primary aluminum is referred to as electrolytic aluminum in the market supply, it is the raw material for the production of aluminum and aluminum alloys. Aluminum is a metal with low strength and good plasticity. In order to improve the strength or comprehensive performance of aluminum to expand its applications, it is formulated into alloys. Adding an alloying element to aluminum can change its structure and properties, making it suitable for various processing materials or aluminum machining & casting parts. Commonly added alloying elements are copper, magnesium, zinc, silicon.
Classification of aluminum alloys
1.wrought aluminum alloy
Aluminum alloy with high strength, high specific strength and suitable for plastic forming.
Wrought aluminum alloys are divided into:
(1), industrial pure aluminum
(2) Aluminum alloys that cannot be strengthened by heat treatment
(3) Aluminum alloys that can be strengthened by heat treatment
2. Cast aluminum alloy
An aluminum alloy suitable for filling a casting mold in a molten state to obtain a casting blank of a certain shape and size.
Cast aluminum alloy is divided into:
(1), aluminum silicon alloy
(2), aluminum copper alloy
(3), aluminum magnesium alloy
(4), aluminum zinc alloy
Aluminum and aluminum alloy grades
(1) The nomenclature of pure aluminum grades: when the aluminum content is higher than 99.00%, it is pure aluminum, and its grade is represented by the 1XXX series. The last two digits of the grade indicate the minimum aluminum percentage. When the minimum aluminum percentage is accurate to 0.01%, the last two digits of the grade are the two decimal places in the minimum aluminum percentage. The letter in the second digit of the grade indicates the modification of the original pure aluminum. If the second letter is A, it means the original pure aluminum; if it is other letters from B to Y (selected in alphabetical order according to international regulations), it means the modification of the original pure aluminum, which is the same as the original pure aluminum. In contrast, its element content has changed slightly.
(2) Nomenclature of aluminum alloy grades: The grades of aluminum alloys are represented by the 2XXX~8XXX series. The last two digits of the grade have no special meaning and are only used to distinguish different aluminum alloys in the same group. The second letter of the grade indicates the modification of the original alloy. If the second letter of the grade is A, it means the original alloy; if it is other letters of B~Y (selected in alphabetical order according to international regulations), it means the modified alloy of the original alloy.
1XXXX: Pure aluminum (with aluminum content not less than 99.00%)
2XXX: Aluminum alloys with copper as the main alloying element
3XXX: Aluminum alloys with manganese as the main alloying element
4XXX: Aluminum alloy with silicon as the main alloying element
5XXX: Aluminum alloys with magnesium as the main alloying element
6XXX: Aluminum alloys with magnesium and silicon as the main alloying elements and Mg2Si phase as the strengthening phase
7XXX: Aluminum alloys with zinc as the main alloying element
8XXX: Aluminum alloys with other alloying elements as the main alloying elements
9XXX: Alternate alloy set
Applications of aluminum and aluminum alloy
The more common grades: 1060, 2024, 5052, 6061, 6063, 7075.
1060: 1060 belongs to ordinary industrial pure aluminum, and the aluminum content is not less than 99.60%. Its characteristics are: low strength, work hardening is the only way to strengthen. It has good hot and cold working properties, high thermal conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance. It is widely used in industrial equipment requiring good formability, corrosion resistance and weldability, and can also be used as an electrical conductor material.
2024: The composition and structure of the 2024 alloy are the same as those of the 2A12 alloy, and only the content of impurities Fe and Si in the 2124 alloy is limited. 2024 alloy sheets, thick sheets and profiles have been successfully used in the manufacture of aircraft, rocket skins, cabin sections, integral fuel tank panels, spar and so on.
5052: The magnesium content of the 5052 alloy is 2.5%, which is the lower magnesium content among the aluminum-magnesium rust-proof aluminum. Widely used in the manufacture of aircraft fuel and fuel pipes and fuel tanks, parts and components in various ships and transportation vehicles, sheet metal products, instruments, street lamp brackets, rivets and wires, etc.
6061: The 6061 alloy is an Al-Mg-Si heat-treatable reinforced aluminum alloy that can be processed with cnc machining & casting manufacturing into plates, tubes, rods, shapes, wires and forgings. Widely used in building profiles, large structural parts requiring good corrosion resistance, structural parts of trucks, ships, railway vehicles, conduits, households, etc.
6063: The 6063 alloy is an Al-Mg-Si series heat-treatable reinforced aluminum alloy, which can be extruded into bars, profiles, and pipes. Widely used in building structural materials and decorative materials, such as door frames, window frames, wall panels, containers, furniture, elevators, and decorative components of different colors such as aircraft, ships, light industry sectors, and buildings.
7075: 7075 alloy is Al-Zn-Mg-Cu superhard aluminum, which is characterized by good plasticity after solution treatment and obvious heat treatment strengthening. Can be processed into sheets (with and without aluminum), pipes, profiles, bars and forgings. Mainly used for aircraft structural parts and other high-strength corrosion-resistant structural parts.
