Various Aluminum Alloy For Manufacturing

Often chosen for its weight-to-strength ratio, aluminum is one of the most abundant and versatile metals used in manufacturing. In most manufacturing applications, different types of aluminum alloys are chosen because their properties are well-suited to the manufacturing process or the end-use of a component or structure. Aluminum alloys are produced by adding elements such as zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, and silicon to pure aluminum to enhance its characteristics, principally by increasing strength. The percentage of alloying elements added to pure aluminum affects the properties of the material produced. Some aluminum alloys may contain as much as 15% alloying elements by weight.
A Standard Method for Indicating the Different Types of Aluminum Alloys
There are many different types of aluminum alloys. An industry-standard four-digit number is used to differentiate the various alloys based on the alloying elements. For the moment, we’ll focus on the first digit that identifies the series or type of alloy characterized by its main alloying elements.

The 2— series uses copper as the primary alloying element. It can be heat-treated to improve strength and toughness. Although copper improves the workability of the alloy, it diminishes corrosion resistance in comparison to other aluminum alloys. Aluminum 2024 is a widely-used aircraft alloy.
The 5— series uses magnesium as the primary alloying element, though smaller percentages of magnesium are used in many other aluminum alloys. 5— alloys have moderate to high strength, good corrosion resistance in marine environments (aluminum 5083), and good weldability.
The 6—- series uses magnesium and silicon as the primary alloying elements. These alloys can be solution heat-treated to improve strength. 6— alloys are used in welding fabrication, extruded architectural components (windows and doors), and truck and marine frames. 6061 is the most widely used alloy in this series.
The 7— series uses zinc as the primary alloying element. Adding smaller amounts of magnesium, as well, produces a heat-treatable, high-strength alloy. Several of the 7— series alloys also use small amounts of copper and chromium elements. Aluminum 7050 and 7075 are widely used in aircraft manufacturing.
Understanding Specific In-Demand Aluminum Alloys
Among the wide range of aluminum alloys, 2024, 5083, 6061, 7050, and 7075 are frequently requested by manufacturers, fabricators, and machine shops in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. The tables below provide additional information on these different types of aluminum alloys to provide a better sense of their properties and specific applications.
Aluminum 2024
Chemical Composition：aluminium 94.7%, copper 4.9%, magnesium 1.8%, silicon 0.5%, iron 0.5%, manganese 0.9%, chromium 0.1%, zinc 0.25%, titanium 0.15%. The maximum percentages are listed; actual percentages vary slightly, depending on the manufacturer.
Properties：Copper, magnesium, and manganese greatly increase this alloy’s strength. The high copper percentage, however, reduces corrosion resistance. This alloy offers good cyclic fatigue resistance—ideal for airplane structures. It has good machinability and surface finish, though it’s not as machinable and is more difficult to weld than 6061.
Applications:It’s widely used in structures for aerospace such as wings and fuselages that experience cyclic stress, as well as in truck wheels, pistons, worm gears, shear pins, hydraulic manifold blocks, impact machinery, and computer components.

Aluminum 6061
Chemical Composition:aluminium 97.9%, magnesium 1.2%, silicon 0.80%, copper 0.4%, iron 0.7%, chromium 0.35%, zinc, 0.25%, titanium 0.15%, manganese 0.15%. The maximum percentages are listed; actual percentages vary slightly, depending on the manufacturer.
Properties:Aluminum 6061 is one of the most commonly used aluminum alloys; it’s also known as “structural aluminum.” It’s highly resistant to corrosion, stress, and cracking, though it provides medium fatigue strength. Thin sections can be welded using gas tungsten arc; thick sections can be welded using the gas metal arc. Beware of reduced strength in the weld zone.
Applications:It’s widely used in aircraft, marine, and electrical fittings and hardware, as well as in piping, bike frames, hinge pins, brake and hydraulic pistons, valves and valve components, building products, outdoor furniture, and structural applications.

Aluminum 7050
Chemical Composition:aluminum 90.3%, zinc 6.7%, copper 2.6%, magnesium 2.6%, iron 0.15%, manganese 0.10%, silicon 0.12%, zirconium 0.12%, titanium 0.06%. The maximum percentages are listed; actual percentages vary slightly, depending on the manufacturer.
Properties:Aluminum 7050 has high-strength, high-fatigue resistance from the zinc alloy. It also resists stress corrosion cracking, is stronger than 6061, and is ideal for heavy plate applications. Avoid welding to prevent cracking and porosity. Applications:It’s most widely used where strength is a very high priority such as in marine, automotive, and aerospace structures and components, as well as hang glider frames and firearms.

Aluminum 7075
Chemical Composition:aluminum 89.0%, zinc 6.2%, magnesium 2.5%, copper 2.3%, chromium 0.23%, zirconium 0.12%. The maximum percentages are listed; actual percentages vary slightly, depending on the manufacturer.
Properties:Aluminum 7075 is one of the strongest aluminum alloys. It’s ideal for components and structures subject to high-stress and fatigue-inducing heavy wear. The copper content improves workability but reduces corrosion resistance.
Applications:It’s best used in industries that require light weight plus strength, such as in aerospace, defense, worm gears, and shafts.

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