in the aerospace and military sectors.
Properties
Very high strength, good machinability, but lower corrosion resistance. The material creates difficulties during welding operations and shows reduced resistance against corrosion. Aircraft structures require this important point because of their high strength properties.
5052 Aluminum
The material displays great resistance to corrosion and exceptional weldability properties. This aluminum product finds applications in marine fields, tank use, and sheet metal fabrication.
Properties
High strength, excellent weldability, and corrosion resistance. The alloy provides easy weldability and good resistance in marine environments. Disadvantages: It is not as strong as 6061 or 7075. The material proves beneficial when operating in corrosive conditions.
2024 Aluminum
The material serves aircraft applications because of its remarkable durability. The main alloying component is copper. Properties: High strength, good machinability, but lower corrosion resistance. Advantages include a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Disadvantages include poor weldability and lower corrosion resistance. Aircraft fuselages and wings use this point because they need a high strength-to-weight ratio, which this material can provide. Every alloy has specific advantages and disadvantages.
Different types of aluminum alloys vary in their properties and applications. For those interested in the technical specifics, I’ve curated these detailed articles for your reference:
Applications of Different Aluminum Types
Aluminum is used industrially across multiple production sectors. The decision to use a particular aluminum form depends solely on the intended application.
Aerospace
This industry needs high-strength materials. Production utilizes 7000 and 2000 series alloys together with 6000 and 5000 series alloys. This characteristic stands out because these alloys achieve the maximum strength-to-weight relationship. Aircraft structures and components utilize aluminum materials for their construction.
Automotive
The automotive sector employs aluminum materials to reduce vehicle weight and combat corrosion. The industry commonly incorporates 6000 and 5000 series alloys. Aluminum alloys perform better, with higher fuel efficiency and better durability results. The production of body panels, engine blocks, and chassis components mainly relies on aluminum.
Construction
Extrusions and cladding materials are used in this industry. At this stage, 6000 and 3000 series alloys are essential. The materials provide excellent strength characteristics and corrosion resistance. These alloys are used to construct windows, doors, and building facades.
Canned Products Packaging
The aluminum production sector utilizes aluminum for canned products and aluminum foils. The basic requirement shows that manufacturers use 1000 and 3000 series alloys. The notable characteristics of these alloys include their capacity for formability and corrosion resistance. Aluminum finds its application in packages used for food and beverage products.
Marine
This industry needs corrosion-resistant materials. The 5000 series alloys are the main choice in such applications. The alloys succeed in both saltwater corrosion resistance and welding applications, which makes them highly important. You can find 5000 series alloys in boat hulls, decks, and marine structures.
Electronics
Aluminum’s conductive properties enable this industry to operate. 1xxx series alloys form the second category of materials used for this purpose. These alloys demonstrate outstanding electrical conductivity as their main characteristic. The material is used in heat sinks, electrical conductors, and electronic enclosures.
Case Studies for Specific Aluminum Types Applications
You will see that specific aluminum types are chosen for certain jobs. So, you see, real-world examples show how these alloys work.
Case Study 1: The Boeing 777 Aircraft
The Boeing 777 uses 7075-T6 aluminum for its wing structures. This important fact demonstrates the selection of this alloy because it offers superior strength and reduced weight. The aircraft must demonstrate its ability to survive high flight stresses. Using 7075-T6 aluminum, the aircraft maintains its light weight and achieves sufficient strength.
Case Study 2: Beverage Cans
The basic fact is that beverage cans consist of 3004 aluminum as their primary material. The alloy is selected because it demonstrates good formability and outstanding corrosion resistance properties. Evaluation reveals that the containers should maintain capability and protect their contents. In simple words, 3004 offers the right balance of properties.
Case Study 3: Marine Applications: Boat Hulls
The production of boat hulls depends mainly on 5083 aluminum as their primary material. This alloy stands out because industry experts select it for its weldability and ability to resist corrosion in saltwater environments. The boats require durability against marine conditions. The needed durability becomes possible through the application of 5083 aluminum.
Case Study 4: Extruded Building Components
Building window and door frames require 6063-T6 aluminum as the material of choice. The selection of this alloy stands out because producers pick it. After all, it demonstrates excellent strength and extrudability properties. The material allows pthe roduction of complicated designs at a basic level. The architectural sector finds 6063-T6 to be an optimal material selection.
Case Study 5: Electrical Transmission Lines
The electricity sector needs 1350 aluminum for its electrical transmission lines. The particular point of note is why this alloy remains the selection due to its exceptional electrical conductivity. The material serves to conduct electrical power efficiently. The 1350 aluminum alloy stands as an excellent solution for electrical use.
Conclusion
The variety of aluminum products ensures its essential role in different industrial applications. It is necessary to choose the proper aluminum type for each application. It is also necessary to know the characteristics of alloys and their temper states, along with their specific applications in different fields. This knowledge allows for optimal use.
