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2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and


Tempers

J. Gilbert Kaufman

ASM International
Materials Park, OH 44073-0002
www.asminternational.org

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

www.asminternational.org
Copyright 2000
by
ASM International
All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
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First printing, November 2000

Great care is taken in the compilation and production of this Volume, but it should be made clear that NO
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kaufman, J. G. (John Gilbert), 1931Introducton to aluminum alloys and tempers / J. Gilbert Kaufman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Aluminum alloys. 2. MetalsHeat treatment. I. Title.
TA480.A6 K36 2000
620.186dc21
00-056544
ISBN 0-87170-689-X
SAN: 204-7586
ASM International
Materials Park, OH 44073-0002
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Printed in the United States of America

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

www.asminternational.org

Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
CHAPTER 1: Introduction: The Nature of the Problem . . . . . . . 1
The Keys to Understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Characteristics of Wrought Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . .
Characteristics of Cast Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Definitions for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . .
Applications of Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Microscopy of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . .
Units and Unit Conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER 2: Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation


Systems of the Aluminum Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Wrought Aluminum Alloy Designation System . . . . . . . . . . .
Cast Aluminum Alloys Designation System . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Designations for Experimental Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum Alloy Temper Designation System . . . . . . . . . . . .
Basic Temper Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subdivisions of the Basic Tempers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER 3: Understanding Wrought and Cast


Aluminum Alloys Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Wrought Alloy Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How the System is Applied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Principal Alloying Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Wrought Alloy Strengthening
Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Wrought Alloy Advantages and
Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Characteristics Related to Principal Alloying
Element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Wrought Alloy Variations . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Links to Earlier Alloy Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unified Numbering System (UNS) Alloy Designation
System for Wrought Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Cast Alloy Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii

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2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

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How the Current Aluminum Cast Alloy Designation


System is Applied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Understanding Cast Alloy Strengthening Mechanisms . . . . . .
Understanding Cast Alloy Advantages and Limitations . . . . .
Examples of the Use of Variations in Cast Alloy
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alloys for Different Casting Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Characteristics Related to Composition . . . . . . . . . . .
Evolution of the Aluminum Cast Alloy Designation
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNS Alloy Designation System for Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . .

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. 36

CHAPTER 4: Understanding the Aluminum Temper


Designation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Tempers for Wrought Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Review of the Basic Tempers for Wrought Alloys . . . . . . . .
Subdivisions of the Basic Tempers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tempers Designating Residual Stress Relief of Heat
Treated Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temper Designations Identifying Modifications in
Quenching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Designations Indicating Heat Treatment by User . . . . . . . . .
Tempers Identifying Additional Cold Work between
Quenching and Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tempers Identifying Additional Cold Work Following
Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tempers Designating Special Corrosion-Resistant
Tempers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temper Designation for Special or Premium Properties . . . . .
Tempers for Cast Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Review of the Basic Tempers for Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . . .
Subdivisions of the Basic Temper Types for
Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Importance to Understanding Aluminum Tempers . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER 5: Understanding Aluminum Fabricating


Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Ingot and Billet Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strip and Slab Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hot and Cold Rolling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extrusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cast Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Permanent Mold Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sand Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

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Investment Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Die Casting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Combinations of Casting and Forging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heat Treatment of Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER 6: Applications for Aluminum Alloys and


Tempers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Applications by Alloy Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Wrought Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Applications by Market Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Electrical Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Building and Construction Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Transportation Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Marine Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Rail Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Packaging Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Petroleum and Chemical Industry Components . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Other Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
CHAPTER 7: Representative Micrographs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Wrought Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welded Wrought Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brazed Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cast Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welded Cast Aluminum Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welded Wrought-To-Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welded Aluminum To Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welded Aluminum to Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER 8: Selected References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185


APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Alloy Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Cast Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Wrought Alloys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

www.asminternational.org

ASM International
Technical Books
Committee (1999-2000)
Sunniva R. Collins (Chair)
Swagelok/Nupro Company
Eugen Abramovici
Bombadier Aerospace (Canadair)
A.S Brar
Seagate Technology Inc.
Ngai Mun Chow
Det Norske Veritas Pte Ltd.
Seetharama C. Deevi
Phillip Morris, USA
Bradley J. Diak
Queens University
Dov B. Goldman
Precision World Products
James F.R. Grochmal
Metallurgical Perspectives
Nguyen P. Hung
Nanyang Technological University
Serope Kalpakjian
Illinois Institute of Technology

Gordon Lippa
North Star Casteel
Jacques Masounave
Universit du Qubec
Charles A. Parker (Vice Chair)
AlliedSignal Aircraft Landing
Systems
K. Bhanu Sankara Rao
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic
Research
Mel M. Schwartz
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
(retired)
Peter F. Timmins
University College of the Fraser
Valley
George F. Vander Voort
Buehler Ltd.

vi

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180)

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Preface
The idea for this timely reference book was originally suggested by
Tom Croucher, a California-based consulting metallurgist. Dr. Croucher
and Harry Chandler of ASM International provided input for the first draft
version. I broadened it out substantially to cover the understanding of the
advantages and limitations of aluminum alloy/temper combinations in
terms of the relationship of their composition, process history, and
microstructure to service requirements.
I would like to acknowledge Dr. John A. S. Green and the Aluminum
Association, Inc. for making available critically important material for
inclusion in this book. Among the Aluminum Association publications
used as key references, notably on the alloy and temper designation
system and aluminum terminology, were the following:
O Aluminum Standards and Data
O Standards for Aluminum Sand and Permanent Mold Castings
O Aluminum: Technology, Applications, and Environment
More complete citations to these and other reference materials are given
in the Selected References, Chapter 8.
Among the ASM International books used as major sources, most
notably for micrographs, are the following:
O Heat Treaters Guide: Practices and Procedures for Nonferrous Alloys
O ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys
Finally, I want to acknowledge the publications of the American
Foundrymens Society, Inc. and the Diecasting Development Council,
whose publications Aluminum Casting Technology and Product Design
for Die Casting, respectively, provided excellent resources for casting
terminology and descriptions of casting procedures.
J. Gilbert Kaufman
Columbus, Ohio

vii

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p1-8
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p001

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


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Introduction: The
Nature of the Problem
THE NEED FOR THIS BOOK stems directly from the increasing use
of aluminum and aluminum alloys in automobiles and a great variety of
other products that we encounter in everyday living. The excellent
combination of light weight, high strength, great corrosion resistance, and
reasonable cost has made aluminum and its alloys one of the most
commonly used metal groups. Whereas weight saving by substituting
light metals for heavy metals has been standard practice for generations
in critical aerospace structures, it has now reached top priority status in a
variety of other industries, including those manufacturing cars, trucks,
military vehicles, aviation ground support vehicles, munitions, building
and highway structures, and construction equipment.
The transition from heretofore more widely used iron and steel can be
especially difficult for those with little or no experience with aluminum
and aluminum alloys. Of necessity, they must become conversant with a
new alloy designation system and, perhaps even more importantly, with a
great number and variety of tempers, the designations for which provide
background on how the alloys have been produced to obtain the desired
properties and characteristics.
The positive news is twofold. First, contrary to the case for other
metals, there are widely accepted alloy and temper designation systems
for aluminum, created and maintained by the Aluminum Association, that
are used throughout the aluminum industry. Those systems are published
in the Aluminum Association publication Aluminum Standards and Data
(see Chapter 8, Selected References) and are recognized by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the American National
Standard Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Aluminum (see
Chapter 8). The second item of positive news is that, with a little
concentration, the aluminum alloy and temper designation systems are
consistent, logical, and easily understood.

2 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

The Aluminum Association maintains the alloy and temper designations


systems and, in fact, is accredited by ANSI to carry out this role for the
United States. The procedures for registering alloys and tempers, and a
record of the alloys and tempers registered, are published in Alloy and
Temper Registration Records (see Chapter 8) and are available at minimal
cost for any producer or user to track. Further, standard aluminum
tempers that have been registered with the Aluminum Association and are
in widest use are described in Aluminum Standards and Data.
An additional complication to be dealt with is the fact that, typically,
each country around the world has its own designations system for
aluminum alloys and tempers. Fortunately, great progress is being made
in improving that situation, and the Aluminum Associations alloy
designation system is now recognized by about 90% of the worlds
aluminum industry. The publication Recommendation: International Designation System for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys
(see Chapter 8) has been accepted almost universally, and progress is
slowly being made in broadening the agreement to cast alloys and certain
basic temper designations as well. Regrettably, however, experience
indicates that full acceptance of universal equivalents has not yet been
completed, and situations requiring producers and buyers to discuss
clarications can still occur.

The Keys to Understanding


Thus, the principal keys to gaining a good introduction to aluminum
alloys and tempers are knowledge and understanding of the alloy and
temper designations systems themselves. The main mission of this book
is to build upon the information available in sources such as The
Aluminum Association Alloy and Temper Registration Records and
Aluminum Standards and Data to shed more light and understanding on
the characteristics, production technology, and applications for the most
commonly used aluminum alloys and tempers.
To accomplish this, the basic aluminum alloy and temper designation
systems, as developed by the Aluminum Association and documented in
Aluminum Standards and Data and ANSI H35.1, are presented in Chapter
2. Chapter 3 explains the alloy designation system in greater detail with
examples, and Chapter 4 covers the temper designation system in a
similar manner. The processes used to produce aluminum alloy products
are described briey in Chapter 5, and representative applications are
described in Chapter 6.
We want to emphasize that the real authority on aluminum alloys and
tempers is the Aluminum Association Technical Committee on Product
Standards (TCPS), the group that, on behalf of the Aluminum Associa-

Introduction: The Nature of the Problem / 3

tion, maintains the alloy and temper designation systems and registers
new alloys and tempers as they come along. At times, there is an
unfortunate tendency on the part of some producers and fabricators to
intentionally or unintentionally create their own designations for aluminum alloys and tempers and to do so in a style that misleadingly suggests
that the newly created designations have been recognized by the industry
as a whole through the registration process. This is unethical and
improper because it misleads producers and users alike as to the heritage
of the designation and dilutes the value of systems based on uniformity
and industry standards. The independent creation of either alloy or temper
designations without the complete registration process dened by the
Aluminum Association and ANSI H35.1 is to be avoided.
Any questions or decisions needed on existing or new registrations
should be directed to that group at the following address:
Aluminum Association Technical Committee on Product Standards
The Aluminum Association, Inc.
900 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
We want to emphasize that the mission of this publication is to provide
a brief introduction to aluminum alloys, including their applications. For
more detail on the various aspects of this subject, readers are encouraged
to consult the selected references in Chapter 8, particularly the complete
treatise on the aluminum industry by D.G. Altenpohl, Aluminum: Technology, Applications, and Environment.

Characteristics of Wrought Aluminum Alloys


It is appropriate to briey note at this stage some of the basic
characteristics of wrought aluminum alloys that make them desirable
candidates for a wide range of applications. Wrought alloys are addressed
rst, then cast alloys.
Corrosion Resistance. As a result of a naturally occurring tenacious
surface oxide lm, many aluminum alloys provide exceptional resistance
to corrosion in many atmospheric and chemical environments. Alloys of
the 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx systems are especially favorable in this
respect and are even used in applications where they are in direct contact
with seawater and antiskid salts.
Thermal Conductivity. Aluminum and aluminum alloys are good
conductors of heat, and while they melt at lower temperatures than steels,
approximately 535 C (1000 F). They are slower than steel to reach very
high temperatures in re exposure.

4 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Electrical Conductivity. Pure aluminum and some of its alloys have


exceptionally high electrical conductivity (i.e., very low electrical resistivity), second only to copper among common metals as conductors.
Strength/Weight Ratio. The combination of relatively high strength
with low density means a high strength efficiency for aluminum alloys
and many opportunities for replacement of heavier metals with no loss
(and perhaps a gain) in load-carrying capacity. This characteristic,
combined with excellent corrosion resistance and recyclability, has led to
the broad use of aluminum in containers, aircraft, and automotive
applications.
Fracture Toughness and Energy Absorption Capacity. Many aluminum alloys are exceptionally tough and make excellent choices for
critical applications where resistance to brittle fracture and unstable crack
growth are imperatives. Alloys of the 5xxx series, for example, are prime
choices for liqueed natural gas tankage. In addition, special hightoughness versions of aircraft alloys, such as 2124, 7050, and 7475,
replace the standard versions of these alloys for critical bulkhead
applications.
Cryogenic Toughness. Aluminum alloys, especially of the 3xxx,
5xxx, and 6xxx series, are ideal for very low temperature applications
because of the detailed documentation that their ductility and toughness,
as well as strength, are higher at subzero temperatures, even down to near
absolute zero, than at room temperature.
Workability. Aluminum alloys are readily workable by a great variety
of metalworking technologies and are especially amenable to extrusion
(the process of forcing heated metal through shaped dies to produce
specic shaped sections). This characteristic enables aluminum to be
produced in a remarkable variety of shapes in which the metal can be
placed in locations where it can most efficiently carry the applied loads.
Ease of Joining. Aluminum alloys can be joined by a very broad
variety of commercial methods, including welding, brazing, soldering,
riveting, bolting, and even nailing, in addition to an unlimited variety of
mechanical procedures. Welding, while considered difficult by those
familiar only with joining steel and who try to apply the same techniques
to aluminum, is particularly easy when performed by proven techniques
such as gas metal arc welding (GMAW or MIG) or gas tungsten arc
welding (GTAW or TIG).
Recyclability. Aluminum and aluminum alloys are among the easiest
to recycle of any structural materials. They are recyclable in the truest
sense, unlike materials that are reused but in lower-quality products;
aluminum alloys may be recycled directly back into the same high-quality
products, such as rigid containers, sheet, and automotive components.

Introduction: The Nature of the Problem / 5

Characteristics of Cast Aluminum Alloys


The desirable characteristics of wrought alloys also are generally
applicable to cast alloys, but in fact, the choice of one casting alloy over
another tends to be determined by the relative abilities of the alloy to meet
one or more of the following characteristics:
O Ease of casting
O Strength
O Quality of nish
Unfortunately, few alloys or alloy series possess all three characteristics,
but some generalizations may be made.
Ease of Casting. The high-silicon 3xx.x series are outstanding in this
respect because their relatively high silicon contents lend a characteristic
of good ow and mold-lling capability. As a result, the 3xx.x series are
the most widely used and especially chosen for large and very complex
castings.
Strength. The 2xx.x alloys typically provide the very highest strengths
but are more difficult to cast and lack good surface characteristics.
Therefore, their use usually is limited to situations where expert casting
techniques can be applied and where strength and toughness are at a
premium, such as in the aerospace industry.
Finish. The 5xx.x and 7xx.x series are noteworthy for the ne nish
they provide, but they are more difficult to cast than the 3xx.x series and
so usually are limited to those applications where that nish is paramount.
A good example is the use of 7xx.x alloys for bearings.

Denitions for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

A few of the most useful denitions for aluminum and aluminum alloys
and products applicable to the discussion in this book are listed in this
section. A more complete listing of applicable terminology is included in
the Appendix. The denitions included therein are taken primarily from
Aluminum Standards and Data, with some additions from Product Design
for Die Casting in Recyclable Aluminum, Magnesium, Zinc, and ZA
Alloys and Aluminum Casting Technology (Chapter 8, Selected References, contains details).
Some widely used denitions include:
O Commercially pure aluminum: Commercially pure (CP) aluminum
contains a minimum of 99% pure metal. Various specialty grades of

6 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

higher purity exist for use in special applications, up to and including


the six nines aluminum (i.e., 99.9999% pure aluminum).
Aluminum alloy: A substance having metallic properties and composed
of two or more elements of which at least one is an elemental metal.
Most aluminum alloys contain 90 to 96% aluminum, with one or more
other elements added to provide a specic combination of properties
and characteristics. It is quite usual to have several minor alloying
elements in addition to one or two major alloying elements to impart
special fabrication or performance characteristics.
Strain-hardenable aluminum alloy: This is the type of alloy for which
the major and minor alloying elements do not provide signicant solid
solution and precipitation strengthening during any type of thermal
treatment and which, therefore, must be strengthened principally by
strain hardening (i.e., by cold rolling or drawing). These alloys are
referred to as strain hardenable.
Heat treatable aluminum alloy: For this type of alloy, the major, and
perhaps some minor, alloying elements do provide signicant solid
solution and precipitation strengthening during solution heat treatment
and subsequent aging. These alloys are referred to as heat treatable.
Wrought aluminum alloy: This term is applied to alloys produced in
ingot or billet form and subsequently worked by any of a number of
processes such as rolling, extruding, forging, drawing, or other
metalworking process to produce seminished products from which
end-use products are subsequently made.
Cast aluminum alloy: This term is used in the context of this reference
to mean alloys that generally are used in parts cast to nal or near-nal
shape and to the ingot from which such castings are made. Generally
speaking, cast alloy compositions are not used for subsequent rolling,
extrusion, forging, or other metal shaping processes. Casting as
discussed herein does not generally apply to the production of ingots,
billets, or other stock primarily intended for subsequent metalworking.
Specication Limits and Test Directions: Most aluminum alloy specications include tensile property limits, which individual lots are
expected to equal or exceed in 99% of the instances with 95%
condence. Tensile test specimens used for such determinations have
prescribed specimen directions or orientations. The standard orientations most often referred to in material specications and in testing
documents and reports in general are the following:
a. Longitudinal: The axis of the specimen is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the product and to the direction of major grain ow
in the product.
b. Long transverse: The axis of the specimen is normal to the
longitudinal axis of the product and to the direction of major grain
ow in the product, and it is within the major plane of the product.

Introduction: The Nature of the Problem / 7

In relatively thin sections, this orientation may be referred to simply


as the transverse direction.
c. Short transverse: The axis of the specimen is normal to the major
plane of the product, and thus normal to both the longitudinal and
long transverse directions. This orientation is used only when
products are thick enough to permit the taking of practical
specimen sizes.
All tensile tests and, in fact, all mechanical tests, are made in accordance
with the appropriate ASTM standard test procedures as presented in the
Annual Book of ASTM Standards.

Applications of Aluminum Alloys


It is useful in gaining an improved understanding of the alloy and
temper designations for aluminum alloys to look at a variety of typical
applications for a variety of the alloys in various tempers. Accordingly,
the applications are reviewed in Chapter 6, both by alloy type and by
market area. This review provides additional insight into the advantages
and disadvantages of the various alloy groups and illustrates the application of specic tempers for specic performance needs.
Many of the examples included herein are taken from D.G. Altenpohls
book, Aluminum: Technology, Applications and Environment, and readers
looking for additional details on the variety of applications of aluminum,
as well as a greater understanding of the aluminum industry in total, are
encouraged to consult that reference.

Microscopy of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys


To further assist the reader in understanding the principles of the alloy
and temper designation systems and the consequences of applying the
production technology implied by the temper designations, a catalog of
micrographs is included in Chapter 7 of this book. While not exhaustively
representing all alloys and tempers referenced in the text, a good cross
section of the aluminum alloys and tempers discussed in this text is
included.

Units and Unit Conversion


The reader will note that the normal procedures for handling English/
engineering and metric units in ASM publications are not followed in this
book. Rather, in this book about aluminum alloys, tempers, products, and
applications, the standard procedures of the aluminum industry as

8 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

documented by the publications of the Aluminum Association have been


followed. These procedures are described briey as follows.
For wrought aluminum alloy products, the U.S. aluminum industry
elected upon establishing metric standards for aluminum and aluminum
alloy products to develop property limits and product dimensions in
normal rounded values the way they would be found in a metric
environment, a practice known as hard conversion. This is in sharp
contrast to the much less useful procedure known as soft conversion of
using the odd numbers that result from direct calculation from the
English/engineering values.
As a result, when tables of properties for wrought alloys are presented
herein (e.g., Tables 2 and 2M in Chapter 4), two separate tables are
shown, one of English/engineering units, and one in metric/International
Standard units. These may not be readily converted back and forth since
each represents a separate but compatible set of standards.
The practice followed in this book is completely consistent with that
followed by the Aluminum Association, Inc., in publishing two complete
sets of the standards for wrought alloys for the industry, one in each units
system. For additional, more detailed information on industry practices,
the reader is referred to Aluminum Standards and Data and Aluminum
Standards and Data 1998 Metric SI.
For aluminum alloy castings, metric (SI) conversions used by the
aluminum industry are rounded soft (direct) conversions with rounding to
represent comparable rounding used in the English/engineering system.
Metric values are calculated using the exact conversion factors and then
rounded to the nearest ve megapascals, (i.e., 5 MPa, which is similar to
rounding to the nearest thousand psi [ksi]) for strengths and nearest
gigapascals (i.e., 1 MPa 106, or GPa) for moduli.
For both wrought and cast aluminum alloys, elongations are about
5 to 10% lower when determined in accordance with international
standard methods compatible with the metric system (i.e., using gage
lengths of 5D [ve times the specimen diameter] rather than 4D as with
engineering methods). Accordingly, elongations are reported at about
10% lower in metric (SI) tables. Note that this is not the result of a
calculated conversion as for strength or modulus, but the result of a
difference in the standard tensile test procedure.

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p9-22
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p009

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

Aluminum Alloy and


Temper Designation
Systems of the
Aluminum Association
IT IS VERY USEFUL for secondary fabricators and users of aluminum
products and components to have a working knowledge of the Aluminum
Association alloy and temper designation systems. The alloy system
provides a standard form for alloy identication that enables the user to
understand a great deal about the chemical composition and characteristics of the alloy. Similarly, the temper designation system permits an
understanding of the manner in which the product has been fabricated.
The alloy and temper designation systems for wrought aluminum that
are in use today were adopted by the aluminum industry around 1955, and
the current system for the cast aluminum system was developed somewhat later. The aluminum industry itself manages the creation and
continuing maintenance of these systems through its industry organization, the Aluminum Association. This chapter describes the basic systems
as dened and maintained by that organization.
The alloy registration process is carefully controlled and its integrity
maintained by the Technical Committee on Product Standards of the
Aluminum Association. This committee is made up of industry standards
experts. Further, as noted earlier, the Aluminum Association designation
system is the basis of the ANSI Standards, incorporated in ANSI H35.1
and, for the wrought alloy system at least, forms the basis for the nearly
worldwide International Accord on Alloy Designations.
The Aluminum Association Alloy and Temper Designation Systems
covered in ANSI H35.1 and Aluminum Standards and Data are outlined
in this chapter. Additional information is provided in subsequent chapters

10 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

to assist in understanding and using the systems, as well as recognizing


the meanings of the designations themselves.

Wrought Aluminum Alloy Designation System

The Aluminum Association Wrought Alloy Designation System consists of four numerical digits, sometimes including alphabetic prexes or
suffixes, but normally just the four numbers:
O The rst digit denes the major alloying class of the series starting with
that number.
O The second denes variations in the original basic alloy: that digit is
always a zero (0) for the original composition, a one (1) for the rst
variation, a two (2) for the second variation, and so forth. Variations are
typically dened by differences in one or more alloying elements of
0.15 to 0.50% or more, depending on the level of the added element.
O The third and fourth digits designate the specic alloy within the series;
there is no special signicance to the values of those digits, nor are they
necessarily used in sequence.
Table 1 shows the meaning of the rst of the four digits in the alloy
designation system. The alloy family is identied by that number and the
associated main alloying ingredient(s), with three exceptions:
O Members of the 1000 series family are commercially pure aluminum or
special purity versions and as such do not typically have any alloying
elements intentionally added; however, they do contain minor impurities that are not removed unless the intended application requires it.
O The 8000 series family is an other elements series comprising alloys
with rather unusual major alloying elements such as iron and nickel.
O The 9000 series is unassigned.

