Aluminum and Aluminum alloys are divided into two broad classes, castings and wrought (mechanically worked products). The latter is sub-divided into heat-treatable and non-heat-treatable alloys, and into various forms produced by mechanical working.
| Wrought Aluminum Alloys |
| Series |
Main Alloy |
Wrought Aluminum Alloys Properties |
| 1xxx |
None (99% alu) |
Unalloyed aluminum is highly corrosion resistant, low strength, workable, conductive. Non-heat-treatable. |
| 2xxx |
|
Gives strength, hardness, machinability. Heat-treatable. |
| 3xxx |
Manganese |
Adds moderate strength, good workability. Non-heat-treatable. |
| 4xxx |
Silicon |
|
| 5xxx |
Magnesium |
Moderate to high strength. Corrosion resistant. Non-heat-treatable. |
| 6xxx |
Magnesium & Silicon |
Increases strength, formability, corrosion resistance. Heat-treatable. |
| 7xxx |
|
For greatest strength. Heat treatable. Other alloying elements such as copper, magnesium, chromium and zirconium may be specified. |
| 8xxx |
Tin, Lithium & Other elements. |
Effects vary. |
| 9xxx |
N/A |
(This series is unused presently.) |
| Casting Alloys |
| Series |
Main Alloy |
Casting Alloys Notes |
1xx.x |
None
(99% alum.) |
Unalloyed aluminum. |
2xx.x |
Copper |
Used extensively for applications where excellent strength and hardness at high temperatures are required. Heavy-duty pistons; motorcycle, diesel and aircraft pistons; aircraft generator housings; and air-cooled cylinder heads are typical applications. |
3xx.x |
Silicon |
Other alloying elements such as copper and magnesium are specified. Typical applications are airframe castings, machine parts, truck chassis parts, aircraft and missile components, and structural parts requiring high strength. |
4xx.x |
Silicon |
|
5xx.x |
Magnesium |
Alloys possess a high and stable combination of strength, shock resistance and ductility. It is ideally suited for parts in instruments and computing devices where dimensional stability is of major importance. |
6xx.x |
N/A |
(This series is unused presently.) |
7xx.x |
Zinc |
Employed when a combination of good mechanical properties without heat treatment is needed. It also shows good shock and corrosion resistance and good machinability and dimensional stability. |
8xx.x |
Tin |
|
9xx.x |
N/A |
(This series is unused presently.) |
Releated References:
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