Aluminum alloys properties

Aluminum has only 1/3 weight of steel, while being lightweight this metal remains extremely stable. It is easy to form, resistant to heat effects and corrosion as well it is proven that this metal is a very good electric conductor.

It is the second most flexible metal and sixth most plastic.

Aluminum is one of the most popular engineering metals, because it is:

• Lightweight
• Strong
• Resistant to Corrosion
• Durable
• Plastic
• Flexible
• Electrically Conductive
• Non-toxic
• Thermally Conductive
• Easy to Form

These positive features make aluminum the most widely used metal in the industry. Especially transport, construction, electricity and furniture industries are using this metal.

This metal is being used in many products, including cans, foils, kitchen accessories, window frames, beer barrels, airplane parts, electronic devices, vehicles, railings, sports equipment, boat equipment and many other products.

Aluminum is often used as an alloy with other metals as it gives better durability and strength. Alloys with copper, magnesium and manganese and silicon are lightweight but strong.

Aluminum is used in power lines for its electrical conductivity. It is cheaper and lighter than copper.

In global practice, most commonly used standards, such as European (EN 573, 754, 755, 485, 515, 573), Germany (DIN 1735, 1748, 9714, 1712, 1725, 1747, 1769, 1770, 9714, 9713, 1771, 1745, 1738, 1745, 1783, 1998, 1999, 1796, 59700, 1797, 59701, 59600, 1746, 1795, 9107, 59751)

Aluminum as a chemical element specification:

Property	meaning
Atomic number	13
Atomic weight (g/mol)	26.98
Valence	3
Crystal structure	FCC
Melting temperature (°C)	660.2
Boiling temperature (°C)	2480
Average specific warmth (0-100°C) (cal/g.°C)	0.219
Heat conductivity (0-100°C) (cal/cms. °C)	0.57
Linear expansion coefficient (0-100°C) (x10 -6 /°C)	23.5
Electric resistivity 20°C (Ω.cm)	2.69
Density (g/cm 3 )	2.6898
Elasticity (GPa)	68.3
Poisson’s ratio	0.34

Possible aluminum alloys:

Series	Structure	Approval stress 0.20% (MPa)	Resistance to stretch (MPa)	Elongation A5 (%)	Elongation A50 (%)	Hardness HB	Hardness HV
AA1050A	H12	85	100	12		30	30
	H14	105	115	10	9	35	36
	H16	120	130	7		39
	H18	140	150	6	5	43	44
	H19	170	180		3	48	51
	0	35	80	42	38	21	20
AA2011	T3	290	365	15	15	95	100
	T4	270	350	18	18	90	95
	T6	300	395	12	12	110	115
	T8	315	420	13	12	115	120
AA3103	H12	115	135	11	11	40	40
	H14	140	155	9	9	45	46
	H16	160	175	8	6	50	50
	H18	180	200	6	6	55	55
	H19	210	240	4	3	65	70
	0	45	105	29	25	29	29
AA5083	H12	240	330	17	16	90	95
	H14	275	360	16	14	100	105
	1H6	305	380	10	9	105	110
	H18	335	400	9	8	110	115
	H19	370	420	5	5	115	120
	0	145	300	23	22	70	75
AA5251	H12	165	210	14	14	60	65
	H14	190	230	13	12	65	70
	H16	215	255	9	8	70	75
	H18	240	280	8	7	80	80
	H19	270	310	5	4	90	90
	0	80	180	26	25	45	46
AA5754	H12	185	245	15	14	70	75
	H14	215	270	14	12	75	80
	H16	245	290	10	9	80	85
	H18	270	315	9	8	90	90
	H19	300	340	5	4	95	100
	0	100	215	25	24	55	55
AA6063	0	50	100	27	26	25	85
	T1	90	150	26	24	45	45
	T4	90	160	21	21	50	50
	T5	175	215	14	13	60	65
	T6	210	245	14	12	75	80
	T8	240	260		9	80	85
AA6082	0	60	130	27	26	35	35
	T1	170	260	24	24	70	75
	T4	170	260	19	19	70	75
	T5	275	325	11	11	90	95
	T6	310	340	11	11	95	100
AA6262	T6	240	290	8
	T9	330	360	3
AA7075	0	105	225		17	60	65
	T6	505	570	10	10	150	160
	T7	435	505	13	12	140	150

Series specification:

Alloy element	Series
99%+ Aluminum	1XXX
Copper	2XXX
Manganese	3XXX
Silicon	4XXX
Magnesium	5XXX
Magnesiu + Silicon	6XXX
Zinc	7XXX
Lithium	8XXX

Aluminum grades:

Grade	Description
H1X	Work hardened
H2X	Work hardened and partially annealed
H3X	Work hardened and stabilized by low temperature treatment
H4X	Work hardened and stoved
HX2	Quarter-hard – degree of working
HX4	Half-hard – degree of working
HX6	Three-quarter hard – degree of working
HX8	Full-hard – degree of working
H112	Alloys that have some tempering from shaping but do not have special control over the amount of strain-hardening or thermal treatment. Some strength limits apply.
H321	Strain hardened to an amount less than required for a controlled H32 temper.
H323	A version of H32 that has been hardened to provide acceptable resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
H343	A version of H34 that has been hardened to provide acceptable resistance to stress corrosion cracking.
H115	Armour plate.
H116	Special corrosion-resistant temper.
T1	Cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process and naturally aged.
T2	Cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process cold worked and naturally aged.
T3	Solution heat-treated cold worked and naturally aged to a substantially.
T4	Solution heat-treated and naturally aged to a substantially stable condition.
T5	Cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process and then artificially aged.
T6	Solution heat-treated and then artificially aged.
T7	Solution heat-treated and overaged/stabilised.

Aluminum standard specification:

Standard	Scope
EN485-1	Technical conditions for inspection and delivery
EN485-2	Mechanical properties
EN485-3	Tolerances for hot rolled material
EN485-4	Tolerances for cold rolled material
EN515	Temper designations
EN573-1	Numerical alloy designation system
EN573-2	Chemical symbol designation system
EN573-3	Chemical compositions
EN573-4	Product forms in different alloys

Brinell hardness specification:

HB = Brinell Hardness Number, P = applied force (kgf), D = diameter of the indenter, d = diameter of the notch.