Table 1 Main alloying elements in the


wrought alloy designation system
Alloy

Main alloying element

1xxx

Mostly pure aluminum; no major alloying additions

2xxx

Copper

3xxx

Manganese

4xxx

Silicon

5xxx

Magnesium

6xxx

Magnesium and silicon

7xxx

Zinc

8xxx

Other elements (e.g., iron or tin)

9xxx

Unassigned

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 11

The major benet for understanding this designation system is that a great
deal will be known about the alloy just from knowledge of the series of
which it is a member, for example:
O 1xxx series alloys are pure aluminum and its variations; compositions
of 99.0% or more aluminum are by denition in this series. Within the
1xxx series, the last two of the four digits in the designation indicate the
minimum aluminum percentage. These digits are the same as the two
digits to the right of the decimal point in the minimum aluminum
percentage specied for the designation when expressed to the nearest
0.01%. As with the rest of the alloy series, the second digit indicates
modications in impurity limits or intentionally added elements.
Compositions of the 1xxx series do not respond to any solution heat
treatment but may be strengthened modestly by strain hardening.
O 2xxx series alloys have copper as their main alloying element, and
because copper will go in signicant amounts into solid solution in
aluminum, these alloys will respond to solution heat treatment and are
referred to as heat treatable.
O 3xxx series alloys are based on manganese and are strain hardenable.
These alloys do not respond to solution heat treatment.
O 4xxx series alloys are based on silicon; some alloys are heat treatable,
others are not, depending on the amount of silicon and the other
alloying constituents.
O 5xxx series alloys are based on magnesium. They are strain hardenable,
but not heat treatable.
O 6xxx series alloys have both magnesium and silicon as their main
alloying elements, which combine as magnesium silicide (Mg2Si)
following solid solution. Alloys in this series are heat treatable.
O 7xxx series alloys have zinc as their main alloying element, often with
signicant amounts of copper and magnesium. They are heat treatable.
O 8xxx series contain one or more of several less frequently used major
alloying elements such as iron or tin. The characteristics of this series
depend on the major alloying element(s).
The compositions of a representative group of widely used commercial
aluminum alloys are given in Table 2, taken from Aluminum Standards
and Data (see Chapter 8, Selected References).

Cast Aluminum Alloys Designation System


The designation system for cast aluminum alloys is similar in some
respects to that for wrought alloys but has a few very important
differences as noted by the following description.

12 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 2

Nominal chemical composition of wrought aluminum alloys


Percent of alloying elements; aluminum and normal impurities constitute remainder

Alloy

Silicon

Copper

Nickel

Zinc

Titanium

1050

...

...

Manganese

99.50% min aluminum

Magnesium

Chromium

...

...

...

1060

...

...

99.60% min aluminum

...

...

...

1100

...

0.12

99.0% min aluminum

...

...

...

1145

...

...

99.45% min aluminum

...

...

...

1175

...

...

99.75% min aluminum

...

...

...

1200

...

...

99.00% min aluminum

...

...

...

1230

...

...

99.30% min aluminum

...

...

...

1235

...

...

99.35% min aluminum

...

...

...

1345

...

...

99.45% min aluminum

...

...

...

1350(a)

...

...

99.50% min aluminum

...

...

...

2011(b)

...

5.5

2014

0.8

4.4

2017

0.50

4.0

2018

...

4.0

2024

...

2025

...

...

...

...

...

...

0.8

0.50

...

...

...

...

0.7

0.6

...

...

...

...

...

0.7

...

2.0

...

...

4.4

0.6

1.5

...

...

...

...

0.8

4.4

0.8

...

...

...

...

...

2036

...

2.6

0.25

0.45

...

...

...

...

2117

...

2.6

...

0.35

...

...

...

...

2124

...

4.4

0.6

1.5

...

...

...

...

2218

...

4.0

...

1.5

...

2.0

...

...

2219(c)

...

6.3

0.30

...

...

...

...

0.06

2319(c)

...

6.3

0.30

...

...

...

...

0.15

2618(d)

0.18

2.3

...

1.6

...

1.0

...

0.07

3003

...

0.12

1.2

...

...

...

...

...

3004

...

...

1.2

1.0

...

...

...

...

3005

...

...

1.2

0.40

...

...

...

...

3105

...

...

0.6

0.50

...

...

...

...

4032

12.2

0.9

...

1.0

...

0.9

...

...

4043

5.2

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

4045

10.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

4047

12.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

4145

10.0

4.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

4343

7.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

4643

4.1

...

...

0.20

...

...

...

...

5005

...

...

...

0.8

...

...

...

...

5050

...

...

...

1.4

...

...

...

...

5052

...

...

...

2.5

0.25

...

...

...

5056

...

...

0.12

5.0

0.12

...

...

...

5083

...

...

0.7

4.4

0.15

...

...

...

5086

...

...

0.45

4.0

0.15

...

...

5154

...

...

...

3.5

0.25

...

...

5183

...

...

0.08

4.8

0.15

...

...

...

5252

...

...

...

2.5

...

...

...

...

5254

...

...

...

3.5

0.25

...

...

...

5356

...

...

0.12

5.0

0.12

...

...

0.13

...

(continued)
Listed herein are designations and chemical composition limits for some wrought unalloyed aluminum and for wrought aluminum alloys registered with the Aluminum
Association. This does not include all alloys registered with the Aluminum Association. A complete list of registered designations is contained in the Registration Record
of International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys. These lists are maintained by the Technical
Committee on Product Standards of The Aluminum Association. (a) Formerly designated EC. (b) Lead and bismuth, 0.40 each. (c) Vanadium, 0.10; zirconium 0.18. (d) Iron,
1.1. (e) Lead and Bismuth, 0.55 each. (f) Zirconium, 0.14. (g) Zirconium, 0.12. (h) Zirconium, 0.18. (i) Iron, 0.7. (j) Boron, 0.02. (k) Iron, 0.35.

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 13

Table 2

(continued)
Percent of alloying elements; aluminum and normal impurities constitute remainder

Alloy

Silicon

Copper

Manganese

Magnesium

Chromium

Nickel

Zinc

Titanium

5454

...

...

0.08

2.7

0.12

...

...

...

5456

...

...

0.08

5.1

0.12

...

...

...

5457

...

...

0.30

1.0

...

...

...

...

5554

...

...

0.08

2.7

0.12

...

...

0.12

5556

...

...

0.08

5.1

0.12

...

...

0.12

5652

...

...

...

2.5

0.25

...

...

...

5654

...

...

...

3.5

0.25

...

...

0.10

5657

...

...

...

0.8

...

...

...

...

6003

0.7

...

...

1.2

...

...

...

...

6005

0.8

...

...

0.50

...

...

...

...

6053

0.7

...

...

1.2

0.25

...

...

...

6061

0.6

0.28

...

1.0

0.20

...

...

...

6063

0.40

...

...

0.7

...

...

...

...

6066

1.4

1.0

0.8

1.1

...

...

...

...

6070

1.4

0.28

0.7

0.8

...

...

...

...

6101

0.50

...

...

0.6

...

...

...

...

6105

0.8

...

...

0.6

...

...

...

...

6151

0.9

...

...

0.6

0.25

...

...

...

6162

0.6

...

...

0.9

...

...

...

...

6201

0.7

...

...

0.8

...

...

...

...

6253

0.7

...

...

1.2

0.25

...

2.0

...

6262(e)

0.6

0.28

...

1.0

0.09

...

...

...

6351

1.0

...

0.6

0.6

...

...

...

...

6463

0.40

...

...

0.7

...

...

...

...

6951

0.35

0.28

...

0.6

...

...

...

...

7005(f)

...

...

0.45

1.4

0.13

...

4.5

0.04

7008

...

...

...

1.0

0.18

...

5.0

...

7049

...

1.6

...

2.4

0.16

...

7.7

...

7050(g)

...

2.3

...

2.2

...

...

6.2

...

7072

...

...

...

...

...

...

1.0

...

7075

...

1.6

...

2.5

0.23

...

5.6

...

7108(h)

...

...

...

1.0

...

...

5.0

...

7175

...

1.6

...

2.5

0.23

...

5.6

...

7178

...

2.0

...

2.8

0.23

...

6.8

...

7475

...

1.6

...

2.2

0.22

...

5.7

...

8017(i)

...

0.15

...

0.03

...

...

...

...

8030(j)

...

0.22

...

...

...

...

...

...

8176(i)

0.09

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

8177(k)

...

...

...

0.08

...

...

...

...

Listed herein are designations and chemical composition limits for some wrought unalloyed aluminum and for wrought aluminum alloys registered with the Aluminum
Association. This does not include all alloys registered with the Aluminum Association. A complete list of registered designations is contained in the Registration Record
of International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys. These lists are maintained by the Technical
Committee on Product Standards of The Aluminum Association. (a) Formerly designated EC. (b) Lead and bismuth, 0.40 each. (c) Vanadium, 0.10; zirconium 0.18. (d) Iron,
1.1. (e) Lead and Bismuth, 0.55 each. (f) Zirconium, 0.14. (g) Zirconium, 0.12. (h) Zirconium, 0.18. (i) Iron, 0.7. (j) Boron, 0.02. (k) Iron, 0.35.

The cast alloy designation system also has four digits, and the rst digit
species the major alloying constituent(s) as shown in Table 3. However,
a decimal point is used between the third and fourth digits to make clear
that these are designations used to identify alloys in the form of castings
or foundry ingot.

14 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

As for the wrought alloy designation system, the various digits of the
cast alloy system convey information about the alloy:
O The rst digit indicates the alloy group, as can be seen in Table 3. For
2xx.x through 8xx.x alloys, the alloy group is determined by the
alloying element present in the greatest mean percentage, except in
cases in which the composition being registered qualies as a modication of a previously registered alloy. Note that in Table 3, the 6xx.x
series is shown last and for cast alloys is designated as the unused
series.
O The second and third digits identify the specic aluminum alloy or, for
the aluminum 1xx.x series, indicate purity. If the greatest mean
percentage is common to more than one alloying element, the alloy
group is determined by the element that comes rst in sequence. For
the 1xx.x group, the second two of the four digits in the designation
indicate the minimum aluminum percentage. These digits are the same
as the two digits to the right of the decimal point in the minimum
aluminum percentage when expressed to the nearest 0.01%.
O The fourth digit indicates the product form: xxx.0 indicates castings,
and xxx.1, for the most part, indicates ingot having limits for alloying
elements the same as or very similar to those for the alloy in the form
of castings. A fourth digit of xxx.2 may be used to indicate that the
ingot has composition limits that differ from but fall within the xxx.1
limits; this typically represents the use of tighter limits on certain
impurities to achieve specic properties in the nished cast product
produced from that ingot.
A letter before the numerical designation indicates a modication of the
original alloy or an impurity limit. These serial letters are assigned in
alphabetical sequence starting with A, but omitting I, O, Q, and X, with
X being reserved for experimental alloys. Note that explicit rules have
been established for determining whether a proposed composition is a
modication of an existing, or whether it is a new, alloy.
Table 4 presents the nominal compositions of a representative group of
commercial aluminum casting alloys.
Table 3

Cast alloy designation system

Alloy

Main alloying element

1xx.x

Pure aluminum, 99.00% max

2xx.x

Copper

3xx.x

Silicon, with added copper and/or magnesium

4xx.x

Silicon

5xx.x

Magnesium

7xx.x

Zinc

8xx.x

Tin

9xx.x

Other elements

6xx.x

Unused series

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 15

Table 4

Nominal chemical compositions of aluminum alloy castings


Percent of alloying elements; aluminum and normal impurities constitute remainder

Alloy

Silicon

Iron

Copper

Manganese

Magnesium

Chromium

Nickel

Zinc

Titanium

Notes

201.0

...

...

4.6

0.35

0.35

...

...

...

0.25

(a)

204.0

...

...

4.6

...

0.25

...

...

...

...

A206.0

...

...

4.6

0.35

0.25

...

...

...

0.22

208.0

3.0

...

4.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

213.0

2.0

1.2

7.0

...

...

...

...

2.5

...

222.0

...

...

10.0

...

0.25

...

...

...

...

224.0

...

...

5.0

0.35

...

...

...

...

...

240.0

...

...

8.0

0.5

6.0

...

0.5

...

...

242.0

...

...

4.0

...

1.5

...

2.0

...

...

A242.0

...

...

4.1

...

1.4

0.20

2.0

...

0.14

295.0

1.1

...

4.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

308.0

5.5

...

4.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

319.0

6.0

...

3.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

328.0

8.0

...

1.5

0.40

0.40

...

...

...

...

332.0

9.5

...

3.0

...

1.0

...

...

...

...

333.0

9.0

...

3.5

...

0.28

...

...

...

...

336.0

12.0

...

1.0

...

1.0

...

2.5

...

...

354.0

9.0

...

1.8

...

0.5

...

...

...

...

355.0

5.0

...

1.25

...

0.5

...

...

...

...

C355.0

5.0

...

1.25

...

0.5

...

...

...

...

356.0

7.0

...

...

...

0.32

...

...

...

...

A356.0

7.0

...

...

...

0.35

...

...

...

...

357.0

7.0

...

...

...

0.52

...

...

...

...

A357.0

7.0

...

...

...

0.55

...

...

...

0.12

359.0

9.0

...

...

...

0.6

...

...

...

...

360.0

9.5

...

...

...

0.5

...

...

...

...

A360.0

9.5

...

...

...

0.5

...

...

...

...

380.0

8.5

...

3.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

A380.0

8.5

...

3.5

...

...

...

...

...

...

383.0

10.5

...

2.5

...

...

...

...

...

...
...

384.0

11.2

...

3.8

...

...

...

...

...

B390.0

17.0

...

4.5

...

0.55

...

...

...

...

413.0

12.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

A413.0

12.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

443.0

5.2

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

B443.0

5.2

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

C443.0

5.2

(e)

A444.0

7.0

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

512.0

1.8

...

...

...

4.0

...

...

...

...

513.0

...

...

...

...

4.0

...

...

1.8

...

514.0

...

...

...

...

4.0

...

...

...

...

518.0

...

...

...

...

8.0

...

...

...

...

520.0

...

...

...

...

10.0

...

...

...

...

535.0

...

...

...

.18

6.8

...

...

...

0.18

705.0

...

...

...

0.5

1.6

0.30

...

3.0

...

707.0

...

...

...

0.50

2.1

0.30

...

4.2

...

(b)

(c)
(c)
(c, d)

(c)
(c)

(c)

(f)

(continued)
Values are nominal (i.e., average of range of limits for elements for which a range is specied). (a) Also contains 0.7% silver. (b) Also contains 0.10% vanadium and 0.18%
zirconium. (c) For this alloy, impurity limits are signicantly lower than for the similar alloy listed just above. (d) Also contains 0.055% beryllium. (e) May contain higher
iron (up to 2.0% total) than 443.0 and A443.0. (f) Also contains 0.005% beryllium and 0.005% boron. (g) Also contains 6.2% tin.

16 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 4

(continued)
Percent of alloying elements; aluminum and normal impurities constitute remainder

Alloy

Silicon

Iron

Copper

Manganese

Magnesium

Chromium

Nickel

Zinc

Titanium

Notes

710.0

...

...

0.50

...

0.7

...

...

6.5

...

711.0

...

1.0

0.50

...

0.35

...

...

6.5

...

712.0

...

...

...

...

0.58

0.50

...

6.0

0.20

713.0

...

...

0.7

...

0.35

...

...

7.5

...

771.0

...

...

...

...

0.9

0.40

...

7.0

0.15

850.0

...

...

1.0

...

...

...

1.0

...

...

(g)

851.0

2.5

...

1.0

...

...

...

0.50

...

...

(g)

852.0

...

...

2.0

...

0.75

...

1.2

...

...

(g)

Values are nominal (i.e., average of range of limits for elements for which a range is specied). (a) Also contains 0.7% silver. (b) Also contains 0.10% vanadium and 0.18%
zirconium. (c) For this alloy, impurity limits are signicantly lower than for the similar alloy listed just above. (d) Also contains 0.055% beryllium. (e) May contain higher
iron (up to 2.0% total) than 443.0 and A443.0. (f) Also contains 0.005% beryllium and 0.005% boron. (g) Also contains 6.2% tin.

Designations for Experimental Aluminum Alloys


Experimental alloys of either the wrought or cast aluminum series are
indicated with the addition of the prex X. This prex is dropped when
the alloy is no longer experimental. However, during development and
before an alloy is designated as experimental, a new composition may be
identied by a serial number assigned by the originating organization.
Use of the serial number is discontinued when the composition is
registered with the Aluminum Association and the ANSI H35.1 designation is assigned.

Aluminum Alloy Temper Designation System


Basic Temper Designations
The temper designation is always presented immediately following the
alloy designation with a hyphen between the designation and the temper
(e.g., 2014-T6).
The rst character in the temper designation is a capital letter indicating
the general class of treatment. The designations are dened and described
as follows:
O F, as fabricated: Applies to wrought or cast products made by shaping
processes in which there is no special control over thermal conditions
or strain-hardening processes employed to achieve specic properties.
For wrought alloys there are no mechanical property limits associated
with this temper, although for cast alloys there generally are.
O O, annealed: Applies to wrought products that are annealed to obtain
the lower strength temper, usually to increase subsequent workability.
The O applies to cast products that are annealed to improve ductility

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 17

and dimensional stability and may be followed by a digit other than


zero.
O H, strain hardened: Applies to products that have their strength
increased by strain hardening. They may or may not have supplementary thermal treatments to produce some reduction in strength. The H
is always followed by two or more digits.
O W, solution heat treated: Applies only to alloys that age spontaneously
after solution heat treating. This designation is specic only when
digits are used in combination with W to indicate the period of natural
aging, for example, W 12 hr.
O T, thermally treated to produce stable tempers other than F, O, or H:
Applies to products that are thermally treated, with or without
supplementary strain hardening, to produce stable tempers. The T is
always followed by one or more digits.

Subdivisions of the Basic Tempers


The temper designation system is based on sequences of basic treatments used to produce different tempers and their variations. Subdivisions
of the basic tempers, discussed next, are indicated by one or more digits
(descriptor digits) following the letter.
Subdivisions of the Basic H Tempers. The rst number(s) following
the letter designation indicates the specic combination of basic operations:
O H1, strain hardened only: Applies to products that have been strain
hardened to obtain a desired level of strength without a supplementary
thermal treatment. The number following H1 indicates degree of strain
hardening.
O H2, strain hardened and partially annealed: Applies to products that
have been strain hardened more than the desired nal amount, and their
strength is reduced to the desired level by partial annealing. The
number added to H2 indicates the degree of strain hardening remaining
after partial annealing.
O H3, strain hardened and stabilized: Applies to products that have been
strain hardened and then stabilized either by a low temperature thermal
treatment, or as a result of heat introduced during fabrication of the
product. Stabilization usually improves ductility. The H3 temper is
used only for those alloys that will gradually age soften at room
temperature if they are not stabilized. The number added to H3
indicates the degree of strain hardening remaining after stabilization.
O H4, strain hardened and lacquered or painted: Applies to products that
are strain hardened and that have been subjected to heat during
subsequent painting or lacquering operations. The number added to H4
indicates the amount of strain hardening left after painting or lacquering.

18 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Adding Additional Digits: H Temper. A digit following H1, H2, H3,


or H4 indicates the degree of strain hardening as identied or indicated by
the minimum value for tensile strength:
O The hardest temper normally produced is indicated by adding the
numeral 8 (i.e., HX8).
O A degree of cold work equal to approximately one-half that for the
HX8 temper is indicated by the HX4 temper, and so on.
O For a degree of cold work halfway between the O temper and the HX4
temper, the HX2 temper is used.
O For a degree of cold work halfway between HX4 and HX8, the HX6
temper is used.
O The numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7, similarly, designate tempers intermediate
between those just listed.
O The numeral 9 is used to indicate tempers that exceed those of HX8 by
14 MPa (2 ksi) or more.
Table 5 indicates gains in the tensile strength of wrought alloys in the
annealed temper when they are treated to the HX8 temper.
Several three-digit H tempers also have been standardized. For all
strain-hardenable alloys, the following three-digit designations are recognized:
O HX11: Applies to products that incur sufficient strain hardening after
the nal anneal such that they fail to qualify as annealed, but not so
much or so consistent an amount of strain that they qualify as HX1.
O H112: Applies to products that may acquire some temper from working
at an elevated temperature and for which there are mechanical property
limits.
Other recognized three-digit H tempers apply to types of sheet, as shown
in Table 6.
Table 5

Tensile strengths of HX8 tempers

Minimum tensile strength


in annealed temper, ksi

Up to 6
79
1012

Increase in tensile strength


to HX8 temper, ksi

8
9
10

1315

11

1618

12

1924

13

2520

14

3136

15

3742

16

43 and over

17

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 19

Table 5M
(metric)

Tensile strengths of HX8 tempers

Minimum tensile strength


in annealed temper, mPa

Increase in tensile strength


to HX8 temper, mPa

Up to 40

55

4560

62

6580

69

85100

76

105120

83

125160

90

165200

97

205240

103

245280

110

285320

115

296 and over

120

Subdivisions of the Basic T Temper. The rst number(s) following


the letter T designation indicates the specic combination of basic
operations:
O T1, cooled from elevated temperature shaping process and naturally
aged to a substantially stable condition: Applies to products (a) that are
not cold worked after cooling from an elevated temperature shaping
process or (b) for which the effect of cold work in attening or
straightening may not be recognized in mechanical property limits
O T2, cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process, cold worked,
and naturally aged to a substantially stable condition: Applies to
products (a) that are cold worked to improve strength after cooling
from an elevated temperature shaping process or (b) for which the
effect of cold work in attening or straightening is recognized in
mechanical property limits
O T3, solution heat treated, cold worked, and naturally aged to a
substantially stable condition: Applies to products (a) that are cold
worked to improve strength after solution heat treatment or (b) for
which the effect of cold work in attening or straightening is
recognized in mechanical property limits
O T4, solution heat treated and naturally aged to a substantially stable
condition: Applies to products (a) that are not cold worked after
solution heat treatment or (b) for which the effect of cold work in
attening or straightening may not be recognized in mechanical
property limits
O T5, cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process, then
articially aged: Applies to products (a) that are not cold worked after
cooling from elevated temperature shaping process or (b) for which the
effect of cold work in attening or straightening may not be recognized
in mechanical property limits
O T6, solution treated, then articially aged: Applies to products (a) that
are not cold worked after solution treatment or (b) for which the effect

20 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O
O

of cold work in attening or straightening may not be recognized in


mechanical property limits
T7, solution heat treated and overaged/stabilized: Applies to (a)
wrought products that are articially aged after solution heat treating to
increase their strength beyond the maximum value achievable to
provide control of some signicant property or characteristic or (b) cast
products that are articially aged after solution treatment to provide
stability in dimensions and in strength
T8, solution heat treated, cold worked, then articially aged: Applies
to products (a) that are cold worked to improve strength or (b) for
which the effect of cold work in attening and straightening is
recognized in mechanical property limits
T9, solution heat treated, articially aged, then cold worked: Applies
to products that are cold worked to improve strength
T10, cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process, cold
worked, then articially aged: Applies to products (a) that are cold
worked to improve strength or (b) for which the effect of cold work in
attening or straightening is recognized in mechanical property limits

In all of the T-type temper denitions just described, solution heat


treatment is achieved by:
O Heating cast or wrought shaped products to a suitable temperature
O Holding them at that temperature long enough to allow constituents to
enter into solid solution
O Cooling them rapidly enough to hold the constituents in solution to
take advantage of subsequent precipitation and the associated strengthening (i.e., precipitation hardening)
Adding Additional Digits: T Temper. Additional digits, the rst of
which shall not be zero, may be added to designations T1 through T10 to
indicate a variation in treatment that signicantly alters the product
characteristics that are or would be obtained using the basic treatment.
The specic additional digits shown in Table 7 have been assigned for
stress-relieved tempers of wrought products. The special T-temper desigTable 6

Tempers for aluminum pattern sheet

Pattern or embossed sheet

Fabricated from

H114

O temper

H124, H224, H324

H11, H21, H31 temper, respectively

H134, H234, H334

H12, H22, H32 temper, respectively

H144, H244, H344

H13, H23, H33 temper, respectively

H154, H254, H354

H14, H24, H34 temper, respectively

H164, H264, H364

H15, H25, H35 temper, respectively

H174, H274, H374

H16, H26, H36 temper, respectively

H184, H284, H384

H17, H27, H37 temper, respectively

H194, H294, H394

H18, H28, H38 temper, respectively

H195, H295, H395

H19, H29, H39 temper, respectively

Aluminum Alloy and Temper Designation Systems of the Aluminum Association / 21

Table 7

Tempers for stress-relieved products

Temper

Application

Stress relieved by stretching


TX51

Applies to plate and rolled or cold-nished rod or bar, die or ring forgings, and rolled rings when
stretched the indicated amounts after solution heat treatment or after cooling from an elevated
temperature shaping process. The products receive no further straightening after stretching.
Plate, 1123% permanent set
Rolled or cold-nished rod and bar, 13% permanent set
Die or ring forgings and rolled rings, 15% permanent set

TX510

Applies to extruded rod, bar, proles (shapes), and tube and to drawn tube when stretched the indicated
amounts after solution heat treatment or after cooling from an elevated temperature shaping
process. These products receive no further straightening after stretching.
Extruded rod, bar, proles (shapes), and tube, 13% permanent set
Drawn tube, 123% permanent set

TX511

Applies to extruded rod, bar, proles (shapes), and tube and to drawn tube when stretched the indicated
amounts after solution heat treatment or after cooling from an elevated temperature shaping
process. These products may receive minor straightening after stretching to comply with standard
tolerances.
Extruded rod, bar, proles (shapes), and tube, 13% permanent set
Drawn tube, 123% permanent set

Stress relieved by compressing


TX52

Applies to products that are stress relieved by compressing after solution heat treatment or cooling from
an elevated temperature shaping process to produce a permanent set of 15%.

Stress relieved by combined stretching and compressing


TX54

Applies to die forgings that are stress relieved by restriking cold in the nish die.

Same digits (51, 52, 54) may be added to the designation W to indicate unstable solution heat treated and stress-relieved tempers.

nations listed in Table 8 have been assigned for wrought aluminum


products from which test materials are taken and heat treated to
demonstrate response to heat treatment of the product as a whole.
Assigned O-Temper Variations. The following temper designation
has been assigned for wrought products that are high-temperature
annealed to accentuate ultrasonic response and to provide dimensional
stability:
O O1, thermally treated at approximately the same time and temperature
required for solution heat treatment and slow cooled to room temperature: Applicable to products that are to be machined prior to solution
heat treatment by the user. Mechanical property limits are not applicable.
Table 8
Temper

T42

Tempers for testing response to heat treatment


Description

Solution heat treated from annealed or F temper and naturally aged to a substantially stable condition

T62

Solution heat treated from annealed or F temper and articially aged

T7X2

Solution heat treated from annealed or F temper and articially overaged to meet the mechanical
properties and corrosion resistance limits of the T7X temper

These temper designations have been assigned for wrought products test material heat-treated from annealed (O, O1, etc.) or F
temper to demonstrate response to heat treatment. Temper designations T42 and T62 also may be applied to wrought products heat
treated from any temper by the user when such heat treatment results in the mechanical properties applicable to these tempers.

22 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Note: As the O temper is not part of the strain-hardened (H) series,


variations of O temper shall not apply to products that are strain hardened
after annealing and in which the effect of strain hardening is recognized
in the mechanical properties or other characteristics.

Summary
This completes an overview of the Aluminum Association Alloy and
Temper Designation Systems in the terms described in Aluminum
Standards and Data and in ANSI H35.1. In the chapters that follow, we
will look at the systems in more detail, discuss the meanings of some of
the variations, and provide illustrations of the usage of the systems. With
this information, heat treaters, fabricators, and end users of aluminum
products should be able to better understand the designations and, hence,
the practices used in their particular situations.
For more detailed information on any of the discussion presented in this
chapter, the reader is referred directly to the master sources (publication
information can be found in Chapter 8, Selected References):
O Aluminum Standards and Data (English/engineering and metric editions)
O American National Standard Alloy and Temper Designation Systems
for Aluminum
O Standards for Aluminum Sand and Permanent Mold Casting

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p23-37
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p023

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

Understanding Wrought
and Cast Aluminum
Alloys Designations
THE WROUGHT ALLOY DESIGNATION SYSTEM consists of four
numerical digits, sometimes preceded by a capital letter as indicated in
Chapter 2. The rst digit indicates the principal alloying elements, as
described in this chapter in the section Principal Alloying Elements and
Table 1; the second digit is the variation of that alloy; and the last two
digits represent the specic alloy designation.

The Wrought Alloy Series


How the System is Applied
The First Digit. Assignment of the rst digit of the designation of a
new alloy is fairly straightforward; few judgment decisions are needed
unless there are equal amounts of two or more alloys. In the latter case,
specic guidance has been provided by the developers of the alloy
designation system that the choice of alloy series assigned shall be in the
order of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), silicon (Si), magnesium (Mg),
magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), and zinc (Zn). Thus, if a new alloy has equal
amounts of manganese and zinc, it will be assigned to the 3xxx series. In
such cases, the 6xxx series requires the most judgment because alloys that
have more silicon than magnesium, but signicant quantities of both, are
likely to be placed in the 6xxx series rather than the 4xxx series in
establishing properties and characteristics due to the predominance of the
magnesium and silicon combination. Thus, for example, alloys such as
6005, 6066, and 6351, all have signicantly more silicon than magnesium
or other elements, but nd themselves in the Mg2Si series.

24 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

The Second Digit. Assignment of the second digit of the alloy


designation is related to the variations in a specic alloy, in many cases,
tightening of controls on one or more impurities to achieve specic
properties. If the second digit is 0, it generally indicates that the aluminum
making up the bulk of the alloy is commercially pure aluminum having
naturally occurring impurity levels. When the second digit is an integer 1
to 9, it indicates that some special control has been placed on the impurity
levels of that variation, or that the range for one of the major alloy
elements has been shaded one way or the other to achieve certain
performance. However, the sequence has no signicance in the composition variation; the digits are assigned sequentially as the situations
occur, and the sequence indicates chronology more than level of control.
An example of the application of these principles is the alloy set 7075,
7175, 7275, 7375, and 7475. The original alloy was 7075 with commercial quality aluminum; when added fracture toughness was needed,
controls on various impurities, notably iron and silicon led to the other
variations, of which 7175 and 7475 remain active alloys known for their
superior toughness.
The Third and Fourth Digits. As noted earlier, the last two digits in
the 1xxx series indicate the purity level in terms of the rst two digits after
the 99.XX% purity of the aluminum used in preparing that composition.
Thus, for example, the designation 1060 indicates 99.60% minimum
aluminum in that composition. In the remaining 2xxx to 8xxx series, the
last two digits have no special signicance. They serve only to identify
the specic individual alloys and mean nothing in terms of the sequence
in which the alloys were developed or registered. Historically, for the
older alloys, those digits came from the earlier designations (e.g., 2024
was 24S before 1950). More recently, it has been the tradition that
developers of new alloys ask for specic designations, sometimes based
on proximity of application to other alloys of the same series or because
they judge them easy to remember or such. Alloy 2020, now inactive, is
an example of the latter. If the developer asks for a specic number when
ling for registration, the Aluminum Association Product Standards
Committee, which oversees the system, is likely to agree to the request
if no confusion would result. However, if no designation is requested,
the committee would likely take the lowest used number in the sequence
1 to 99.
The alloy designation system also calls for the use of capital letters in
front of the four-digit numerical:
O Experimental alloysX: Early in the development of aluminum alloys,
when such development has moved beyond single-company in-house
trials, and the alloys are ready for customer trials and/or perhaps
multicompany production but are still not sufficiently well understood
or documented to become standard alloys, the alloys may be registered,

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 25

but an X is added to the designation. A historical example was the use


of X2020, when the rst of the lithium-bearing alloys was put forth in
the 1960s. That designation was employed for about ten years before
the further use of the alloy was deemed inappropriate and its
application was discontinued. Another example is X7050, from which
the X was removed once the broad application of the alloy was
considered appropriate and the properties and standards were well
dened.
O VariationsA, B, etc.: Under certain situations when minor variations
in alloy compositions are introduced, such variation sometimes is
noted with the addition of a capital letter behind the original fournumber designation, rather than a change in the second digit. The only
current example of the application of this procedure in commercial
practice is 6005Aa modication of alloy 6005. In general, the
practice is to reect such variations with the second digit as noted
earlier in this chapter.

Principal Alloying Elements


As indicated in Chapter 2 and in the previous discussion, the most
obvious characteristic of the alloy series dened by the designation is the
major alloying element or elements, as recapped in Table 1. This
breakdown leads to the ability to recognize a variety of things about the
alloys themselves because each of these elements carries certain characteristics with it into the aluminum system as dened in subsequent
paragraphs. Remembering these associations will add immeasurably to
understanding the behavior and proper treatments to be given the alloys.

Understanding Wrought Alloy Strengthening Mechanisms


The rst major piece of information conveyed by understanding the
alloy designation system is the manner in which the alloy can be most
effectively strengthened.
For example, pure aluminum (1xxx) and alloys containing principally
manganese (3xxx) or magnesium (5xxx) with only minor amounts of other
elements must be strengthened primarily by strain hardening because they
Table 1 Main alloying elements in the
wrought aluminum alloy designation system
Alloy

Main alloying element

1xxx

Mostly pure aluminum; no major alloying additions

2xxx

Copper

3xxx

Manganese

4xxx

Silicon

5xxx

Magnesium

6xxx

Magnesium and silicon

7xxx

Zinc

8xxx

Other elements (e.g., iron and silicon)

9xxx

Unassigned

26 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

do not respond to solution heat treatment. Pure aluminum has no


appreciable amounts of any elements that can go into solution to provide
solution strengthening or precipitation hardening. And elements such as
magnesium, silicon, and manganese, while they are soluble to some
degree in aluminum and provide modest solution strengthening, do not
provide for an appreciable amount of the more signicant precipitation
hardening. Thus, for pure aluminum and the 3xxx and 5xxx alloys, cold
rolling, stretching, or drawing, or some combination of these, are the
principal means of strengthening.
On the other hand, elements such as copper (2xxx series), zinc (7xxx
series), and magnesium in combination with silicon as Mg2Si (6xxx
series) do go into solution to an appreciable degree and provide the
opportunity for appreciable precipitation hardening. Thus, solution heat
treatment (a high temperature holding to permit the elements to go into
solution), followed by a sufficiently rapid quench to keep the elements in
solution, and then either natural aging (i.e., at room temperature) or
articial aging (holding in a furnace at a moderately elevated temperature) for precipitation hardening are most often used. The result is that
alloy series containing copper (2xxx), magnesium plus silicon (6xxx), or
zinc (7xxx) are the higher-strength series.
The 4xxx series is somewhat unique in that silicon alone does not
provide much heat treating advantage, so most alloys in this series are
considered non-heat-treatable. However, in some 4xxx alloys the silicon is
present with sufficient amounts of other elements such as magnesium that
heat treatment is effective; alloy 4032 is an example. The situation is
similar for the 8xxx series; some alloys such as 8017 and 8040 with only
small amounts of alloying element are non-heat-treatable, while those
such as 8090, with a signicant amount of copper are.

Understanding Wrought Alloy Advantages and Limitations


In addition to being indicative of specic strengthening mechanisms,
the major alloying elements also indicate several things about basic
behavioral or performance characteristics of the alloys. It is helpful to a
secondary fabricator, heat treater, or user of the various alloys to be
knowledgeable about these as well. The following example characteristics
may be noted.
1xxx, Pure Aluminum. The compositions in this group have relatively
low strength, even when strain hardened; however, they have extremely
high ductility and formability and so may be readily worked or formed.
The 1xxx series aluminums also have exceptionally high electrical
conductivity and resistance to all types of corrosive environments and
may be readily joined by a number of commercial processes.
2xxx, Copper. As the principal alloying element in this series, copper
provides relatively high strength because it provides solution strengthening and the ability to precipitation harden. Many commercial aluminum

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 27

alloys contain copper as the principal alloying constituent in concentrations from 1 to 10%. Because these alloys naturally age at room
temperature, it is advantageous to do any required working or forming of
the metal soon after quenching from solution heat treatment. If a delay is
needed, it may be desirable to cool them until the mechanical work can
be performed.
In the fully hardened (age-hardened) condition, the ductility of 2xxx
alloys is generally lower than for some other alloys (except in special
variations that are discussed later), and their resistance to atmospheric
corrosion is not as good as that of pure aluminum or most non-heattreatable alloys.
Unless given special treatments, 2xxx alloys in the T3 and T4 conditions
may be susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) when stressed in
the short-transverse direction (i.e., normal to the principal plane of grain
ow). Precipitation hardening improves resistance to SCC but reduces
ductility and toughness.
Most aluminum-copper alloys are not readily welded by commercial
processes, but a few alloys such as 2219 and 2195 have been developed
especially for applications requiring welding.
3xxx, Manganese. Manganese provides only modest strength increase
even when strain hardened but relatively high formability and ductility,
and very high resistance to corrosion in almost all environments. Alloys
of the 3xxx series are readily weldable and are among the best for brazing
and soldering applications.
Commercial aluminum-manganese alloys contain up to 1.2% manganese, but it is appropriate to note that manganese is commonly employed
as a supplementary alloying constituent in alloys of the other series to
enhance strength.
4xxx, Silicon. There are two types of silicon-bearing aluminum alloys:
those with silicon alone, which are not very strong but provide excellent
ow and nishing characteristics, and those that also include copper
and/or magnesium as well as silicon and so gain strength by solution heat
treatment and aging.
The 4xxx alloys are not highly resistant to atmospheric corrosion and
tend to gray with time in humid environments. Interestingly, this
characteristic is used to advantage with nishing techniques such as
anodizing to obtain a variety of rich gray shades.
Because silicon adds to their ow characteristics during working,
some 4xxx alloys (e.g., 4032) are used for complex or nely detailed
forgings such as pistons. The 4xxx alloys are readily welded and, in fact,
include some of the mostly widely used weld ller alloys, another result
of their high uidity.
5xxx, Magnesium. Magnesium additions to aluminum provide among
the highest strength non-heat-treatable alloys. These alloys also are
exceptionally tough, absorbing lots of energy during fracture, and so

28 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

can be used in critical applications where superior toughness is vital.


Alloys of the 5xxx series are readily welded by commercial procedures.
Generally, the 5xxx alloys also have excellent resistance to atmospheric
and seawater corrosion to the point that they may be used in severe
marine environments (as described in more detail in Chapter 6). However,
alloys with more than 3% Mg are not recommended for service in which
signicant exposure to high temperature may be encountered because
some sensitization to SCC may develop. For these types of applications,
alloys such as 5052, 5454, and 5754 containing less magnesium are
recommended.
6xxx, Magnesium Plus Silicon. With both magnesium and silicon
present, aluminum forms a quasi-binary section with the Mg2Si phase of
the magnesium-silicon system, which in turn provides excellent precipitation-hardening capability. This results in modestly higher strengths than
possible with non-heat-treatable alloys, combined with generally excellent corrosion resistance.
Alloys of the 6xxx type are among the easiest of aluminum alloys to
extrude, and are thus widely used for complex (e.g., multihollow or
nned) shapes produced in this manner. In addition, they are readily
joined by almost all commercial processes.
As with the 2xxx series, some natural aging begins immediately after
solution heat treatment, so forming operations should be scheduled soon
after the material is quenched.
7xxx, Zinc. Zinc-bearing aluminum alloys, especially when combined
with copper and magnesium, provide the highest strengths of any
commercial series.
As a group, these alloys possess relatively poorer atmospheric corrosion
resistance compared with other aluminum alloys and, except for the
special versions described later, are less tough and more susceptible to
stress-corrosion cracking under short-transverse stressing. Special treatments have been developed to deal with these characteristics and are
especially important when the alloys would be subjected to high shorttransverse stresses in service (as described in the following paragraphs).
As with the 2xxx and 6xxx series, 7xxx alloys naturally age following
heat treatment, so scheduling of any intended forming operations is
essential.

Other Characteristics Related to Principal Alloying Element


As noted earlier, knowledge of the alloy designation system also
provides some information about the properties and characteristics of the
alloys. Two notable examples are density and modulus of elasticity:
O Density: The density of each aluminum alloy is inuenced by the
density of each of the individual alloying elements, most especially by
the major alloying element indicated by the rst number of the

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 29

designation. The degree of inuence is directly related to the percentage of the alloying element present. For example, alloys with magnesium and lithium present are lighter than pure aluminum, while alloys
with copper, iron, and zinc are heavier. Those alloys with mostly
silicon or silicon combined with magnesium have densities about the
same as pure aluminum. In Section 2 of Aluminum Standards and
Data, Tables I and II provide both typical density values and
procedures for calculating densities. Practical estimates of the density
of an alloy also may be made by summing the percentages of each
element present multiplied by the respective density of that element
(representative values given in Table 2).
O Modulus of Elasticity: As in the case of density, the moduli of elasticity
of aluminum alloys, with a few exceptions, are inuenced by the
modulus of elasticity of the alloying elements in direct relation to the
amount present. Thus, by summing the percentages of each element
present multiplied by the respective modulus, the modulus of the alloy
may be estimated. There are two important exceptionsmagnesium
and lithium; both of these relatively low-modulus elements have the
effect of increasing the modulus of aluminum: magnesium by a small
amount and lithium by a large amount. Table 3 provides the moduli of
the major alloying elements for use in estimating the moduli of alloys
in which they are used. It must be emphasized that calculations made
on this basis are to be considered to be rough estimates, not suitable for
Table 2 Densities of aluminum and aluminum alloying elements
Density
Alloying element

g/cm3

lb/in.3

Aluminum

2.699

0.0971

Silver

10.49

0.379

Gold

19.32

0.698

Beryllium

1.82

0.066

Bismuth

9.80

0.354

Cadmium

8.65

0.313

Cobalt

8.9

0.32

Chromium

7.19

0.260

Copper

8.96

0.324

Iron

7.87

0.284

Lithium

0.53

0.019

Magnesium

1.74

0.0628

Manganese

7.43

0.268

Molybdenum
Nickel
Lead
Silicon

13.55

0.490

8.90

0.322

11.34

0.410

2.33

0.084

Tin

7.30

0.264

Titanium

4.54

0.164

Zinc

7.13

0.258

Zirconium

6.5

0.23

30 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

design purposes. For design purposes, there is no substitute for precise


measurements of modulus in accordance with ASTM Method E 111.

Understanding Wrought Alloy Variations


Most wrought alloys start at the mill as cast ingot or billet. The ingot or
billet is hot worked into semifabricated wrought products by such
processes as hot rolling and extrusion, some of which are further nished
by cold rolling or drawing. Wrought alloys are available in a variety of
product forms, including sheet, plate, tube, pipe, structural shapes,
extrusions, rod, bar, wire, rivets, forging, forging stock, foil, and n stock.
These processes and products are described further in Chapter 6.
As stated earlier, the second digit of an alloy designation denes
variations of the original alloy composition. Several examples may help
to illustrate this point.
Example 1. Alloys 2124, 2224, and 2324 are variations, actually
higher-purity variations, of alloy 2024. The original alloy has been and
continues to be useful for transportation applications, but research
metallurgists noted that controlling impurity elements such as iron and
silicon enhanced the toughness of the alloy, providing variations especially useful for critical aerospace applications where high fracture
toughness is vital. This procedure was adopted rst to make 2124, a plate
Table 3 Elastic moduli of aluminum and aluminum
alloying elements
Elastic modulus
Alloying element

GPa

106 psi

Aluminum

69

Silver

71

11.0

Gold

78

12.0

Beryllium

10.0

255

37.0

Bismuth

32

4.6

Cadmium

55

8.0

Cobalt

21

30.0

Chromium

248

36.0

Copper

128

16.0

Iron

208

28.5

Lithium

0.7(b)

0.1(b)

Magnesium

44(a)

Manganese

159

23.0

Molybdenum

325

50.0

Nickel

207

30.0

Lead

261

2.6

Silicon

110

16.0

Tin
Titanium

6.5(a)

44

6.0

120

16.8

Zinc

69(c)

10(c)

Zirconium

49.3

11.0

(a) Effect of magnesium is equivalent to approximately 75 GPa/11.0 106psi. (b) Effect


of lithium is equivalent to approximately 207 GPa/30.0 106psi. (c) The modulus of
elasticity of zinc is not well dened; these values are lower-limit estimates.

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 31

alloy with all the advantages of 2024 but substantially higher elongation
and toughness, especially in the short transverse direction. The process
was adopted subsequently to create 2324, an alloy for extrusions with
similar attributes. Some special processing also may be required for such
alloys.
Example 2. Alloys 7175 and 7475 are modications of alloy 7075.
Both 7175 and 7475 alloys have the same major alloying elements as
7075 but, as in the case of the 2xxx alloys, scientists learned that control
of the impurities and the relationship of the levels of certain minor
elements added to the fracture toughness of alloys, making them
especially useful for critical aerospace applications. Alloy 7175 has found
most of its application in forgings, while 7475 is most often used in
applications requiring sheet and plate. Designations 7275 and 7375 were
assigned earlier but then discarded and are no longer in commercial use.

Links to Earlier Alloy Designations


For reference purposes, it is useful to note that prior to the development
of the current Aluminum Association Alloy Designation System, another
alloy designation system had been in place. Occasionally, a specication
or a component turns up where the older designation still is evident, and
it is useful to be able to bridge the gap.
The old system for wrought alloy designations consisted of a one or two
digit number followed by a capital S. A capital letter in front of the alloy
number was used to illustrate a variation of a basic composition. Because
it lacked sufficient rigor, exibility, and consistency, this system was
abandoned in the 1950s and replaced by the current system.
When the four-digit system was installed, the letters were dropped, and
the two surviving numbers became a part of the new system. For example,
alloy 17S became alloy 2017, and similarly, alloy 24S became alloy 2024,
as illustrated in Table 4, which provides a reference conversion showing
both the current and original designations.

Unied Numbering System (UNS)


Alloy Designation System for Wrought Alloys
The UNS alloy designation system, while not used in most domestic or
international commerce, is sometimes cited for information purposes in
domestic or international standards, including ASTM material specications.
For both wrought and cast aluminum alloys, the UNS designation is
based directly on the Aluminum Association alloy designation system.
For wrought alloys, the UNS number is the Aluminum Association
designation preceded by A9. Thus, for example, alloy 2024 becomes
A92024 in the UNS system; 7075 is A97075.
The Aluminum Association is the maintainer of the UNS designation
system for aluminum alloys.

32 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 4 Comparison of previous and current aluminum alloy designation systems


Old designation

Current designation

1S

1100

3S

3003

4S

3004

14S

2014

17S

2017

A17S

2117

24S

2024

25S

2025

26S

2026

32S

4032

50S

5050

B51S

6151

52S

5052

56S

5056

61S

6061

63S

6063

75S

7075

76S

7076

The Cast Alloy Series


The cast alloy designation series has a more complex and confusing
history than the wrought alloy series, and so, in addition to describing the
current alloy designations, some explanation will be given to the several
variations of designations still rather widely applied to cast aluminum
alloys. This is made more important because the most recent changes in
the cast alloy designation system have occurred much more recently than
those in the wrought alloy series, so there is a much higher probability
that there are many parts in service and specied in drawings identied
with earlier designations. There may be many individuals still unaware of
the most recent changes.
In the material that follows, the current system is discussed rst,
followed by a look back at earlier designations systems.

How the Current Aluminum Cast


Alloy Designation System is Applied
The cast alloy designation has four numbers, with a decimal point
between the third and fourth numbers and a letter preceding the numbers
to indicate variations. The rst three numbers indicate the alloy, and the
fourth indicates the product form.
The rst digit identies the family, based on the series listed in Table
5. For example, a 3xx.x designation represents the group of aluminumsilicon alloys that contain magnesium or copper. As with wrought alloy
designations, when there are two major elements in equal percentage in

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 33

Table 5

Aluminum casting alloys

Series

Alloying element(s)

1xx.x

Unalloyed compositions

2xx.x

Copper

3xx.x

Silicon plus copper and/or magnesium

4xx.x

Silicon

5xx.x

Magnesium

6xx.x

Not used

7xx.x

Zinc

8xx.x

Tin

9xx.x

Other elements

the alloy, the alloy is designated in accordance with the sequence: copper,
silicon plus copper and/or magnesium, silicon, magnesium, or zinc.
The second and third digits identify a specic alloy of the family. For
all except the 1xx.x series, there is no special signicance to those
numbers; they neither indicate a sequence of any type nor represent any
characteristic of the alloy. In some, though not all, instances, the numbers
may refer back to an earlier designation system. In the 1xx.x series, the
last two digits represent the percentage of aluminum present in terms of
the two digits to the right of the decimal point in that percentage; for
example, 160.0 represents a casting of 99.60% minimum aluminum,
relatively high purity.
The nal digit following the decimal indicates the product
formcasting or ingot. If the designation applies to a nished casting, a
zero always is used (xxx.0); if it applies to the ingot from which the
casting was or will be produced, a 1 or 2 is used (xxx.1 or xxx.2). In the
latter case, the xxx.1 designation is the most common and refers to the
common commercial composition. The xxx.2 designation usually is
limited to those cases where a narrower composition range of one or more
of the elementsall within the composition limits for the xxx.1 versionis used to achieve special properties.
As an example, alloy 356.0 represents a nished casting of the silicon
plus copper and/or magnesium series. The designation 356.1 normally
would represent the ingot from which the 356.0 casting was made.
Prex letters such as A or B indicate variations in the composition of
casting alloys, but overall similarity. Continuing the example above, alloy
A356.0 indicates a variation of 356.0 alloy, but with tighter controls on
iron and other impurities. The ingot from which the A356.0 was made
may be designated A356.1 or 356.2, both indicating the tighter control at
the ingot stage.

Understanding Cast Alloy Strengthening Mechanisms


As with wrought alloys, we can note several major characteristics of
casting alloys by their alloy class, the rst digit of the designation.
Response to heat treatment is one important characteristic:

34 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O
O
O
O

1xx.0:
2xx.0:
3xx.0:
4xx.0:

Unalloyed; non-heat-treatable
Copper; heat treatable
Silicon plus copper and/or magnesium; heat treatable
Silicon; heat treatable

O
O
O
O

5xx.0:
6xx.0:
7xx.0:
8xx.0:

Magnesium; non-heat-treatable
Unused series
Zinc; heat treatable
Tin; heat treatable

O 9xx.0: Other elements; limited use


Despite these descriptive categorizations, it is appropriate to note that
while casting alloys of the 3xx.0 and 4xx.0 groupings are listed as heat
treatable, it is not customary in the die-casting industry to use separate
solution heat treatment for these alloys. Some strength advantage is
gained by the rapid cooling from the casting process, but even this is not
usually a closely controlled procedure. On the other hand, sand and
permanent mold castings foundries typically take advantage of solution
heat treating capabilities.
The reader also will note that there is no discussion of strain hardening
as a strengthening mechanism for cast alloys. This is simply because the
vast majority of castings are produced to near-nished dimensions, and
neither the shapes nor the dimensional controls lend themselves to
stretching or compression cold work.

Understanding Cast Alloy Advantages and Limitations


Based upon the effects of the primary alloying elements, some
generalizations may be made about several characteristics of the major
classes of aluminum casting alloys. Among the most important such
characteristics are those related to castability and to end-product properties and characteristics, as illustrated in Table 6, with ratings from 1
(highest or best) to 5 (lowest or worst). Such ratings are generalizations,
and some individual alloys in the groups may exhibit somewhat different
behavior.
Table 6
Class

Characteristic ratings for cast aluminum alloys


Fluidity

Cracking

Tightness

1xx.0

Corrosion

Finishing

Joining

2xx.0

13

24

3xx.0

12

12

12

23

34

13

4xx.0

23

45

5xx.0

45

12

7xx.0

12

8xx.0

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 35

Examples of the Use of Variations in Cast Alloy Designations


In the cast alloy designations more so than in the wrought series, letter
prexes are used to indicate variations. As noted earlier, an excellent
example is illustrated by A356.0 as a variation of 356.0. Both are readily
castable into complex shapes, but 356.0, because of the relatively greater
impurity levels tolerated by its specications (e.g., 0.6% Fe max), may be
more variable in quality, including reduced ductility and toughness.
A356.0 is a variation of 356.0 where iron and other impurities are
controlled to lower levels (e.g., 0.20% Fe max) with the result that
appreciably higher strength, ductility, and toughness are reliably provided.
Another example is A357.0 as a low-impurity variation of 357.0, for
which the situation is quite parallel.

Alloys for Different Casting Processes


There are a variety of processes that can be employed to produce
aluminum cast parts, as described in Chapter 5. While many of the alloys
can be produced from a wide variety of these processes, commercial die
castings are generally limited to a relatively small number of compositions, namely, 360.0, A360.0, 380.0, A380.0, 383.0, 384.0, A384.0,
B390.0, 413.0, C443.0, and 518.0.

Other Characteristics Related to Composition


As with wrought alloys, both density and elastic modulus are directly
related to composition, and the same procedures and rules apply.
Reference is thus made to an earlier section in this chapter, Other
Characteristics Related to Principal Alloying Element, and to Tables 2
and 3 for the procedures on how to estimate these properties from the
compositions.

Evolution of the Aluminum Cast Alloy Designation System


For reference purposes, when links to earlier alloy designation systems
are required, it is useful to note that there have been two gradual
transitions in casting alloy designations. Originally, casting alloys were
specied by a rather randomly applied two- or three-digit designation,
without consistent relationships to major alloying elements.
Around 1950, with the increased wrought alloy standardization, there
began the tendency to standardize casting alloys with three digits, often
with the aforementioned letter prexes, but there were still few specic
rules or guidelines guiding alloy designation uniformity.
When the current system was adopted in about 1980, the change was
both to reform the series designations to make it more reliable and
consistent with regard to alloying constituents and to add the fourth digit,
which included the precursor casting ingot from which the castings are

36 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

made. Therefore, at that time, castings designated as 356 castings became


356.0, and A356 castings became A356.0; the ingot from which they were
made became 356.1, A356.1, or 356.2, respectively. For some other alloys
placed in the wrong series initially, the change was more drastic: alloy
108 became 208.0, alloy 43 became 443.0 (or B443.0), and B214 became
512.0.
A summary of some of the major changes over this period is shown in
Table 7. Included in this table are both the current and former designations used within the industry, as well as the former designations followed
by federal, ASTM, and SAE specications.
Regrettably, unlike the case with wrought alloys, the current cast alloy
designations are not so widely accepted throughout the world, and in fact,
they are not universally accepted even in the United States. While the
American Foundrymens Society (AFS) and the Non-Ferrous Founders
Society (NFFS) accept and use the Aluminum Association/ANSI cast
alloy designation system, even the 1996 publications of the Die Casting
Development Council still report cast alloy designations without the
decimal point and the fourth digit and, more surprisingly, refer to the alloy
designations used before the alloy series were rationalized by major
alloying element.

UNS Alloy Designation System for Cast Alloys


As noted earlier, the UNS alloy designation system for cast aluminum
alloys, as for wrought aluminum alloys, is based directly on the
Aluminum Association alloy designation system. For cast alloys, the
Aluminum Association alloy designation is preceded by A followed by
a 0 (zero) if there is no letter preceding the alloy designation, or by 1,
2, 3, and so on, representing the letter of the alphabet used. No period is
used, as in the Aluminum Association casting alloy designation. So, for
example, 356.0 becomes A03560, A356.0 becomes A13560, and B518.0
becomes A25180.

Understanding Wrought and Cast Aluminum Alloys Designations / 37

Table 7
AA/ANSI

Cross reference chart of aluminum casting alloy designations


Former

UNS

Federal

Old ASTM

Old SAE

201.0

...

A02010

...

CQ51A

382

204.0

...

A02040

...

...

...

208.0

108

A02080

108

CS43A

...

213.0

C113

A02130

C113

CS74A

33

222.0

122

A02220

122

CG100A

34

242.0

142

A02420

142

CN42A

39

295.0

195

A02950

195

C4A

38

296.0

B295

A02960

B295

...

380

308.0

A108

A03080

A108

...

...

319.0

319, Allcast

A03190

319

SC64D

326

328.0

Red X-8

A03280

Red X-8

SC82A

327

332.0

F332.0

A03320

F132

SC103A

332

333.0

333

A03330

333

SC94A

331

336.0

A332.0

A03360

A132

SN122A

321

354.0

354

A03540

...

...

...

355.0

355

A03550

355

SC51A

322

C355

A33550

C355

SC51B

335

356

A03560

356

SG70A

323

A356

A13560

A356

SG70B

336

C355.0
356.0
A356.0
357.0

357

A03570

357

...

...

A357

A13570

...

...

...

359.0

359

A03590

...

...

...

360.0

360

A03600

360

SG100B

...

A360

A13600

A360

SG100A

309

A357.0

A360
380.0

380

A03800

380

SC84B

308

A380

A13800

A380

SC84A

306

383.0

383

A03830

383

SC102

383

384.0

384

A0384

384

SC114A

303

B390.0

390

A23900

390

SC174B

...

413.0

13

A04130

13

S12B

...

A13

A14130

A13

S12A

305

A380

A413.0
443.0

43

A04430

...

S5B

35

B443.0

43

A24430

43

S5A

...

C443.0

43

A34430

43

S5C

304

A444.0

...

A14440

...

...

...

512.0

B514.0

A05120

B214

GS42A

...

513.0

A514.0

A05130

A214

GZ42A

514.0

214

A05140

214

G4A

518.0

218

A05180

218

G8A

...

520.0

220

A05200

220

G10A

324

535.0

Almag 35

A05350

Almag 35

GM70B

...

705.0

603, Ternalloy 5

A07050

Ternalloy 5

ZG32A

311

707.0

607, Ternalloy 7

A07070

Ternalloy 7

ZG42A

312

710.0

A712.0

A07100

A612

ZG61B

313

320

711.0

C721.0

A07110

...

ZC60A

314

712.0

D712.0

A07120

40E

ZG61A

310

713.0

613, Tenzaloy

A07130

Tenzaloy

ZC81A

315

771.0

Precedent 71A

A07710

Precedent 71A

...

...

850.0

750

A08500

750

...

...

851.0

A850.0

A08510

A750

...

...

852.0

B850.0

A08520

B750

...

...

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p39-76
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p039

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

Understanding the
Aluminum Temper
Designation System
This chapter provides additional detail and illustrations for the use of
temper designations in the aluminum industry today for both wrought and
cast alloys. This discussion expands on the basic Aluminum Association
Temper Designation System as described in Chapter 2. All standard
tempers (i.e., those recognized by the industry because they have been
registered by the Aluminum Association Technical Committee on Product
Standards) are published either in Aluminum Standards and Data or in the
Alloy and Temper Registration Records together with the procedures for
registering alloys.

Tempers for Wrought Aluminum Alloys


As noted earlier, temper designations are alphanumeric designations
appended to the alloy designations that convey to the producer and user
alike information about the general manner in which the alloy has been
mechanically and/or thermally treated to achieve the properties desired.
Most tempers have specic mechanical properties associated with them,
and satisfactory achievement of the intended temper is generally indicated
by whether the specied properties have been achieved. The temper
designation does not indicate precise details of how the material has been
treated, such as specic amounts of reduction during cold rolling, or the
temperatures used in the thermal treatments.
Topics covered in this chapter include:
O Review of basic temper designations and their major variations
O Applications and variations of the O temper

40 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O
O
O
O

Applications
Applications
Applications
Applications

and
and
and
and

variations
variations
variations
variations

of
of
of
of

the
the
the
the

F temper
W temper
H tempers
T tempers

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Identifying cold work


Identifying stabilization treatments
Identifying partial annealing treatments
Identifying specic products (e.g., embossed sheet)
Applications and variations of the T tempers
Identifying stress relief (TX51, TX510, TX511; TX52)
Identifying modications in quenching (T5 versus T6; T6 versus
T61)
h. Heat treatment by nonproducer (heat treater or fabricator) (TX2)
i. Applications of H or T Tempers for Specic Performance (corrosion resistance; identifying tempers for special or premium
properties; T736 and T74)
As background and useful reference material in understanding more about
aluminum alloy temper designations, the typical mechanical properties of
representative wrought and cast aluminum alloys are presented in Tables
1 and 2, respectively.
Table 1

Typical mechanical properties of wrought aluminum alloys(a)


Tension
Elongation, %
In 4D
12 in.
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kg load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
ksi
% 103

Yield

In 2 in.
116 in.
thick
specimen

1060-O
1060-H12
1060-H14
1060-H16
1060-H18

10
12
14
16
19

4
11
13
15
18

43
16
12
8
6

19
23
26
30
35

7
8
9
10
11

3
4
5
6.5
6.5

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

1100-O
1100-H12
1100-H14
1100-H16
1100-H18

13
16
18
21
24

5
15
17
20
22

35
12
9
6
5

45
25
20
17
15

23
28
32
38
44

9
10
11
12
13

5
6
7
9
9

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

1350-O
1350-H12
1350-H14
1350-H16
1350-H19

12
14
16
18
27

4
12
14
16
24

(d)

(e)

8
9
10
11
15

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

2011-T3
2011-T8

55
59

43
45

15
12
(continued)

95
100

32
35

Strength, ksi
Alloy and temper

Ultimate

18
18

10.2
10.2

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tension
modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 10 in. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 10 in. (f) Tempers
T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 14 in. thick specimen.
(i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 41

Table 1

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
Strength, ksi

In 4D
12 in.
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kg load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
ksi
% 103

Alloy and temper

Ultimate

2014-O
2014-T4, T451
2014-T6, T651
Alclad 2014-O
Alclad 2014-T3

27
62
70
25
63

14
42
60
10
40

21
20

18
20
13

45
105
135

18
38
42
18
37

13
20
18

10.6
10.6
10.6
10.5
10.5

Alclad 2014-T4, T451


Alclad 2014-T6, T651
2017-O
2017-T4, T451
2018-T61

61
68
26
62
61

37
60
10
40
46

22
10

22
22
12

45
105
120

37
41
18
38
39

13
18
17

10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.8

2024-O
2024-T3
2024-T4, T351
2024-T361(f)
Alclad 2024-O

27
70
68
72
26

11
50
47
57
11

20
18
20
13
20

22

19

47
120
120
130

18
41
41
42
18

13
20
20
18

10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6

Alclad
Alclad
Alclad
Alclad
Alclad

65
64
67
65
70

45
42
63
60
66

18
19
11
6
6

40
40
41
40
42

10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6

2025-T6
2036-T4
2117-T4
2124-T851
2218-T72

58
49
43
70
48

37
28
24
64
37

24

19

27
8
11

110

70

95

35

28

30

18
18(g)
14

10.4
10.3
10.3
10.6
10.8

2219-O
2219-T42
2219-T31, T351
2219-T37
2219-T62

25
52
52
57
60

11
27
36
46
42

18
20
17
11
10

15

10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6
10.6

2219-T81, T851
2219-T87
2618-T61
3003-O
3003-H12

66
69
64
16
19

51
57
54
6
18

10
10

30
10

10
40
20

115
28
35

38
11
12

15
15
18
7
8

10.6
10.6
10.8
10.0
10.0

3003-H14
3003-H16
3003-H18
Alclad 3003-O
Alclad 3003-H12

22
26
29
16
19

21
25
27
6
18

8
5
4
30
10

16
14
10
40
20

40
47
55

14
15
16
11
12

9
10
10

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

Alclad 3003-H14
Alclad 3003-H16
Alclad 3003-H18

22
26
29

21
25
27

8
16
5
14
4
10
(continued)

14
15
16

10.0
10.0
10.0

2024-T3
2024-T4, T351
2024-T361(f)
2024-T81, T851
2024-T861(f)

Yield

In 2 in.
116 in.
thick
specimen

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tension
modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 10 in. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 10 in. (f) Tempers
T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 14 in. thick specimen.
(i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

42 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 1

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 4D
12 in.
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kg load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
ksi
% 103

Ultimate

Yield

In 2 in.
116 in.
thick
specimen

3004-O
3004-H32
3004-H34
3004-H36
3004-H38

26
31
35
38
41

10
25
29
33
36

20
10
9
5
5

25
17
12
9
6

45
52
63
70
77

16
17
18
20
21

14
15
15
16
16

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10

Alclad
Alclad
Alclad
Alclad
Alclad

26
31
35
38
41

10
25
29
33
36

20
10
9
5
5

25
17
12
9
6

16
17
18
20
21

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

3105-O
3105-H12
3105-H14
3105-H16
3105-H18

17
22
25
28
31

8
19
22
25
28

24
7
5
4
3

12
14
15
16
17

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

3105-H25
4032-T6
5005-O
5005-H12
5005-H14

26
55
18
20
23

23
46
6
19
22

25
10
6

120
28

15
38
11
14
14

16

10.0
11.4
10.0
10.0
10.0

5005-H16
5005-H18
5005-H32
5005-H34
5005-H36

26
29
20
23
26

25
28
17
20
24

5
4
11
8
6

36
41
46

15
16
14
14
15

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

5005-H38
5050-O
5050-H32
5050-H34
5050-H36

29
21
25
28
30

27
8
21
24
26

5
24
9
8
7

51
36
46
53
58

16
15
17
18
19

12
13
13
14

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

5050-H38
5052-O
5052-H32
5052-H34
5052-H36

32
28
33
38
40

29
13
28
31
35

6
25
12
10
8

30
18
14
10

63
47
60
68
73

20
18
20
21
23

14
16
17
18
19

10.0
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

5052-H38
5056-O
5056-H18
5056-H38
5083-O

42
42
63
60
42

37
22
59
50
21

8
35
10
15
22

77
65
105
100

24
26
34
32
25

20
20
22
22

10.2
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3

5083-H321, H116

46

33

16
(continued)

23

10.3

Strength, ksi
Alloy and temper

3004-O
3004-H32
3004-H34
3004-H36
3004-H38

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tension
modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 10 in. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 10 in. (f) Tempers
T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 14 in. thick specimen.
(i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 43

Table 1

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 4D
12 in.
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kg load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
ksi
% 103

Alloy and temper

Ultimate

Yield

In 2 in.
116 in.
thick
specimen

5086-O
5086-H32, H116
5086-H34
5086-H112
5154-O

38
42
47
39
35

17
30
37
19
17

22
12
10
14
27

58

23

27

22

17

10.3
10.3.
10.3
10.3
10.2

5154-H32
5154-H34
5154-H36
5154-H38
5154-H112

39
42
45
48
35

30
33
36
39
17

15
13
12
10
25

67
73
78
80
63

22
24
26
28

18
19
20
21
17

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

5252-H25
5252-H38, H28
5254-O
5254-H32
5254-H34

34
41
35
39
42

25
35
17
30
33

11
5
27
15
13

68
75
58
67
73

21
23
22
22
24

17
18
19

10.0
10.0
10.2
10.2
10.2

5254-H36
5254-H38
5254-H112
5454-O
5454-H32

45
48
35
36
40

36
39
17
17
30

12
10
25
22
10

78
80
63
62
73

26
28

23
24

20
21
17

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

5454-H34
5454-H111
5454-H112
5456-O
5456-H25

44
38
36
45
45

35
26
18
23
24

10
14
18

24
22

81
70
62

26
23
23

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.3
10.3

5456-H321, H116
5457-O
5457-H25
5457-H38, H28
5652-O

51
19
26
30
28

37
7
23
27
13

22
12
6
25

16

30

90
32
48
55
47

30
12
16
18
18

16

10.3
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.2

5652-H32
5652-H34
5652-H36
5652-H38
5657-H25

33
38
40
42
23

28
31
35
37
20

12
10
8
7
12

18
14
10
8

60
68
73
77
40

20
21
23
24
12

17
18
19
20

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.0

5657-H38, H28
6061-O
6061-T4, T451
6061-T6, T651
Alclad 6061-O

28
18
35
45
17

24
8
21
40
7

7
25
22
12
25

30
25
17

50
30
65
95

15
12
24
30
11

9
14
14

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

Alclad 6061-T4, T451

33

19

22

(continued)

22

10.0

Strength, ksi

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tension
modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 10 in. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 10 in. (f) Tempers
T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 14 in. thick specimen.
(i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

44 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 1

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
Strength, ksi

Alloy and temper

Ultimate

Yield

In 2 in.
116 in.
thick
specimen

In 4D
12 in.
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kg load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
ksi
% 103

Alclad 6061-T6, T651


6063-O
6063-T1
6063-T4
6063-T5

42
13
22
25
27

37
7
13
13
21

12

20
22
12

25
42

60

27
10
14

17

8
9

10

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

6063-T6
6063-T83
6063-T831
6063-T832
6066-O

35
37
30
42
22

31
35
27
39
12

12
9
10
12

18

73
82
70
95
43

22
22
18
27
14

10

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

6066-T4, T451
6066-T6, T651
6070-T6
6101-H111
6101-T6

52
57
55
14
32

30
52
51
11
28

10

15(h)

18
12

90
120

71

29
34
34

20

16
14

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

6262-T9
6351-T4
6351-T6
6463-T1
6463-T5

58
36
45
22
27

55
22
41
13
21

20
14
20
12

10

120

95
42
60

35

29
14
17

13

13
10
10

10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0

6463-T6
7049-T73
7049-T7352
7050-T73510, T73511
7050-T7451(i)

35
75
75
72
76

31
65
63
63
68

12

12
11
12
11

74
135
135

22
44
43

44

10

10.0
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4

7050-T7651
7075-O
7075-T6, T651
Alclad 7075-O
Alclad 7075-T6, T651

80
33
83
32
76

71
15
73
14
67

17
11
17
11

11
16
11

60
150

47
22
48
22
46

23

10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4
10.4

7175-T74
7178-O
7178-T6, T651
7178-T76, T7651
Alclad 7178-O

76
33
88
83
32

66
15
78
73
14

15
10

16

11
16
11
11

135

42

23

10.4
10.4
10.4
10.3
10.4

Alclad 7178-T6, T651


7475-T61
7475-T651
7475-T7351
7475-T761

81
82
85
72
75

71
71
74
61
65

10
11

12

13
13

10.4
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.2

7475-T7651
Alclad 7475-T61
Alclad 7475-T761
8176-H24

77
75
71
17

67
66
61
14

11
12
15

12

10

10.4
10.2
10.2
10.0

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tension
modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 10 in. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 10 in. (f) Tempers
T361 and T861 were formerly designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 14 in. thick specimen.
(i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 45

Table 1M

Typical mechanical properties of wrought aluminum alloys, (metric)(a)


Tension
Elongation, %
In 5D
12.5 mm
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kgf load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
MPa % 103

Yield

In 50 mm
1.60 mm
thick
specimen

1060-O
1060-H12
1060-H14
1060-H16
1060-H18

70
85
100
115
130

30
75
90
105
125

43
16
12
8
6

19
23
26
30
35

50
55
60
70
75

20
30
35
45
45

69
69
69
69
69

1100-O
1100-H12
1100-H14
1100-H16
1100-H18

90
110
125
145
165

35
105
115
140
150

35
12
9
6
5

42
22
18
15
13

23
28
32
38
44

60
70
75
85
90

35
40
50
60
60

69
69
69
69
69

1350-O
1350-H12
1350-H14
1350-H16
1350-H19

85
95
110
125
185

30
85
95
110
165

(d)

(e)

55
60
70
75
105

50

69
69
69
69
69

2011-T3
2011-T8
2014-O
2014-T4, T451
2014-T6, T651

380
405
185
425
485

295
310
95
290
415

13
10
16
18
11

95
100
45
105
135

220
240
125
260
290

125
125
90
140
125

70
70
73
73
73

Alclad 2014-O
Alclad 2014-T3
Alclad 2014-T4, T451
Alclad 2014-T6, T651
2017-O

170
435
421
470
180

70
275
255
415
70

21
20
22
10

20

45

125
255
255
285
125

90

73
73
73
73
73

2017-T4, T451
2018-T61
2024-O
2024-T3
2024-T4, T351

425
420
185
485
472

275
315
75
345
325

21
20
18
20

20
10
20

17

105
120
47
120
120

260
270
125
285
285

125
115
90
140
140

73
74
73
73
73

2024-T361(f)
Alclad 2024-O
Alclad 2024-T3
Alclad 2024-T4, T351
Alclad 2024-T361(f)

495
180
450
440
460

395
75
310
290
365

13
20
18
19
11

130

290
125
275
275
285

125

73
73
73
73
73

Alclad 2024-T81, T851


Alclad 2024-T861(f)
2025-T6
2036-T4
2117-T4

450
485
400
340
295

415
455
255
195
165

6
6

24

17

24

110

70

275
290
240
205
195

125
125(g)
95

73
73
72
71
71

2124-T851

485

440

(continued)

73

Strength, MPa
Alloy and temper

Ultimate

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is approximately 2% greater than
tension modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 250 mm. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 250 mm.
(f) Tempers T361 and T861 formerly were designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 6.3 mm
thick specimen. (i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

46 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 1M

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 5D
12.5 mm
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kgf load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
MPa % 103

Alloy and temper

Ultimate

Yield

In 50 mm
1.60 mm
thick
specimen

2218-T72
2219-O
2219-T42
2219-T31, T351
2219-T37

330
170
360
360
395

255
75
185
250
215

18
20
17
11

95

205

74
73
73
73
73

2219-T62
2219-T81, T851
2219-T87
2618-T61
3003-O

415
455
475
440
110

290
350
395
370
40

10
10
10

30

10
37

115
28

260
75

105
105
105
90
50

73
73
73
73
69

3003-H12
3003-H14
3003-H16
3003-H18
Alclad 3003-O

130
150
175
200
110

125
145
170
185
40

10
8
5
4
30

18
14
12
9
37

35
40
47
55

85
95
105
110
75

55
60
70
70

69
69
69
69
69

Alclad 3003-H12
Alclad 3003-H14
Alclad 3003-H16
Alclad 3003-H18
3004-O

130
150
175
200
180

125
145
170
185
70

10
8
5
4
20

18
14
12
9
22

45

85
95
105
110
110

95

69
69
69
69
69

3004-H32
3004-H34
3004-H36
3004-H38
Alclad 3004-O

215
240
260
285
180

170
200
230
250
70

10
9
5
5
20

15
10
8
5
22

52
63
70
77

115
125
140
145
110

105
105
110
110

69
69
69
69
69

Alclad 3004-H32
Alclad 3004-H34
Alclad 3004-H36
Alclad 3004-H38
3105-O

215
240
260
285
115

170
200
230
250
55

10
9
5
5
24

15
10
8
5

115
125
140
145
85

69
69
69
69
69

3105-H12
3105-H14
3105-H16
3105-H18
3105-H25

150
170
195
215
180

130
150
170
195
160

7
5
4
3
8

95
105
110
115
105

69
69
69
69
69

4032-T6
5005-O
5005-H12
5005-H14
5005-H16

380
125
140
160
180

315
40
130
150
170

25
10
6
5

120
28

260
75
95
95
105

110

79
69
69
69
69

5005-H18

200

195

(continued)

110

69

Strength, MPa

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is approximately 2% greater than
tension modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 250 mm. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 250 mm.
(f) Tempers T361 and T861 formerly were designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 6.3 mm
thick specimen. (i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 47

Table 1M

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 5D
12.5 mm
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kgf load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
MPa % 103

Ultimate

Yield

In 50 mm
1.60 mm
thick
specimen

5005-H32
5005-H34
5005-H36
5005-H38
5050-O

140
160
180
200
145

115
140
165
185
55

11
8
6
5
24

36
41
46
51
36

95
95
105
110
105

85

69
69
69
69
69

5050-H32
5050-H34
5050-H36
5050-H38
5052-O

170
190
205
220
195

145
165
180
200
90

9
8
7
6
25

27

46
53
58
63
47

115
125
130
140
125

90
90
95
95
110

69
69
69
69
70

5052-H32
5052-H34
5052-H36
5052-H38
5056-O

230
260
275
290
290

195
215
240
255
150

12
10
8
7

16
12
9
7
32

60
68
73
77
65

140
145
160
165
180

115
125
130
140
140

70
70
70
70
71

5056-H18
5056-H38
5083-O
5083-H321, H116
5086-O

435
415
290
315
260

405
345
145
230
115

22

9
13
20
14

105
100

235
220
170

165

150
150

160

71
71
71
71
71

5086-H32, H116
5086-H34
5086-H112
5154-O
5154-H32

290
325
270
240
270

205
255
130
115
205

12
10
14
27
15

58
67

185

150
150

115
125

71
71
71
70
70

5154-H34
5154-H36
5154-H38
5154-H112
5252-H25

290
310
330
240
235

230
250
270
115
170

13
12
10
25
11

73
78
80
63
68

165
180
195

145

130
140
145
115

70
70
70
70
69

5252-H38, H28
5254-O
5254-H32
5254-H34
5254-H36

285
240
270
290
310

240
115
205
230
250

5
27
15
13
12

75
58
67
73
78

160
150
150
165
180

115
125
130
140

69
70
70
70
70

5254-H38
5254-H112
5454-O
5454-H32
5454-H34

330
240
250
275
305

270
115
115
205
240

10
25
22
10
10

80
63
62
73
81

195

160
165
180

145
115

70
70
70
70
70

5454-H111

260

180

14

(continued)

70

160

70

Strength, MPa
Alloy and temper

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is approximately 2% greater than
tension modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 250 mm. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 250 mm.
(f) Tempers T361 and T861 formerly were designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 6.3 mm
thick specimen. (i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

48 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 1M

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 5D
12.5 mm
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kgf load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
MPa % 103

Ultimate

Yield

In 50 mm
1.60 mm
thick
specimen

5454-H112
5456-O
5456-H25
5456-H321, H116
5457-O

250
310
310
350
130

125
160
165
255
50

18

22

22
20
14

62

90
32

160

205
85

70
71
71
71
69

5457-H25
5457-H38, H28
5652-O
5652-H32
5652-H34

180
205
195
230
260

160
185
90
195
215

12
6
25
12
10

27
16
12

48
55
47
60
68

110
125
125
140
145

110
115
125

69
69
70
70
70

5652-H36
5652-H38
5657-H25
5657-H38, H28
6061-O

275
290
160
195
125

240
255
140
165
55

8
7
12
7
25

9
7

27

73
77
40
50
30

160
165
95
105
85

130
140

60

70
70
69
69
69

6061-T4, T451
6061-T6, T651
Alclad 6061-O
Alclad 6061-T4, T451
Alclad 6061-T6, T651

240
310
115
230
290

145
275
50
130
255

22
12
25
22
12

22
15

65
95

165
205
75
150
185

95
95

69
69
69
69
69

6063-O
6063-T1
6063-T4
6063-T5
6063-T6

90
150
170
185
240

50
90
90
145
215

20
22
12
12

25
42

60
73

70
95

115
150

55
60

70
70

69
69
69
69
69

6063-T83
6063-T831
6063-T832
6066-O
6066-T4, T451

255
205
295
150
360

240
185
270
85
205

9
10
12

16
16

82
70
95
43
90

150
125
185
95
200

69
69
69
69
69

6066-T6, T651
6070-T6
6101-H111
6101-T6
6262-T9

395
380
95
220
400

360
350
75
195
380

10

15(h)

10

120

71
120

235
235

140
240

110
95

90

69
69
69
69
69

6351-T4
6351-T6
6463-T1
6463-T5
6463-T6

250
310
150
185
240

150
285
90
145
215

20
14
20
12
12
(continued)

95
42
60
74

200
95
115
150

90
70
70
70

69
69
69
69
69

Strength, MPa
Alloy and temper

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is approximately 2% greater than
tension modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 250 mm. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 250 mm.
(f) Tempers T361 and T861 formerly were designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 6.3 mm
thick specimen. (i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 49

Table 1M

(continued)
Tension
Elongation, %
In 5D
12.5 mm
diam
specimen

Hardness,
Brinell
No., 500 kgf load,
10 mm ball

Shear,
ultimate
shearing
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus,
modulus of
elasticity(c),
MPa % 103

Ultimate

Yield

In 50 mm
1.60 mm
thick
specimen

7049-T73
7049-T7352
7050-T73510, T73511
7050-T7451(i)
7050-T7651

515
515
495
525
550

450
435
435
470
490

10
9
11
10
10

135
135

305
295

305
325

72
72
72
72
72

7075-O
7075-T6, T651
Alclad 7075-O
Alclad 7075-T6, T651
7175-T74

230
570
220
525
525

105
505
95
460
455

17
11
17
11

14
9

10

60
150

135

150
330
150
315
290

160

160

72
72
72
72
72

7178-O
7178-T6, T651
7178-T76, T7651
Alclad 7178-O
Alclad 7178-T6, T651

230
605
570
220
560

105
540
505
95
460

15
10

16
10

14
9
9

72
72
71
72
72

7475-T61
7475-T651
7475-T7351
7475-T761
7475-T7651

565
585
495
515
530

490
510
420
450
460

11

12

13
13

12

70
72
72
70
72

Alclad 7475-T61
Alclad 7475-T761
8176-H24

515
490
160

455
420
95

11
12
15

70

70
70
69

Strength, MPa
Alloy and temper

Note: Table values not intended for use in design. (a) The indicated typical mechanical properties for all except O temper material are higher than the specied minimum
properties. For O temper products, typical ultimate and yield values are slightly lower than specied (maximum) values. (b) Based on 500,000,000 cycles of completely
reversed stress using the R.R. Moore type of machine and specimen. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli. Compression modulus is approximately 2% greater than
tension modulus. (d) 1350-O wire will have an elongation of approximately 23% in 250 mm. (e) 1350-H19 wire will have an elongation of approximately 112% in 250 mm.
(f) Tempers T361 and T861 formerly were designated T36 and T86, respectively. (g) Based on 107 cycles using exural type testing of sheet specimens. (h) Based on 6.3 mm
thick specimen. (i) T7451, although not previously registered, has appeared in literature and in some specications as T73651.

Table 2

Typical mechanical properties of aluminum alloy castings


Tension

Type of casting

Sand

Alloy
and temper

Ultimate
strength, ksi

Yield
strength(a),
ksi

201.0-T6
201.0-T7
201.0-T43
204.0-T4
A206.0-T4

65
68
60
45
51

55
60
37
28
36

208.0-F
213.0-F
222.0-O
222.0-T61
224.0-T72

21
24
27
41
55

14
15
20
40
40

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 ksi

Hardness,
Brinell No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
ksi

8
6
17
6
7

130

40

14

3
2
1
<0.5
10

70
80
115
123

17
20
21
32
35

11
9
9.5
8.5
9

Elongation
in 2 in.
or 4D, %

10.7
10.5

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

50 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 2

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Sand
(continued)

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 ksi

Hardness,
Brinell No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
ksi

1
1
1
1

90

70
85
90120

21
26

8
11

10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3

23

16
24
32

2
2
9
5
2

75

80
75
90

24

26
30
33

10.5

7
7.5
8

10.3

10.0
10.0
10.0

29
27
30
36
25

16
18
26
24
14

3
2
2
2
1

5585
70
80
80
4575

22
24
29

10
11
11

10.0
10.7
10.7
10.7

328.0-T6
355.0-F
355.0-T51
355.0-T6
355.0-T61

34
23
28
35
35

21
12
23
25
35

1
3
2
3
1

6595

65
80
90

22
28
31

8
9
9.5

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

355.0-T7
355.0-T71
C355.0-T6
356.0-F
356.0-T51

38
35
39
24
25

26
29
29
18
20

1
2
5
6
2

85
75
85

60

28
26

20

10
10

10.2
10.2

10.5
10.5

356.0-T6
356.0-T7
356.0-T71
A356.0-F
A356.0-T51

33
34
28
23
26

24
30
21
12
18

4
2
4
6
3

70
75
60

26
24
20

8.5
9
8.5

10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5

A356.0-T6
A356.0-T71
357.0-F
357.0-T51
357.0-T6

40
30
25
26
50

30
20
13
17
42

6
3
5
3
2

75

10.5
10.5

357.0-T7
A357.0-T6
359.0-T62
A390.0-F
A390.0-T5

40
46
50
26
26

34
36
42
26
26

3
3
6
<1.0
<1.0

60
85
16
100
100

40

12

A390.0-T6
A390.0-T7
443.0-F
B443.0-F
A444.0-F

40
36
19
17
21

40
36
8
6
9

<1.0
<1.0
8
3
9

140
115
40
2555
3060

14

13

10.3

Ultimate
strength, ksi

Yield
strength(a),
ksi

34
31
27
32
32

28
20
18
30
20

242.0-T77
A242.0-T75
295.0-T4
295.0-T6
295.0-T62

30
31
32
36
41

295.0-T7
319-F
319.0-T5
319.0-T6
328.0-F

Alloy
and temper

240.0-F
242.0-F
242.0-O
242.0-T571
242.0-T61

Elongation
in 2 in.
or 4D, %

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 51

Table 2

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Sand
(continued)

Permanent mold

Elongation
in 2 in.
or 4D, %

Hardness,
Brinell No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 ksi

Ultimate
strength, ksi

Yield
strength(a),
ksi

A444.0-T4
511.0-F
512.0-F
514.0-F
520.0-T4

23
21
20
25
48

9
12
13
12
26

12
3
2
9
16

43
50
50
50
75

17
17
20
34

8
9
7
8

535.0-F
535.0-T5
A535.0-F
707.0-T5
707.0-T7

35
35
36
33
37

18
18
18
22
30

9
9
9
2
1

6090
6090
65
70100
6595

710.0-F
710.0-T5
712.0-F
712.0-T5
713.0-F

32
32
34
34
32

20
20
25
25
22

2
2
4
4
3

6090
6090
6090
6090
6090

713.0-T5
771.0-T5
771.0-T52
771.0-T53
771.0-T6

32
32
36
36
42

22
27
30
27
35

3
3
2
2
5

6090
70100
70100

75105

771.0-T71
850.0-T5
851.0-T5
852.0-T5

48
20
20
27

45
11
11
22

2
8
5
2

105135
45
45
65

14
14
18

10

10.3
10.3
10.3

201.0-T6
201.0-T7
201.0-T43
204.0-T4
A206.0-T4

65
68
60
48
62

55
60
37
29
38

8
6
17
8
17

130

42

14

A206.0-T7
208.0-T6
208.0-T7
213.0-F
222.0-T551

63
35
33
30
37

50
22
16
24
35

12
2
3
2
<0.5

75105
6595
85
115

37

24
30

9.5
8.5

10.7

222.0-T52
238.0-F
242.0-T61
A249.0-T63
296.0-T7

35
30
47
69
39

31
24
42
60
20

1
2
1
6
5

100
100
110

80

25
24
35

30

10

10.7

10.3

10.1

308.0-F
319.0-F
319.0-T6
324.0-F
324.0-T5

28
34
40
30
36

16
19
27
16
26

2
3
3
4
3

70
85
95
70
90

22
24

13

10.7
10.7

324.0-T62

45

39

105

Alloy
and temper

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

52 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 2

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Permanent mold
(continued)

Ultimate
strength, ksi

Yield
strength(a),
ksi

Elongation
in 2 in.
or 4D, %

Hardness,
Brinell No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 ksi

332.0-T5
328.0-T6
333.0-F
242.0-T571
333.0-T5

36
34
34
40
34

28
21
19
34
25

1
1
2
1
1

105
6595
90
105
100

27
30
27

15
10.5
12

10.3

333.0-T6
333.0-T7
336.0-T551
336.0-T65
354.0-T61

42
37
36
47
48

30
28
28
43
37

2
2
1
1
3

105
90
105
125

33
28
28
36

15
12
14

354.0-T62
355.0-F
355.0-T51
355.0-T6
355.0-T61

52
27
30
42
45

42
15
24
27
40

2
4
2
4
2

75
90
105

24
34
36

10
10

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

355.0-T7
355.0-T71
C355.0-T6
C355.0-T61
C355.0-T62

40
36
48
46
48

30
31
28
34
37

2
3
8
6
5

85
85
90
100
100

30
27

10
10

10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2

356.0-F
356.0-T51
356.0-T6
356.0-T7
356.0-T71

26
27
38
32
25

18
20
27
24

5
2
5
6
3

80
70
6090

30
25

13
11

10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5

A356.0-F
A356.0-T51
A356.0-T6
357.0-F
357.0-T51

27
29
41
28
29

13
20
30
15
21

8
5
12
6
4

80

10.5
10.5
10.5

357.0-T6
357.0-T7
A357.0-T6
359.0-T61
359.0-T62

52
38
52
48
50

43
30
42
37
42

5
5
5
6
6

100
70
100

35

35

13

15

16

A390.0-F
A390.0-T5
A390.0-T6
A390.0-T7
443.0-F

29
29
45
38
23

29
29
45
38
9

<1.0
<1.0
<1.0
<1.0
10

110
110
145
120
45

16

17
15
8

10.3

B443.0-F
A444.0-F
A444.0-T4
513.0-F
535.0-F

21
24
23
27
35

6
11
10
16
18

6
13
21
7
8

3060
44
45
60
6090

16
22

8
10

705.0-T5

37

17

10

5575

Alloy
and temper

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 53

Table 2

(continued)
Tension

Alloy
and temper

Type of casting

Permanent mold
(continued)

Die cast

Ultimate
strength, ksi

Yield
strength(a),
ksi

Elongation
in 2 in.
or 4D, %

Hardness,
Brinell No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
ksi

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
ksi

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 ksi

707.0-T7
711.0-T1
713.0-T5
850.0-T5
851.0-T5

45
28
32
23
20

35
18
22
11
11

3
7
4
12
5

80110
5585
6090
45
45

15
14

9
9

10.3
10.3

851.0-T6
852.0-T5

18
32

23

8
5

70

21

11

10.3
10.3

360.0-F
A360.0-F
380.0-F
A380.0-F
383.0-F

44
46
46
47
45

25
24
23
23
22

3
4
3
4
4

75
75
80
80
75

28
26
28
27

20
18
20
20
21

10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3
10.3

384.0-F
390.0-F
B390.0-F
392.0-F
413.0-F

48
40.5
46
42
43

24
35
36
39
21

3
<1
<1
<1
3

85

120

80

29

25

20

20

19

11.8

10.3

A413.0-F
C443.0-F
518.0-F

42
33
45

19
14
28

4
9
5

80
65
80

25
29
29

19
17
20

10.3

Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Table 2M

Typical mechanical properties of aluminum alloy castings (metric)


Tension

Type of casting

Sand

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 MPa

130

275

95

70
80
115
123

115
140
145
220
240

75
60
65
60
60

1
1
1
1

90

70
85
90120

145
180

55
75

71
71
71
71

2
2

75

165

70

71

Alloy
and temper

Ultimate
strength, MPa

Yield
strength(a),
MPa

201.0-T6
201.0-T7
201.0-T43
204.0-T4
A206.0-T4

450
470
415
310
350

380
415
255
195
250

8
6
17
6
7

208.0-F
213.0-F
222.0-O
222.0-T61
224.0-T72

145
165
185
285
380

655
105
140
275
275

3
2
1
<0.5
10

240.0-F
242.0-F
242.0-O
242.0-T571
242.0-T61

235
145
185
220
220

195
140
125
205
140

205
215

160

242.0-T77
A242.0-T75

Elongation
In 5D,
%

Hardness,
Brinell
No.,
500kg/10mm

74
73

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater than the tension modulus. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

54 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 2M

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Sand
(continued)

Ultimate
strength, MPa

Yield
strength(a),
MPa

Elongation
In 5D,
%

Hardness,
Brinell
No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 MPa

295.0-T4
295.0-T6
295.0-T62
295.0-T7
319-F

220
250
285
200
185

110
165
220
110
125

9
5
2
3
2

80
75
90
5585
70

180
205
230

150

50
50
55

70

69
69
69
69
74

319.0-T5
319.0-T6
328.0-F
328.0-T6
355.0-F

205
250
170
235
160

180
165
95
145
85

2
2
1
1
3

80
80
4575
6595

165
200

75
75

74
74

70

355.0-T51
355.0-T6
355.0-T61
355.0-T7
355.0-T71

195
240
240
260
240

160
170
240
180
200

2
3
1
1
2

65
80
90
85
75

150
195
215
195
180

55
60
65
70
70

70
70
70
70
70

C355.0-T6
356.0-F
356.0-T51
356.0-T6
356.0-T7

270
165
170
230
235

200
125
140
135
205

5
6
2
4
2

85

60
70
75

140
180
165

55
60
60

73
73
73
73

356.0-T71
A356.0-F
A356.0-T51
A356.0-T6
A356.0-T71

195
160
180
275
205

145
85
125
205
140

4
6
3
6
3

60

75

140

60

73
73
73
73
73

357.0-F
357.0-T51
357.0-T6
357.0-T7
A357.0-T6

170
180
345
275
315

90
115
295
235
250

5
3
2
3
3

60
85

275

85

359.0-T62
A390.0-F
A390.0-T5
A390.0-T6
A390.0-T7

345
180
180
275
250

290
180
180
275
250

6
<1.0
<1.0
<1.0
<1.0

16
100
100
140
115

90

443.0-F
B443.0-F
A444.0-F
A444.0-T4
511.0-F

130
115
145
23
145

55
40
60
60
85

8
3
9
12
3

40
2555
3060
43
50

95

115

55

55

71

512.0-F
514.0-F
520.0-T4
535.0-F
535.0-T5

140
170
330
240
240

90
85
180
125
125

2
9
16
9
9

50
50
75
6090
6090

115
140
235

60
50
55

250

125

65

Alloy
and temper

A535.0-F

(continued)
Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater than the tension modulus. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 55

Table 2M

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Sand
(continued)

Permanent mold

Alloy
and temper

Ultimate
strength, MPa

Yield
strength(a),
MPa

Elongation
In 5D,
%

Hardness,
Brinell
No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 MPa

707.0-T5
707.0-T7
710.0-F
710.0-T5
712.0-F

230
255
220
220
235

150
205
140
140
170

2
1
2
2
4

70100
6595
6090
6090
6090

712.0-T5
713.0-F
713.0-T5
771.0-T5
771.0-T52

235
220
220
220
250

170
150
150
185
205

4
3
3
3
2

6090
6090
6090
70100
70100

771.0-T53
771.0-T6
771.0-T71
850.0-T5
851.0-T5
852.0-T5

250
290
330
140
140
185

185
240
310
75
75
150

2
5
2
8
5
2

75105
105135
45
45
65

95
95
125

60

71
71
71

201.0-T6
201.0-T7
201.0-T43
204.0-T4
A206.0-T4

450
470
415
330
430

380
415
255
200
260

8
6
17
8
17

130

290

95

A206.0-T7
208.0-T6
208.0-T7
213.0-F
222.0-T551

435
240
230
205
255

345
150
110
165
240

12
2
3
2
<0.5

75105
6595
85
115

255

165
205

65
60

74

222.0-T52
238.0-F
242.0-T571
242.0-T61
A249.0-T63

240
205
275
325
475

215
165
235
290
415

1
2
1
1
6

100
100
105
110

170
165
205
450

70
70

74

74
74

296.0-T7
308.0-F
319.0-F
319.0-T6
324.0-F

270
195
235
275
205

140
110
130
185
110

5
2
3
3
4

80
70
85
95
70

205
150
165

60
90

70

74
74

324.0-T5
324.0-T62
332.0-T5
328.0-T6
333.0-F

250
310
250
235
235

180
270
195
145
130

3
3
1
1
2

90
105
105
6595
90

185

105

333.0-T5
333.0-T6
333.0-T7
336.0-T551

235
290
255
250

170
205
195
193
(continued)

1
2
2
1

100
105
90
105

185
230
195
193

85
105
85
95

Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater than the tension modulus. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

56 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Table 2M

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Permanent mold
(continued)

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 MPa

125

75

250

165

70
70

4
2
2
3
8

90
105
85
85
90

235
250
205
185

70
70
70
70

70
70
70
70
70

235
255
125
140
185

6
5
5
2
5

100
100

80

205

90

70
70
73
73
73

220
170
165
200
285

165

90
140
205

6
3
8
5
12

70
6090

80

170

75

73
73
73
73
73

357.0-F
357.0-T51
357.0-T6
357.0-T7
A357.0-T6

195
200
360
260
360

105
145
295
205
290

6
4
5
5
5

100
70
100

240

240

90

105

359.0-T61
359.0-T62
A390.0-F
A390.0-T5
A390.0-T6

330
345
200
200
310

255
290
200
200
310

6
6
<1.0
<1.0
<1.0

110
110
145

110

115

A390.0-T7
443.0-F
B443.0-F
A444.0-F
A444.0-T4

260
160
145
165
160

260
60
40
75
70

<1.0
10
6
13
21

120
45
3060
44
45

110

110

105
55

55

71

513.0-F
535.0-F
705.0-T5
707.0-T7
711.0-T1

185
240
255
310
195

110
125
115
240
125

7
8
10
3
7

60
6090
5575
80110
5585

150

70

713.0-T5
850.0-T5
851.0-T5
851.0-T6
852.0-T5

220
160
140
125
220

150
75
75

160
(continued)

4
12
5
8
5

6090
45
45

70

105
95

145

60
60

75

71
71
71
71

Ultimate
strength, MPa

Yield
strength(a),
MPa

Elongation
In 5D,
%

336.0-T65
354.0-T61
354.0-T62
355.0-F
355.0-T51

325
330
360
185
205

295
255
290
105
165

1
3
2
4
2

355.0-T6
355.0-T61
355.0-T7
355.0-T71
C355.0-T6

290
310
275
250
330

185
275
205
215
195

C355.0-T61
C355.0-T62
356.0-F
356.0-T51
356.0-T6

315
330
180
185
260

356.0-T7
356.0-T71
A356.0-F
A356.0-T51
A356.0-T6

Alloy
and temper

Hardness,
Brinell
No.,
500kg/10mm

Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater than the tension modulus. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 57

Table 2M

(continued)
Tension

Type of casting

Die cast

Hardness,
Brinell
No.,
500kg/10mm

Shear,
ultimate
strength,
MPa

Fatigue,
endurance
limit(b),
MPa

Modulus
of
elasticity(c),
106 MPa

3
4
3
4
4

75
75
80
80
75

195
180
195
185

140
124
140
140
145

71
71
71
71
71

165
240
250
270
145

3
<1
<1
<1
3

85

120

80

200

170

140

140

130

81

71

130
95
193

4
9
5

80
65
80

170
200
200

130
115
140

71

Alloy
and temper

Ultimate
strength, MPa

Yield
strength(a),
MPa

360.0-F
A360.0-F
380.0-F
A380.0-F
383.0-F

305
315
315
325
310

170
165
160
160
150

384.0-F
390.0-F
B390.0-F
392.0-F
413.0-F

330
280
315
290
295

A413.0-F
C443.0-F
518.0-F

290
230
310

Elongation
In 5D,
%

Values are representative of separately cast test bars, not of specimens taken from commercial castings. (a) For tensile yield strengths, offset 0.2%. (b) Based on 500,000,000
cycles of completely reversed stress using R.R. Moore type of machines and specimens. (c) Average of tension and compression moduli; compressive modulus is nominally
approximately 2% greater than the tension modulus. Data taken from various industry handbooks.

Review of the Basic Tempers for Wrought Alloys


The temper designation always is presented immediately following the
alloy designation (Chapter 3), with a hyphen between the two (e.g.,
2014-T6). Generally, the temper designation consists of a capital letter
indicating the major class of fabrication treatment(s) used, plus one or
more numbers providing more specic information about how the
processing was carried out. These designations are not intended to
provide the exact practices (times, temperatures, reductions), but rather
the general combinations of practices followed.
As review, recall that the rst character in the temper designation (a
capital letter, F, O, H, W, or T) indicates the general class of treatment.
Information on each of these classes of designation and a few examples
of each are provided by the following descriptions:
O F, as fabricated: This designation is used for wrought or cast products
made by some shaping process such as rolling, extrusion, forging,
drawing, or casting where there is no special control over the thermal
conditions during working or the strain-hardening processes to achieve
specic properties. There are no specied limits on mechanical
properties of any wrought F temper product. Except in the case of cast
parts, which may be in the nal conguration, most F temper products
are seminished products that will be used in some subsequent
shaping, nishing, or thermal process to achieve other nished forms
or tempers. For example, 2014-F designates an as-fabricated product
form of alloy 2014; it may represent any production process or product

58 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

form and may be used for products that have been rolled, extruded,
forged, or any combination of those processes.
O O, annealed: This designation is used for wrought or cast products
made by some shaping process such as rolling, extrusion, forging,
drawing, or casting, and which product at some point in the process has
been annealed (i.e., given a high-temperature recrystallization treatment, sufficient to remove the effects of any prior working or thermal
treatments and usually resulting in complete recrystallization of the
material). Annealing treatments are used to achieve the lowest-strength
condition for the particular alloy involved. The primary reason for
using such a treatment on wrought alloys generally is to maximize
subsequent workability or increase toughness and ductility to a
maximum. For example:
a. 2014-O designates any product form of 2014 whose most recent
treatment has been holding at a high temperature (410 C, or
770 F) for 2 to 3 h, slow cooling to 260 C (500 F) and then
cooling at an uncontrolled rate to room temperature. For this alloy,
the treatment would normally be given to increase ease of subsequent working while completely removing any effects of prior
treatments.
b. 5083-O designates any product form of 5083 whose most recent
treatment has been heating up to a high temperature (345 C,
650 F) and then cooled at an uncontrolled rate to room
temperature. For this alloy, the treatment would normally be given
to increase toughness and ductility for its use in critical structural
applications such as liqueed natural gas tanks.
O H, strain hardened: This designation is used for non-heat-treatable
wrought alloys that have had their strength increased by strain
hardening (e.g., rolling, drawing) usually at room temperature. This
designation may, but does not necessarily, also apply to products that
have been given supplementary thermal treatments to achieve some
stabilization in strength level, since a number of aluminum alloys will
gradually soften slightly with time after cold working. The H is always
followed by two or more digits, the purpose of which is to indicate the
approximate amount of cold work and the nature of any thermal
treatments that followed. The variety of subsequent designations
available is discussed later, so the examples focus more on the H
designation itself at this point. For example:
a. 1350-H12 indicates that sheet, plate, rod, or wire of alloy 1350 has
been cold worked to increase its strength. The H12 combination
indicates approximately 20 to 25% cold reduction without any
subsequent thermal treatments (other variations are discussed later).

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 59

b. 5005-H18 indicates that sheet (the only product available in that


temper) of alloy 5005 has been cold rolled to increase its strength.
The H18 combination indicates a large amount of cold work,
normally around 75 to 80% without any subsequent thermal
treatment.
O W, solution heat treated: This designation is rather limited in its use
and applies only to alloys that age naturally and spontaneously after
solution heat treating (holding at high temperature followed by
quenching or relatively rapid cooling to room temperature). Digits may
be added to characterize more specically the elapsed time since the
cooling took place; this is not necessary and is of limited value since
the time may continue to increase, but it is often helpful in whatever
subsequent treatments are to be applied to know that elapsed time and
the effects of the elapsed time on response to subsequent working or
thermal exposure. As with the F temper, there are no published
standard property limits for wrought alloys associated with the W
temper, and it is rarely a nished temper (i.e., sold in that temper; it
is always an in-process temper, to be followed by subsequent
mechanical or thermal treatments). For example:
a. 6061-W indicates a seminished product of 6061 that has been
heat treated and quenched by standard procedures but not yet
given any subsequent mechanical or thermal treatment. Alloy
6061 naturally ages following a quench from a heat treatment, and
so the yield strength, in particular, of this material gradually
increases with time until some treatment that will stabilize its
properties is given, such as articial aging for precipitation
hardening.
b. 6061-W12hr. indicates the same material as in the preceding
example, except that a time (12 h after quenching) has been added
to dene the time lapse and perhaps permit some estimate of the
effect on strength (assuming that aging rate data are accessible).
O T, thermally treated to produce stable tempers other than F, O, or H:
The T designation is the most widely used for heat treated alloys, and
applies to any product form of any heat treatable alloy that has been
given a solution heat treatment followed by a suitable quench and
either natural (i.e., in air) or articial (i.e., in a furnace) aging. The T
always is followed by one or more digits that dene in general terms
the subsequent treatments; these will be discussed in more detail later,
and so the following examples focus on the T designation. For
example:
a. 2024-T4 indicates a 2024 product that has been solution heat
treated, quenched, and naturally aged by standard commercial processes to a stable condition. Since this alloy achieves a commercially useful level of strength coupled with a high toughness in
the T4 condition, this may well be the nal temper designation.

60 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

b. 2014-T4 indicates an alloy 2014 product that has been solution


heat treated and naturally aged to a stable condition preparatory to
articially aging it for precipitation hardening to the T6 temper.
Alloy 2014 does not have a useful combination of strength,
toughness, and corrosion resistance in the T4 condition, so it is
almost always subsequently given a precipitation hardening
treatment.

Subdivisions of the Basic Tempers


As just indicated, most of the basic temper designations listed previously are used with additional numerical digits to dene the practices
more completely. It is useful to review these additional digits and the
resulting complete designations in considerable detail to obtain the best
understanding of their meanings.
The H and T are the most frequently used tempers and are, therefore,
discussed sequentially. The F, O, and W designations are generally used
alone and provide the complete description, and thus there is little to say
about them except for one minor variation of the O temper that is covered
later.
Subdivisions of the H Temper for Non-Heat-Treatable Alloys. The
H temper indicates that the alloy involved has been cold worked by strain
hardening. The H always is followed by at least two numbers:
O The rst number after the H tells whether the strain-hardened alloy has
been thermally treated and, if so, by what procedure.
O The second number indicates approximately how much the alloy was
strain hardened (i.e., the approximate percentage of cold reduction).
O Any subsequent numbers dene special practices, variations of the
normal indicated by the rst two numbers.
The rst number, indicating variations in thermal treatments following
cold work, may be one of four possibilities:
O H1 indicates that processing was limited to strain hardening; there was
no subsequent thermal treatment.
O H2 indicates strain hardening followed by a partial high-temperature
recrystallization thermal treatment (i.e., a partial anneal) to take the
properties back to some stable level less than those achieved by the
cold working. When this temper is used, the alloy has intentionally
been strain hardened more than the desired amount and then partially
annealed back to achieve a specic level of strength.
O H3 indicates strain hardening followed by a thermal stabilization
treatment (i.e., holding at a modestly elevated temperature to permit
the properties to stabilize and avoid time-dependent age softening, to

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 61

which certain alloys, especially of the 5xxx series, are prone). This also
may be accomplished by the heat applied during a subsequent forming.
O H4 indicates strain hardening followed by some thermal operation such
as paint curing or lacquering in which the heat applied during this
processing effectively reduces the degree of hardening remaining in the
alloy and provides some stabilization to the nal properties. It is useful
to note that there are no unique property limits associated with H4X
tempers; rather, the property limits associated with the comparable
H2X or H3X tempers are used.
As noted earlier, these H1, H2, H3, and H4 designations always are
followed by a second number that indicates the approximate amount of
cold work.
Examples of the application of these designations include:
O 3003-H12: Strain hardened approximately 25%; no other treatment
(i.e., meets properties for H12 temper)
O 3005-H26: Strain hardened and partial annealed to effective strain
hardening of about 75% (i.e., meets properties for H26 temper)
O 5052-H32: Strain hardened and stabilized to effective strain hardening
of about 25% (i.e., meets properties for H32 temper)
O 5052-H42: Strain hardened and given some nishing treatment that
provides effective strain hardening of approximately 25% (i.e., meets
properties for H42/H22 temper)
As indicated by these examples, the digit following H1, H2, H3, or H4,
indicates the effective degree of strain hardening remaining in the metal
following the sequence of operations indicated by the rst digit. In other
words:
O H1X temper: The X represents the actual amount of strain hardening
given the alloy; no thermal treatment has been given to reduce the
effective work remaining in the metal.
O H2X temper: The X represents the effective cold work remaining after
the metal has been cold worked beyond the nal level desired, and
partial annealed back.
O H3X and H4X tempers: The X indicates the effective cold work
remaining in the metal following cold working and the intermediate
temperature stabilization treatment or the thermal exposure involved in
the subsequent forming, painting, or lacquering processes.
The second numerical digits have both a technical denition according
to the Aluminum Association and a schematic, or approximate, denition as used in the trade. According to the Aluminum Association rules,
the second digit is dened based upon the minimum value of the ultimate

62 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

tensile strength of the material. In other words, the level of strength


achieved is compared with the standard limits published for the various
alloys, and the level most nearly met is used as the appropriate temper.
Therefore, the hardest temper normally produced is indicated by adding
the numeral 8 (i.e., HX8), and the standard increase in strength from the
annealed (no cold work) to the HX8 temper is judged by the values in
Table 3.
Tempers between O and HX8 are dened as follows:
O A degree of cold work equal to approximately one-half that for the
HX8 temper is indicated by the HX4 temper and would be indicated by
an increase in tensile strength of one-half the value in the second
column of Table 3 for the appropriate level in the annealed temper. As
an example, the minimum tensile strength of 1100-O sheet and plate is
11 ksi, so the tensile strength limit for 1100-H14 is 11 ksi plus 12 10
(from Table 3) or 16 ksi. In the corresponding metric example, the
minimum tensile strength of 1100-O sheet and plate is 75 MPa, so the
tensile strength of 1100-H14 is 75 plus 12 75 (from Table 3M) or
112.5 MPa, rounded to 110 MPa. It is appropriate to note that the rules
in Tables 3 and 3M were not used in the early days of the aluminum
Table 3

Range of values per HX8 temper

Minimum tensile strength


in annealed temper, ksi

Increase in tensile strength


to HX8 temper, ksi

Up to 6

7 to 9

10 to 12

10

13 to 15

11

16 to 18

12

19 to 24

13

25 to 30

14

31 to 36

15

37 to 42

16

43 and over

17

Table 3M
(metric)

Tensile strengths of HX8 tempers

Minimum tensile strength


in annealed temper, MPa

Increase in tensile strength


to HX8 temper, MPa

Up to 40

55

4560

62

6580

69

85100

76

105120

83

125160

90

165200

97

205240

103

245280

110

285320

115

296 and over

120

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 63

industry, and so there are exceptions among long-established property


values.
O A degree of cold work halfway between the O temper and the HX4
temper is indicated by the HX2 temper; a degree of cold work halfway
between HX4 and HX8 is the HX6 temper. Following the example
given for 1100, the respective tensile strength limits would be 14 ksi
for H12 and 19 ksi for H16, respectively (the 0.5 ksi increments being
rounded up). As a metric example for 1100, the respective tensile
strength limit would be 130 MPa for H16, midway between the H14
and H18 values.
O The numbers 1, 3, 5, and 7 similarly designate tempers intermediate
between those just listed. In practice, these designations are seldom
used; when they are, as in the case of 5657-H25, it is usually for some
special product to indicate a specic treatment given to enhance some
specic property (brightness, in the example given). The odd-numbered tempers also are used for pattern sheet temper designations, as
described later.
O The numeral 9 is used to indicate tempers with properties exceeding
those of HX8 by 14 MPa (2 ksi) or more. This temper is achieved by
cold rolling sheet to very small thicknesses, usually only a few
thousandths of an inch. This designation also is used only for special
products; the most important example is 3004-H19 sheet for can stock
(i.e., starting stock for the production of aluminum cans).
Some additional examples of two-digit H tempers that illustrate use of
the rst and second digits include the following:
O 3003-H14: The 1 indicates that the material has been strain hardened
and given no subsequent processing; the 4 indicates that the amount
of strain hardening was about 50% of the level for the H18, or
full-hard temper.
O 5657-H26: The 2 indicates that the alloy has been strain hardened a
relatively large amount and then partially annealed back to the desired
level of effective cold work; the 6 indicates that the effective nal
level of cold work was about 80% of that of the full-hard H18 temper.
O 5086-H32: The 3 indicates that the alloy has been strain hardened
and stabilized; the 2 indicates that the degree of strain hardening was
about 25% of the level for the H38 temper. Applications include sheet,
plate, and drawn tube.
Three-digit H Tempers. The nal group of subdivisions of the H tempers
that needs to be recognized involves the use of a third numeric digit for
the H tempers. A third digit, such as HXX1, indicates a variation in a
two-digit temper. Differences may be in such things as the degree of

64 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

control of mechanical properties or a special nish; in such instances,


however, the differences are not usually very great.
An excellent example of the use of a third digit of an H temper
designation is the series used for embossed sheet (i.e., sheet that, after
other processing, has been nish rolled, with rolls having specic patterns
on the surface to impart the reverse of that pattern onto the surface of the
sheet). Such products also are known as pattern sheet and have the
specic set of temper designations listed in Table 4 associated with them.
These designations follow the same rules just described but have the
number 4 added to the standard designation describing its processing up
to the nal pattern rolling operation.
Another example of a three-digit H temper indicating treatment to
impart special properties is the H116 temper (e.g., 5086-H116), which has
been given a unique combination of cold work and thermal treatment to
make it especially resistant to the corrosive effects of water and
high-humidity environments and to minimize the possible effects of
stress-corrosion sensitization from high-temperature exposure.
Two other examples of a three-digit H temper cover the special cases of
products having an uncontrolled amount of cold work but still being
required to meet minimum specications (i.e., the H111 and H112
tempers):
O Alloy 5086-H111: This temper recognizes that the alloy underwent
some amount of cold strain hardening after annealing but not enough
for it to qualify as an H11 or H12 temper. The H111 temper is usually
applied to extruded shapes that must be straightened after annealing to
meet straightness tolerances, but for which the amount of strain is not
controlled beyond a very modest amount. There are mechanical
property limits indicative of the modest cold work.
O Alloy 5086-H112: In this instance, the product has been hot worked
enough that it has acquired some added strength that is reected in the
mechanical property limits. The product has not been subsequently
cold worked or annealed but retains the effective strain hardening
imparted by the hot work. Applications of this alloy include sheet and
plate, extruded tube, and extruded rod, wire, bar, and shapes.
Table 4

Three-digit temper designations for aluminum pattern sheet

Pattern or embossed sheet

H114

Fabricated from

O temper

H124, H224, H324

H11, H21, H31 temper, respectively

H134, H234, H334

H12, H22, H32 temper, respectively

H144, H244, H344

H13, H23, H33 temper, respectively

H154, H254, H354

H14, H24, H34 temper, respectively

H164, H264, H364

H15, H25, H35 temper, respectively

H174, H274, H374

H16, H26, H36 temper, respectively

H184, H284, H384

H17, H27, H37 temper, respectively

H194, H294, H394

H18, H28, H38 temper, respectively

H195, H295, H395

H19, H29, H39 temper, respectively

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 65

Subdivisions of the T Temper for Heat Treatable Alloys. The T


tempers for heat treatable alloys may have from one to ve digits
following the T, and there are many more possible combinations than for
the H tempers. The rst digit after the T always indicates the basic type
of treatment, and the second to fth, if they are used, indicate whether the
product was stress relieved and, if so, how it was stress relieved, and
whether any other special treatments were given.
The rst digit after the T may be any of the following:
O T1: Indicates that the alloy has been cooled directly from some
high-temperature hot-working process such as rolling or extrusion and
then naturally aged to a stable condition. As a result, it has received an
effective heat treatment, but it has not received any other processing
such as cold work that is recognized by special mechanical property
limits. This temper is not widely used because, among other things, the
corrosion resistance of the material may not be as good as with other
combinations of treatments.
O T2: Indicates that the alloy has been cooled from some hightemperature hot-working process such as rolling or extrusion and then
cold worked before being naturally aged to a stable condition. Here
again, the alloy has received an effective heat treatment as a result of
the high-temperature treatment, but in this case, it has been cold
worked sufficiently to increase its strength. This temper, as the T1, is
not widely used because of limitations in certain characteristics
compared with those given other combinations of treatments described
as follows:
O T3: Indicates the alloy has been given a solution heat treatment
following hot working, quenching, cold working, and being naturally
aged to a stable condition. This temper, like T4, T6, T7, and T8,
indicates the use of a specic solution heat treatment (i.e., holding in
a furnace at a sufficiently high temperature for the important alloying
elements to go into solution, where they are retained upon quenching
and provide a source of precipitation-hardening constituents). The
amount of cold work is controlled to provide specic amounts of strain
hardening with a commensurate increase in strength. This is a widely
used temper type for 2xxx series alloys such as 2024, which naturally
age efficiently following cold work.
O T4: Indicates the alloy has been given a solution heat treatment and,
without any cold work, naturally aged to a stable condition. This
temper also is rather widely used for the 2xxx alloys.
O T5: Indicates the alloy has been cooled from a high-temperature
shaping process, usually extrusion, and then, without any intermediate
cold work, is articially aged. The articial aging consists of holding
at a sufficiently high temperature and sufficiently long time (e.g., 8 h at
175 C, or 350 F, or 24 h at 120 C, or 250 F) to permit precipitation

66 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

hardening to take place. If there is any straightening or attening to


meet dimensional tolerances, it is not sufficient to be recognized with
higher mechanical property limits.
T6: Indicates the alloy has been solution heat treated and, without any
signicant cold working, articially aged to achieve precipitation
hardening. If there is any straightening or attening to meet dimensional tolerances, it is not sufficient to be recognized with higher
mechanical property limits.
T7: Indicates the alloy has been solution heat treated and, without any
signicant cold working, aged in a furnace to an overaged (i.e., past
peak strength) condition (also sometimes referred to as stabilized).
This treatment generally is used for the 7xxx series alloys (e.g.,
7075-T73 or T76) to improve their resistance to either stress-corrosion
cracking (SCC) (T73) or to exfoliation corrosion (T76) attack; the T73
is the more severely overaged condition (see the subsequent section
Tempers Designating Special Corrosion-Resistant Tempers).
T8: Indicates the alloy has been solution heat treated, cold worked for
strain hardening, and then articially aged to achieve precipitation
hardening. The material also may have been cold worked primarily to
meet dimensional or stress relief requirements, but if the T8 temper is
used, the amount of cold work is sufficient to be recognized by higher
mechanical property limits. This temper primarily is used for the 2xxx
alloys (e.g., 2024-T81 sheet).
T9: Indicates the alloy has been solution heat treated, articially aged
to achieve precipitation hardening, and then cold worked to improve its
strength. This temper is not widely used but is applied to the 2xxx series
in some cases.
T10: Indicates the alloy has been cooled from a high-temperature
shaping process such as extrusion, cold worked, and then articially
aged for precipitation hardening. This temper rarely is used because
there are no current commercial applications for it.

In all of the T-type tempers just described, solution heat treatment is


achieved by heating seminished or nished products to a suitable
temperature, holding them at that temperature long enough to allow
constituents to go into solution, and cooling them rapidly enough to hold
the constituents in solution so that they may be the basis of precipitation
hardening upon natural (i.e., room temperature) or articial (i.e., in a
furnace) aging.
Adding Additional Digits to the T1 to T10 Tempers. Additional
digits, the rst of which shall not be zero, may be added to designations
T1 to T10 to indicate a variation in treatment that signicantly alters the
product characteristics that are or would be obtained using the basic
treatment. There is no standard listing of all such possible variations, so

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 67

the best way to illustrate and understand this usage better is to examine
the major examples, as in the following sections that cover:
O
O
O
O
O
O

Stress relief
Heat treatment by user
Variations in heat treatment procedures
Variations in quenching procedures
Addition of cold work before or after aging
Special practices for unique properties

Tempers Designating Residual


Stress Relief of Heat Treated Products
Two major classes of mechanical cold work are widely used by the
aluminum industry to reduce the level of internal residual stresses in
aluminum seminished products resulting from prior heat treatment:
O Stress relief by stretching, usually in the range of 1 or 112 to 3%,
applied to rolled plate and rod, to extruded shapes, and occasionally to
die or ring forgings; this treatment is designated by:
a. TX51 for plate, rolled or cold-nished rod, and die or ring
forgings
b. TX510 or TX511 for all extruded shapes, where the extra digit 0
indicates stretching only, and the extra digit 1 indicates stretching
combined with additional straightening such as twisting
O Stress relief by 1 to 5% compressive cold work, usually applied to hand
forgings and die forgings. This treatment is indicated by the TX52
temper designation.
Sometimes these two methods of stress relief are used in combination
(i.e., both stretching and compressing), indicated by the use of the TX54
temper designation.
In all of these cases, the cold work for stress relief is carried out following
quenching from the solution heat treatment and before articial aging.
While these temper designations for stress-relieved products have their
widest use for heat treated products with T-type tempers, it should be
noted that all of these designations may be applied to the W-type tempers
as well.
To illustrate the use of these designations for stress-relieved tempers,
consider the following examples:
O Alloy 7075-T651 plate: Basic temper is T6, indicating solution heat
treatment, quenching, and articial aging; product has been stress
relieved: T65; stress relief provided by stretching 12 to 2%: T651
O Alloy 7075-T6510 extruded tube: Basic temper is T6, indicating
solution heat treatment, quenching, and articial aging; product has

68 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

been stress relieved: T65; stress relief provided by stretching 12 to 3%,


without any additional twisting or mechanical straightening: T6510
O Alloy 7075-T6511 extruded tube: Basic temper is T6, indicating
solution heat treatment, quenching, and articial aging; product has
been stress relieved: T65; stress relief provided by stretching 12 to 3%
and twisting for straightness: T6511
O Alloy 2014-T652 hand forging: Basic temper is T6; product has been
stress relieved: T65; stress relief provided by compression 1 to 5%
O Alloy 7050-T654 die forging: Basic temper is T6, indicating solution
heat treatment, quenching, and articial aging; product has been stress
relieved: T65; stress relief has been provided by a combination of
stretching and restriking in cold dies: T654

Temper Designations Identifying Modications in Quenching


Another means of minimizing residual stresses besides cold work
following quenching is to quench the product in boiling water or oil
following holding in a furnace for heat treatment, in contrast to the
cold-water quench known to impart much of the residual stress. A special
temper designation is used to designate such treatmentthe addition of
the digit 1.
Thus, for some wrought alloys in T4 (solution heat treated and naturally
aged), T6 (solution heat treated and articially aged), and T7 (solution
heat treated and overaged/stabilized) conditions, a descriptive digit 1 is
added to the regular temper designation to indicate a change from the
normal quenching procedure. By itself, the 1 indicates a boiling water
quench. A second digit may be used to indicate some specialized variation
of that quench, for example:
O Alloy 2014-T61 forging: Basic temper is T6 temper, indicating solution
heat treatment, quenching, and articial aging. Material was quenched
in boiling water following the solution heat treatment to minimize
residual stresses: T61.
O Alloy 2014-T611 forging: Basic temper is T6 temper, indicating
solution treat treatment, quenching, and articial aging. Material was
quenched in a special way following the solution heat treatment to
minimize residual stresses: T61. Quench medium was adjusted to give
property level between T6 and T61 tempers: T611.
O Alloy 2014-T6151 plate: Basic temper is T6 temper, indicating solution
treat treatment, quenching, and articial aging. Material was quenched
in boiling water following the solution heat treatment: T61. Plate was
subsequently stretched 12 to 3% for additional stress relief: T6151.

Designations Indicating Heat Treatment by User


Most temper designations are applied by the producer of the seminished or nished products, and so the producer is in a position to ensure

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 69

that the specications for strength and dimensional tolerances are met
when parts are purchased by a customer who then performs some other
shaping or machining procedure before the part is heat treated. However,
the original producer no longer has any control over the degree to which
the required nal specications are met. Therefore, special temper
designations have been developed to cover the condition when the nal
heat treatment and meeting of property specications is the responsibility
of the customer rather than the original producer. These are the TX2
tempers.
It is important to note that the TX2 temper is the proper one to use any
time a customer or vendor rather than the original producer heat treats a
product. An independent heat treater, regardless of how reliable, cannot be
assumed to apply one of the standard tempers described heretofore to a
product in the same manner and with the same reliability as the original
producer. It is important, therefore, to make clear that the responsibility
for meeting mechanical properties rests with the customer rather than the
producer.
The TX2 descriptor is applied to wrought products heat treated from
any temper by the user of the product or the vendor (e.g., an aircraft
company or its heat treating service) rather than the original material
producer (e.g., an aluminum company). The TX2 designation is used in
combination with tempers such as T4, T6, T73, or T76, indicative of other
aspects of the processing (e.g., T42, T62, T732, or T762). In practice, the
TX2 temper is used most often for wrought products that have been heat
treated from the O or F temper to demonstrate response to heat treatment.
Aluminum producer mills are almost always starting with freshly
produced F temper materials and are accustomed to paying close attention
to the consistency in processing operations needed to ensure meeting
materials specications. These procedures provide the mill with a
consistent statistical base of operations and good knowledge of allowable
variations in aging times and temperatures for the seminished parts.
There are times when the mechanical property limits for the standard
temper and the TX2 version of that temper (e.g., T6 and T62) differ. This
is because of the difference in controls of processing variables in the
producers operations compared with those in customers and their
vendors plants, and because customers and their vendors may not be able
to do standard stress relief treatments such as those done by producers.
On the other hand, structural engineers, such as those in the aerospace
industry, may use tensile strength and yield strength values based on their
extensive statistical analyses of nished parts, which become the basis of
their design values. These values may differ from producer-developed
specication limits.
Differences in producer and user testing requirements also must be
taken into account. The producer guarantees tensile, yield, and elongation
properties of each heat or lot of material to be delivered by the producer.

70 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Each heat or lot is tensile tested to be sure that property requirements are
met. Questionable material is either reprocessed or rejected. By comparison, the end-user heat treater of the material may or may not be asked by
the customer to tensile test each lot. Typically, the heat treater relies solely
on the results of hardness and conductivity tests to determine whether
heat treatment is done correctly. There is an assumption made by the
customer that the material would pass tensile test minimums if tested. For
example, for 7075-T62 die forging, the basic temper is T6, indicating
solution heat treatment, quenching, and articial aging. The added digit 2
in T62 indicates that the heat treatment and aging were carried out by
other than the original producer of the forging (i.e., by the user or a
contractor of the user).

Tempers Identifying Additional Cold


Work between Quenching and Aging
To obtain particularly high strengths in aluminum alloy sheet in the heat
treated condition, alloys (notably 2024) sometimes are given additional
cold work between solution heat treatment and articial aging beyond that
which might be used simply for straightening or stress relief. These are
indicated by variations of the usual tempers for sheet that is simply
straightened or attened after heat treatment, such as the T3 and T81
tempers of 2024. With the additional cold work, the temper designations
are T361 and T861, respectively:
O 2024-T361 sheet: Basic temper is T3, indicating solution heat treatment followed by cold work. The amount of cold work is signicantly
beyond that for straightening or attening (T3 temper): T361.
O 2024-T861 sheet: Basic temper is T8, indicating solution heat treatment, cold work, and articial aging. The amount of cold work is
signicantly beyond that for straightening or attening (T81 temper):
T861.

Tempers Identifying Additional Cold Work Following Aging


Another means sometimes used to gain added strength in aluminum
alloy products is the addition of stretching or drawing following the heat
treatment and articial aging. This is indicated by the use of the T9
temper. It is used only for a few standard products such as screw machine
stock and wire. The T9 may be followed by other numbers indicating
special modications of the treatment:
O 6262-T9 rod: Basic temper is T9, indicating solution heat treatment,
quenching, and articial aging followed by cold work.
O 6061-T94 wire: Basic temper is T9, indicating solution heat treatment,
quenching, and articial aging followed by cold work. Modication
given to ensure meeting requirements for product: T94

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 71

Tempers Designating Special Corrosion Resistant Tempers


To increase the corrosion resistance of certain high-strength heat
treatable alloys of the 7xxx series in particular, they are given an
overaging or stabilization treatment following solution heat treatment and
quenching, rather than being aged to peak strength as indicated by the T6
temper. Such treatments are designated by the use of the T7-type temper,
and the digit following the T7 indicates something about the extent of the
treatment and of the resultant level of corrosion resistance.
There are two basic variations of corrosion-resistance enhancement
used for such alloys:
O Enhanced stress-corrosion resistance, T73 temper: Indicating aging
sufficient to increase stress-corrosion resistance to a relatively high
level, well above that of the T6-type temper but at approximately a
15% sacrice in tensile yield strength.
O Enhanced exfoliation corrosion resistance, T76 temper: Indicating
aging sufficient to improve resistance to exfoliation corrosion over that
of the T6-type temper, but strengths about 5 to 10% less than those of
the T6 temper. Note that this T76 temper has strengths superior to those
available with the T73 temper, but it provides less resistance to SCC
than the T73 temper.
The stress-corrosion enhancements may be used in combination with
the special tempers for residual stress relief, as illustrated by the following
examples:
O T7651 plate: Basic temper is T7, indicating solution heat treatment,
quenching, and an articial aging treatment beyond peak strength
aimed at enhancing corrosion resistance in some manner. Degree of
overaging is for enhanced exfoliation corrosion resistance: T76. Plate
was subsequently stress relieved by stretching 12 to 3%: T7651.
O T73510 extruded shape: Basic temper is T7, indicating solution heat
treatment, quenching, and an articial aging treatment beyond peak
strength aimed at enhancing corrosion resistance in some manner.
Degree of overaging is for enhanced stress corrosion resistance: T73.
Plate was subsequently stress relieved by stretching 12 to 3% without
further straightening or twisting: T73510.

Temper Designation for Special or Premium Properties


There are times when applications with special needs, typically in the
aerospace industry, require special performance capabilities of aluminum
alloys. These capabilities are accomplished by the use of special processing (sometimes combined with tighter composition control). When
special processing is used, and it is to be used in a fairly broad

72 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

commercial manner, a special temper designation usually is developed.


Several of these designations are noted subsequently.
Several years ago, special processes were developed to provide 7175
forging (7175 being a special version of 7075 with tighter impurity limits
control) with a superior combination of high strength, high fracture
toughness, and good corrosion resistance. The temper designation developed for 7175 forgings produced by this special processing was T736
(T73652 if stress relieved by compressive cold work). Broader use of this
approach for 7175 as well as 7050 and potentially other high toughness,
high corrosion-resistant alloys led to the redenition and simplication of
T736 to T74.
As is often the case with such special processing, the specic combinations of thermal and mechanical treatments used to achieve the
properties required are not specically spelled out in the literature, and in
fact, individual producers may have their own proprietary processes to
accomplish the needs. In such cases, the mechanical property limits for
the special products are detailed so that the desired performance must be
met; however, it is accomplished by individual producers. Examples of
such products and special processes are as follows:
O 7175-T74 die forging: Basic temper is T7, indicating solution heat
treatment, quenching, and aging to achieve special properties (e.g.,
aging beyond peak strength). Special treatment used to enhance
combination of strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, with
specication limits on fracture toughness as well as strength: T74
O 7175-T7454 die forging: Basic temper is T7, indicating solution heat
treatment, quenching, and aging to achieve special properties (e.g.,
aging beyond peak strength). Special treatment used to enhance
combination of strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, with
specication limits on fracture toughness as well as strength: T74.
Stress relieved by a combination of stretching and compressive cold
work: T7454
Another means sometimes used to indicate special treatments by the
temper designation is the use of an extra 6 added to T6 temper:
O 7175-T66: Basic temper is T6, indicating solution heat treatment,
quenching, and articial aging. Special undened treatment to achieve
maximum strength: T66
The development of special temper designations to cover unique cases
is under the auspices of the Product Standards Committee of the
Aluminum Association, and proposals for such unique tempers arise with
some regularity. It is always possible, therefore, that new temper
designations are being developed and registered by the Aluminum

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 73

Association, and anyone interested in remaining abreast of such developments should purchase the Registration Records Series Tempers for
Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Products in addition to Aluminum
Standards and Data.
It is strongly emphasized once again that it is incorrect and unethical for
anyoneproducer, heat treater, or customer/userto make up a temper
designation in a format that implies or might be misconstrued to mean
that the alloy has been registered by the Aluminum Association and
recognized by others in the industry. Such practices dilute the value and
reliability of the entire temper designation standards recognized by the
industry, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the
International Accord (see Chapter 8, Selected References) community.

Tempers for Cast Aluminum Alloys


The temper designation system for cast aluminum alloys is basically the
same as that for wrought aluminum alloys, but in practice, there are some
signicant differences in usage. The following discussion focuses on
those differences while noting the similarities.
The descriptive sources for the aluminum alloy designation system,
such as Aluminum Standards and Data, focus more strongly on wrought
alloys than on the cast alloys, and this discussion, therefore, also includes
guidance from the American Foundrymens Society book, Aluminum
Casting Technology.

Review of the Basic Tempers for Cast Alloys


For practical considerations, a review of the basic temper designations
can be restricted to the three types of tempers in commercial usage for
castings: F, O, and T, described as follows:
O F, as fabricated: This designation is used for cast products made by any
casting process (e.g., sand casting, permanent mold casting, die
casting, etc.) and refers to the condition of the casting as it comes from
the molds without any further thermal or mechanical treatment. Unlike
the case with wrought alloys, the F temper is a very common nish or
nal temper for castings, especially die castings. In addition, unlike
wrought alloys, there are likely to be published typical mechanical
properties and, in some cases, even minimum mechanical property
limits published for the F temper. For example, 360.0-F designates a
360.0 casting as it has come straight from the mold and cooled to room
temperature. In this alloy, this is likely to be the temper supplied to the
purchaser.
O O, annealed: This designation is used for cast alloys that are annealed
(i.e., given a high-temperature stabilization or recrystallization treat-

74 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

ment, sufficient to remove the effects of the thermal cycles it experienced during the casting and cooling processes, thermal treatments,
and to result in a softening of the material and the minimum practical
level of mechanical strength. For castings, the treatment may be used
both to improve ductility and increase dimensional stability, but it is
not a very common nish temper for castings as it is for wrought
non-heat-treatable aluminum alloys. For example, 222.0-O designates
a 222.0 casting whose most recent treatment has been holding at a high
temperature (415 C, or 775 F) for 5 h, slow furnace cooling by
a carefully dened program, intended for dimensional stability.
O T, thermally treated to produce stable tempers other than O or F: The
T designation applies to any cast alloy that has been given a solution
heat treatment followed by a suitable quench and either natural (i.e., in
air) or articial (i.e., in a furnace) aging. The T is always followed by
one or more digits that dene in general terms the subsequent
treatments, which are discussed in more detail subsequently. For
example: 356.0-T6 designates a 356.0 casting that has been heat
treated, quenched, and articially aged.

Subdivisions of the Basic Temper Types for Cast Alloys


For cast alloys, there are no standard variations and, therefore, no
additional digits on the designations for the F and O tempers; the
following discussion, therefore, focuses only on the T tempers.
For the T type of temper for aluminum castings, there are four
commercially used subdivisions: T4, T5, T6, and T7. These subdivisions
have generally the same meaning as for wrought alloys, but the usage
varies slightly:
O T4 indicates the casting has been given a solution heat treatment and,
without any cold work, naturally aged (i.e., at room temperature) to a
stable condition. For most casting alloys this is an unstable temper,
comparable to W for wrought alloys, and so most cast alloys are
subsequently aged. Example: 295.0-T4
O T5 indicates the casting has been cooled from the casting process and
then articially aged (i.e., in a furnace). The articial aging consists of
holding at a sufficiently high temperature and sufficiently long time
(e.g., 8 h at 175 C, or 350 F, or 24 h at 120 C, or 250 F) to permit
precipitation hardening to take place. This process stabilizes the
castings dimensionally, improves machinability, relieves residual
stresses, and increases strengths somewhat. Example: 319.0-T5
O T6 indicates the casting has been solution heat treated and articially
aged to achieve maximum precipitation hardening. It results in
relatively high strengths with adequate ductility and stabilizes properties and dimensions. Example: 295.0-T6

Understanding the Aluminum Temper Designation System / 75

O T7 indicates the casting has been solution heat treated and articially
aged to an overaged (i.e., past peak strength) condition. This treatment
is used to provide a better combination of high strength and high
ductility and stabilization of properties and dimensions. Example:
356.0-T7
Additional digits are used sometimes with these T5, T6, and T7 tempers,
but the variations are not as well dened for castings as for wrought
products; they do denote variations from the standard practices of either
casting or heat treating the part. For different alloys, the same temper
designation may not always mean the same variation in casting or heat
treating practice:
O For T5: The T51, T52, T53, T533, T551, and T571 tempers are
recognized variations, intended to either increase dimensional stability
or increase strength. For example, for 242.0-T571, the basic temper,
T5, indicates that the casting has been cooled from the casting process
and then articially aged (i.e., in a furnace). A special chill was added
as the casting cooled to ensure higher strengths.
O For T6: The T61, T62, and T65 variations exist and deal with
variations in quench media and/or articial aging conditions, once
again to increase dimensional stability or improve certain properties.
For example, for A356.0-T61, the basic temper, T6, indicates that the
casting has been solution heat treated, quenched, and articially aged
following casting. The aging practice has been modied from the
peak-strength treatment (which would have been indicated by T6) to
ensure optimal performance.
O For T7: The T71, T75, and T77 tempers are recognized, also primarily
to increase dimensional stability or improve certain properties. For
example, for 355.0-T71, the basic temper, T7, indicates that the casting
has been heat treated and articially aged to an overaged (i.e., past
peak strength) solution condition. The articial aging practice has been
modied to further enhance the corrosion resistance and ductility.
Unfortunately, there is no clear resource to document the exact nature and
degree of consistency of these variations in temper for cast aluminum
alloys, as only a few of the tempers for casting have been recently enough
registered to appear in Aluminum Association publications such as the
Registration Record Series Tempers for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy
Products. Many of the tempers go back many years and have not been
through a rigorous rationalization process.

76 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Importance to Understanding Aluminum Tempers


One of the main points of the preceding discussion is to demonstrate
that what may seem like a complex or confusing set of coded numbers in
a temper designation can actually be recognized and understood by
looking at the individual letters and numbers and recognizing the function
and meaning of each segment.
End users and their heat treaters and fabricators should understand these
in considerable detail so that in their own subsequent processes they do
not destroy some key capability provided by the producers treatment.
The heat treater, for example, is advised to constantly refer to specications, drawings, and controlling documents, to ensure that the end
customers requirements are being followed explicitly. If this is not done,
end-user fabricators or heat treaters may face the prospect of salvaging
parts rejected by the customer.

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p87-118
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p087

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

Applications for
Aluminum Alloys and
Tempers
THERE ARE AT LEAST two approaches to overviewing important
applications of aluminum alloys: by alloy class, as initiated in Chapter 3
and carried out in greater detail subsequently, and by type of application.
Both approaches are considered in this chaptera review rst by alloy
class and then by application.
Readers are referred to Aluminum: Technology, Applications and
Environment (see Chapter 8) for more detailed information on many of
the applications mentioned in this chapter.
All photographs are courtesy of the Aluminum Association unless
otherwise indicated, many from the reference noted in the previous
paragraph.

Applications by Alloy Class


Wrought Alloys
1xxx, Pure Aluminum. The major characteristics of the 1xxx series
are:
O Strain hardenable
O Exceptionally high formability, corrosion resistance, and electrical
conductivity
O Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 70 to 185 MPa (1027 ksi)
O Readily joined by welding, brazing, and soldering
The 1xxx series represents the commercially pure (CP) aluminum, ranging
from the baseline 1100 (99.00% min Al) to relatively purer 1050/1350

88 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

(99.50% min Al) and 1175 (99.75 % min Al). The 1xxx series of alloys are
strain hardenable but would not be used where strength is a prime
consideration.
The primary uses of the 1xxx series would be applications in which the
combination of extremely high corrosion resistance and formability are
required (e.g., foil and strip for packaging, chemical equipment, tank car
or truck bodies, spun hollowware, and elaborate sheet metal work).
Electrical applications are one major use of the 1xxx series, primarily
1350, which has relatively tight controls on those impurities that might
lower electrical conductivity. As a result, an electrical conductivity of
62% of the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS) is guaranteed
for this material, which, combined with the natural light weight of
aluminum, means a signicant weight and, therefore, cost advantage over
copper in electrical applications.
Specic illustrations provided include an aluminum electrical bus bar
installation (Fig. 1), food packaging trays of pure aluminum (Fig. 2),
decorated foil pouches for food and drink (Fig. 3), aluminum foil of CP
aluminum and pet food decorated wrap (Fig. 4), and a bright-polished
telescopic mirror of a high-purity aluminum (Fig. 5).

Fig. 1

Aluminum electrical bus bar installation


with 1350 bus bar

Fig. 2

Food packaging trays of pure aluminum


(1100)

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 89

2xxx, Aluminum-Copper Alloys. The major characteristics of the


2xxx series are:
O
O
O
O

Heat treatable
High strength, at room and elevated temperatures
Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 190 to 430 MPa (2762 ksi)
Usually joined mechanically, but some alloys are weldable

The 2xxx series of alloys are heat treatable and possess in individual
alloys good combinations of high strength (especially at elevated temperatures), toughness, and, in specic cases, weldability. They are not as
resistant to atmospheric corrosion as several other series and so usually
are painted or clad for added protection.

Fig. 3

(a)

Fig. 4

Decorated foil pouches for food and drink (1060 or 1100)

(b)

(a) Reynolds Wrap (Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, VA) aluminum foil of commercially pure aluminum (1100
or similar) and (b) Reynolds pet food decorated wrap

90 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Primary Uses. The higher-strength 2xxx alloys are widely used for
aircraft (2024) and truck body (2014) applications, where they generally
are used in bolted or riveted construction. Specic members of the series
(e.g., 2219 and 2048) are readily joined by gas metal arc welding
(GMAW) or gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and so are used for
aerospace applications where that method is the preferred joining method.
Alloy 2195 is a new lithium-bearing aluminum alloy providing very
high modulus of elasticity along with higher strength and comparable
weldability to 2219 for space applications.
For applications requiring very high strength plus high fracture toughness, there are high-toughness versions of several of the alloys (e.g., 2124,
2324, and 2419) that have tighter control on the impurities that may
diminish resistance to unstable fracture, all developed specically for the
aircraft industry.
Alloys 2011, 2017, and 2117 are widely used for fasteners and
screw-machine stock.
Illustrations of applications for the 2xxx series alloys include aircraft
internal and external structures (Fig. 6), structural beams of heavy dump
and tank trucks and trailer trucks (Fig. 7), the fuel tanks and booster
rockets of the Space Shuttle (Fig. 8), and internal railroad car structural
members (Fig. 9).
3xxx, Aluminum-Manganese Alloys. The major characteristics of the
3xxx series are:
O High formability and corrosion resistance with medium strength
O Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 110 to 285 MPa (1641 ksi)
O Readily joined by all commercial procedures

Fig. 5

Bright-polished telescopic mirror of a high-purity aluminum

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 91

Fig. 6

Aircraft internal structure includes extrusions and plate of 2xxx alloys


such as 2024, 2124, and 2618. External sheet skin may be alclad 2024
or 2618; the higher-purity cladding provides corrosion protection to the aluminum-copper alloys that otherwise will darken with age.

Fig. 7

Heavy dump and tank trucks and trailer trucks may employ 2xxx
extrusions for their structural members.

92 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

(a)

(b)

Fig. 8

(a) The booster rockets and (b) fuel tanks of the Space Shuttle are 2xxx
alloys, originally 2219 and 2419; now sometimes aluminum-lithium
Weldalite alloy 2195

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 93

The 3xxx series of alloys are strain hardenable, have excellent corrosion
resistance, and are readily welded, brazed, and soldered.
Primary Uses. Alloy 3003 is widely used in cooking utensils and
chemical equipment because of its superiority in handling many foods
and chemicals, and in builders hardware because of its superior corrosion
resistance. Alloy 3105 is a principal for roong and siding.
Because of the ease and exibility of joining, 3003 and other members
of the 3xxx series are widely used in sheet and tubular form for heat
exchangers in vehicles and power plants.
Alloy 3004 and its modication 3104 are the principals for the bodies
of drawn and ironed can bodies for beverage cans for beer and soft drinks.
As a result, they are among the most used individual alloys in the
aluminum system, in excess of 1.6 billion kg (3.5 billion lb) per year.
Typical applications of the 3xxx alloy series include automotive radiator
heat exchangers (Fig. 10) and tubing in commercial power plant heat
exchangers (Fig. 11). In addition, the bodies of beverage cans (Fig. 12)
are alloys 3004 or 3104, making it the largest volume alloy combination
in the industry.
4xxx, Aluminum-Silicon Alloys. The major characteristics of the
4xxx series are:
O
O
O
O

Heat treatable
Good ow characteristics, medium strength
Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 175 to 380 MPa (2555 ksi)
Easily joined, especially by brazing and soldering

Primary Uses. There are two major uses of the 4xxx series, both
generated by the excellent ow characteristics provided by relatively high

Fig. 9

Internal railroad car structural members are sometimes 2xxx alloys


(also sometimes 6xxx alloys).

94 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

Automotive radiator heat exchangers are of alloys such as 3002.

Alloy 3003 tubing in commercial power plant heat exchanger

silicon contents. The rst is for forgings: the workhorse alloy is 4032, a
medium high-strength, heat treatable alloy used principally in applications such as forged aircraft pistons. The second major application is a
weld ller alloy; here the workhorse is 4043, used for GMAW and GTAW
6xxx alloys for structural and automotive applications.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 95

Fig. 12

The bodies of beverage cans are alloys 3004 or 3104, making it the
largest volume alloy combination in the industry.

Fig. 13

Refrigerator coolant circulation system in brazed unit of high-silicon


brazing alloy sheet

As noted, the same characteristicgood ow provided by the high


silicon contentleads to both types of application. In the case of forgings,
this good ow ensures the complete and precise lling of complex dies;
in the case of welding, it ensures complete lling of grooves in the
members to be joined. For the same reason, other variations of the 4xxx
alloys are used for the cladding on brazing sheet, the component that
ows to complete the bond.
Figure 13 illustrates a refrigerator coolant circulation system in a brazed
unit of a high-silicon brazing alloy sheet. Alloy 4043 is one of the most
widely used weld wires used in applications such as the automated
welding of an auto body structure illustrated in Fig. 14.
5xxx, Aluminum-Magnesium Alloys. The major characteristics of
the 6xxx series are:

96 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O Strain hardenable
O Excellent corrosion resistance, toughness, weldability; moderate
strength
O Building and construction, automotive, cryogenic, and marine applications
O Representative alloys: 5052, 5083, and 5754
O Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 125 to 350 MPa (1851 ksi)
Aluminum-magnesium alloys of the 5xxx series are strain hardenable and
have moderately high strength, excellent corrosion resistance even in salt
water, and very high toughness even at cryogenic temperatures to near
absolute zero. They are readily welded by a variety of techniques, even at
thicknesses up to 20 cm (8 in.).
Primary Use. As a result, 5xxx alloys nd wide application in building
and construction; highway structures, including bridges, storage tanks,
and pressure vessels; cryogenic tankage and systems for temperatures as
low as 270 C (455 F) or near absolute zero, and marine applications.
Alloys 5052, 5086, and 5083 are the workhorses from the structural
standpoint, with increasingly higher strength associated with the increasingly higher magnesium content. Specialty alloys in the group include
5182, the beverage can end alloy and, thus, among the largest in tonnage;
5754 for automotive body panel and frame applications; and 5252, 5457,
and 5657 for bright trim applications, including automotive trim.
Care must be taken to avoid use of 5xxx alloys with more than 3% Mg
content in applications where they receive continuous exposure to
temperatures above 100 C (212 F). Such alloys may become sensitized
and susceptible to SCC. For this reason, alloys such as 5454 and 5754 are
recommended for applications where high temperature exposure is likely.

Fig. 14
structure.

Alloy 4043 is one of the most widely used weld wires used in
applications such as this automated welding of an auto body

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 97

High-speed, single-hull ships such as the Destriero, shown in Fig. 15,


employ 5083-H113/H321machined plate for hulls, hull stiffeners, decking, and superstructure. Figure 16 shows the internal hull stiffener
structure of a high-speed yacht. Single- or multiple-hull high-speed ferries
employ several aluminum-magnesium alloys, 5083, 5383, and 5454, as
sheet and plate (Fig. 17) (along with 6xxx extruded shapes, described
next) with all-welded construction. Other applications for the broadly
used 5xxx series of alloys can be seen in Fig. 18 to 26.
6xxx, Aluminum-Magnesium-Silicon Alloys. The major characteristics of the 6xxx series are:
O Heat treatable
O High corrosion resistance, excellent extrudibility; moderate strength

Fig. 15

High-speed, single-hull ships such as the Destriero, employ 5083H113/H321 machined plate for hulls, hull stiffeners, decking, and
superstructure.

Fig. 16

The internal hull stiffener structure of a high-speed yacht (see Fig. 15)

98 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 125 to 400 MPa (1858 ksi)
O Readily welded by GMAW and GTAW methods
The 6xxx alloys are heat treatable and have moderately high strength
coupled with excellent corrosion resistance. A unique feature is their great
extrudability, making it possible to produce in single shapes relatively
complex architectural forms, as well as to design shapes that put the
majority of the metal where it will most efficiently carry the highest
tensile and compressive stresses. This feature is a particularly important
advantage for architectural and structural members where stiffnesscriticality is important.
Primary Use. Alloy 6063 is perhaps the most widely used because of its
extrudability; it is not only the rst choice for many architectural and
structural members, but it has been the choice for the Audi automotive
space frame members. A good example of its structural use was the
all-aluminum bridge structure in Foresmo, Norway (Fig. 26); it was
prefabricated in a shop and erected on the site in only a few days.

Fig. 17

Single- or multiple-hull high-speed ferries employ several aluminum-magnesium alloys5083, 5383, and 5454as sheet and plate
(along with 6xxx extruded shapes) with all-welded construction.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 99

Higher-strength alloy 6061 extrusions and plate nd broad use in welded


structural members such as truck and marine frames, railroad cars, and
pipelines.
Among specialty alloys in the series: 6066-T6, with high strength for
forgings; 6070 for the highest strength available in 6xxx extrusions; and
6101and 6201 for high-strength electrical bus and electrical conductor
wire, respectively.

Fig. 18 Alloy 5083 was the workhorse for the 32 m (125 ft) diam spheres for
shipboard transport of liqueed natural gas; the all-welded construction was 200 mm (8 in.) thick at the horizontal diam.

Fig. 19

The superstructure of many ocean liners, ferries, and most naval


ships is of welded 5xxx alloy construction, providing lightweight
and excellent corrosion resistance.

100 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Figure 27 shows that the power of extruded aluminum-magnesiumsilicon alloys is the put-the-metal-where-you need-it exibility these
alloys and the extrusion process provide.
Some of the other most important applications for aluminum-magnesium-silicon are in the structural members of wide-span roof structures
for arenas and gymnasiums shown in Fig. 28; geodesic domes, such as the
one made originally to house the Spruce Goose, the famous Hughes
wooden ying boat, in Long Beach, CA, the largest geodesic dome ever
constructed, at 250 m (1000 ft) across, 100 m (400 ft) high (Fig. 29); an
integrally stiffened bridge deck shape, used to produce replacement
bridge decks, readily put in the roadway in hours (Fig. 30, 31); and a
magnetic levitation (Mag-Lev) train in development in Europe and Japan

Fig. 20

Fig. 21

Rugged coal cars are provided by welded 5454 alloy plate construction.

The demands of the superstructures of offshore oil rigs in high


humidity and water exposure are met with 5454, 5086, and 5083
aluminum-magnesium alloy welded construction.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 101

(Fig. 32). In addition, aluminum light poles are widely used around the
world for their corrosion resistance and crash protection systems providing safety for auto drivers and passengers, as shown in Fig. 33.
Representative important applications of the 6xxx alloy series in automobile structures are shown in Fig. 34 to 36.

Fig. 22

Automotive structures are likely to employ increasing amounts of 5754-O formed sheet for parts such as
internal door stiffeners or the entire body-in-white.

Fig. 23

Aluminum cans have ends of alloy 5182, making that one of the
largest volume alloys in production.

102 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

7xxx, Aluminum-Zinc Alloys. The major characteristics of the 7xxx


series are:
O
O
O
O

Heat treatable
Very high strength; special high-toughness versions
Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 220 to 610 MPa (3288 ksi)
Mechanically joined

Fig. 24

5xxx alloys are commonly used as external facing sheets of composite aluminum-plastic structural panels, as in this Alusuisse Alucoban example.

Fig. 25

Sheet of 5xxx alloys often forms the surface of geodesic dome


structures, as in this example of a water treatment plant.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 103

The 7xxx alloys are heat treatable and, among the aluminum-zincmagnesium-copper versions in particular, provide the highest strengths of
all aluminum alloys. These alloys are not considered weldable by
commercial processes and are regularly used with riveted construction.
Primary Use. The widest application of the 7xxx alloys historically has
been in the aircraft industry, where fracture-critical design concepts have

Fig. 26

The Foresmo Bridge in northern Norway is an excellent example of


the use of aluminum-magnesium alloys for built-up girders systems;
this photograph illustrates a major advantage of replacement aluminum
bridgesthe ability to prefabricate the spans and move them in place quickly,
minimizing the disruption to trafc.

Fig. 27

The power of extruded aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys is the


put-in-the metal-where-you-need-it exibility these alloys and the
extrusion process provide.

104 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 28

The structural members of wide-span roof structures for arenas and


gymnasiums are usually 6063 or 6061 extruded tube or beams,
covered with 5xxx alloy sheet.

provided the impetus for the high-toughness alloy development. There are
several alloys in the series that are produced especially for their high
toughness, notably 7150, 7175, and 7475; for these alloys, controlled
impurity levels, particularly of iron and silicon, maximize the combination of strength and fracture toughness.
The atmospheric corrosion resistance of the 7xxx alloys is not as high
as that of the 5xxx and 6xxx alloys, thus, in such service, they usually are
coated or, for sheet and plate, used in an alclad version. Also, special
tempers have been developed to improve their resistance to exfoliation

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 105

Fig. 29

This geodesic dome in Long Beach, CA, made originally to house


the Spruce Goose, is the largest geodesic dome ever constructed250 m (1000 ft) across, 100 m (400 ft) high.

Fig. 30

Integrally stiffened bridge deck shape, which is usually produced in


6063

and SCC, the T76 and T73 types, respectively. These tempers are
especially recommended in situations where there may be high short
transverse (through the thickness) stresses present during exposure to
atmospheric or more severe environments.
Applications of 7xxx alloys include critical aircraft wing structures of
integrally stiffened aluminum extrusions (Fig. 37), long-length drill pipe
(Fig. 38), and the premium forged aircraft part of alloy 7175-T736 (T74)
shown in Fig. 39.
8xxx, Alloys with Aluminum Plus Other Elements (Not Covered by
Other Series). The major characteristics of the 8xxx series are:

106 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O Heat treatable
O High conductivity, strength, and hardness
O Typical ultimate tensile strength range: 120 to 240 (1735 ksi)
The 8xxx series is used for those alloys with lesser-used alloying elements
such as iron, nickel, and lithium. Each is used for the particular
characteristics it provides the alloys.

Fig. 31

Replacement bridge decks, usually produced in 6063, are readily


put into the roadway in hours.

Fig. 32

Experimental magnetic levitation (Mag-Lev) train in development in


Europe and Japan, employ bodies with 6061 and 6063 structural

members.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 107

Primary Use. Iron and nickel provide strength with little loss in
electrical conductivity and so are used in a series of alloys represented by
8017 for conductors.
Lithium in alloy 8090 provides exceptionally high strength and modulus, and so this alloy is used for aerospace applications in which increases
in stiffness combined with high strength reduces component weight. A
forged helicopter component of aluminum-lithium alloy 8090-T852 can
be seen in Fig. 40.

Fig. 33

Aluminum light poles are widely used around the world for their
corrosion resistance, and their breakaway-base crash protection
systems that provide safety for car drivers and passengers.

(a)

Fig. 34

(b)

Extruded aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys make up (a) a complete Verlicchi Nino & Fugli motorcycle
chassis and (b) the entire body frame of the Audi A-8.

108 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Cast Alloys
In comparison with wrought alloys, casting alloys contain larger
proportions of alloying elements such as silicon and copper, which results
in a largely heterogeneous cast structure (i.e., one having a substantial
volume of second phases). This second phase material warrants careful
study, since any coarse, sharp, and brittle constituent can create harmful
internal notches and nucleate cracks when the component is later put
under load. The fatigue properties are very sensitive to large heterogeneities. As is shown later, good metallurgical and foundry practices can
largely prevent such defects.
The elongation and strength, especially in fatigue, of most cast products
are relatively lower than those of wrought products. This is because
current casting practice is as yet unable to reliably prevent casting defects.
In recent years, however, innovations in casting processes such as squeeze

Fig. 35

Welded 6063 extrusions combined with 5083 tube and 357 casting
make up the axle body assembly for the BMW Model 5.

Fig. 36

The General Motors Aurora, like many other production automobiles, has aluminum closure panels of alloy 6111-T4.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 109

casting have brought about some signicant improvements in the consistency and level of properties of castings, and these should be taken into
account in selecting casting processes for critical applications.
2xx.x, Aluminum-Copper Alloys. The major characteristics of the
2xx.x series are:
O Heat treatable sand and permanent mold castings
O High strength at room and elevated temperatures; some high-toughness
alloys

Fig. 37

Critical aircraft wing structures are often of 7xxx alloy sheet or


integrally stiffened extrusion construction; alloy 7075-T73 or hightoughness alloys such as 7050 or 7475 are among the principal choices.

Fig. 38

Long-length drill pipe often is made of 7xxx (as well as 2xxx)


aluminum alloy extruded tube.

110 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 130 to 450 MPa (2065


ksi)
Primary Use. The strongest of the common casting alloys is heat treated
201.0, which has found important application in the aerospace industry.
The castability of the alloy is somewhat limited by a tendency to
microporosity and hot tearing so that it is best suited to investment
casting. Its high toughness makes it particularly suitable for highly
stressed components in machine tool construction, in electrical engineering (pressurized switchgear castings), and in aircraft construction.

Fig. 39

An example of a premium forged aircraft part of alloy 7175-T736


(T74)

Fig. 40

A forged helicopter component of aluminum-lithium alloy 8090T852

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 111

Besides the standard aluminum casting alloys, there are special alloys
for particular components, for instance, for engine piston heads, integral
engine blocks, or bearings. For these applications, the chosen alloy needs
good wear resistance and a low friction coefcient, as well as adequate
strength at elevated service temperatures. A good example is the alloy
203.0, which to date is the aluminum casting alloy with the highest
strength at approximately 200 C (400 F). An example of an application
for 2xx.x alloys is an aircraft component that is made in alloys of
high-strength alloy 201.0-T6 (Fig. 41).
3xx.x, Aluminum-Silicon Plus Copper or Magnesium Alloys. The
major characteristics of the 3xx.x series are:
O Heat treatable sand, permanent mold, and die castings
O Excellent uidity, high-strength, and some high-toughness alloys
O Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 130 to 275 MPa (2040
ksi)
O Readily welded
The 3xx.x series of castings is one of the most widely used because of the
exibility provided by the high silicon content and its contribution to
uidity, plus their response to heat treatment, which provides a variety of
high-strength options. In addition, the 3xx.x series may be cast by a
variety of techniques ranging from relatively simple sand or die casting to
very intricate permanent mold, investment castings, and the newer
thixocasting and squeeze casting technologies.
Primary Use. Among the workhorse alloys are 319.0 and 356.0/A356.0
for sand and permanent mold casting; 360.0, 380.0/A380.0, and 390.0 for
die casting; and 357.0/A357.0 for many types of casting, including,
especially, the relatively newly commercialized squeeze/forge cast technologies. Alloy 332.0 also is one of the most frequently used aluminum

Fig. 41

Aircraft components are made from high-strength cast aluminum


alloys, such as alloy 201.0.

112 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 42

Thixoformed A356.0-T6 inner turbo frame for the Airbus family of


aircraft

casting alloys because it can be made almost exclusively from recycled


scrap.
Among the illustrative applications are the thixoformed A356.0-T6
inner turbo frame for the Airbus family of aircraft (Fig. 42); the gearbox
casing for a passenger car in alloy pressure die cast 380.0 shown in Fig.
43; rear axle housing (Fig. 44); complex 3xx.x castings made by the
investment casting processes, providing the ability to obtain exceptionally
intricate detail and ne quality (Fig. 45); and A356.0 cast wheels, which
are widely used in the U.S. automotive industry (Fig. 46).
4xx.x, Aluminum-Silicon Alloys. The major characteristics of the
4xx.x series are:
O Non-heat-treatable sand, permanent mold, and die castings
O Excellent uidity, good for intricate castings
O Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 120 to 175 MPa (1725
ksi)
Alloy B413.0 is notable for its very good castability and excellent
weldability, which are due to its eutectic composition and low melting
point of 700 C (1292 F). It combines moderate strength with high
elongation before rupture and good corrosion resistance. The alloy is
particularly suitable for intricate, thin-walled, leak-proof, fatigue-resistant
castings.
Primary Use. These alloys have found applications in relatively
complex cast parts for typewriter and computer housings and dental
equipment, and also for fairly critical components in marine and
architectural applications.
5xx.x, Aluminum-Magnesium Alloys. The major characteristics of
the 5xx.x series are:

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 113

Fig. 43

Gearbox casting for a passenger car, in alloy pressure die cast 380.0

Fig. 44
O
O
O
O

Rear axle housing of 380.0 sand casting

Non-heat-treatable sand, permanent mold, and die castings


Tougher to cast; provides good nishing characteristics
Excellent corrosion resistance, machinability, and surface appearance
Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 120 to 175 MPa (1725
ksi)

The common feature of this group of alloys is good resistance to


corrosion.
Primary Use. Alloys 512.0 and 514.0 have medium strength and good
elongation and are suitable for components exposed to seawater or to

114 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

other similar corrosive environments. These alloys often are used for door
and window ttings, which can be decoratively anodized to give a
metallic nish or provide a wide range of colors. Their castability is
inferior to that of the aluminum-silicon alloys because of its magnesium

Fig. 45

Complex 3xx.x castings made by the investment casting processes,


providing the ability to obtain exceptionally intricate detail and ne

quality

Fig. 46

A356.0 cast wheels are widely used in the U.S. automotive industry.

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 115

content and, consequently, long freezing range. For this reason, it tends to
be replaced by 355.0, which has long been used for similar applications.
For die castings where decorative anodizing is particularly important,
alloy 520.0 is quite suitable.
7xx.x, Aluminum-Zinc Alloys. The major characteristics of the 7xx.x
series are:
O Heat treatable sand and permanent mold castings (harder to cast)
O Excellent machinability and appearance
O Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 210 to 380 MPa (3055
ksi)
Primary Use. Because of the increased difficulty in casting 7xx.x alloys,
they tend to be used only where the excellent nishing characteristics and
machinability are important. Representative applications include furniture, garden tools, ofce machines, and farming and mining equipment.
8xx.x, Aluminum-Tin Alloys. The major characteristics of the 8xx.x
series are:
O
O
O
O

Heat treatable sand and permanent mold castings (harder to cast)


Excellent machinability
Bearings and bushings of all types
Approximate ultimate tensile strength range: 105 to 210 MPa (1530
ksi)

Primary Use. As with the 7xx.x alloys, 8xx.x alloys are relatively hard
to cast and tend to be used only where their combination of superior
surface nish and relative hardness are important. The prime example is
for parts requiring extensive machining and for bushings and bearings.

Applications by Market Area


In the paragraphs that follow, a review is provided of the alloys often
selected for products in a number of the major markets in which
aluminum is used.

Electrical Markets
The major products for which aluminum is used in electrical applications are electric cable and bus conductors, where the high electrical
conductivity (60% IACS) makes aluminum a cost-effective replacement
for copper products:

116 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O Electrical conductor wire: 1350 where no special strength requirements exist; 6201 where a combination of high strength and high
conductivity are needed
O Bus conductor: 6101
O Electrical cable towers: 6061 or 6063 extruded shapes

Building and Construction Markets


Building and construction encompasses those markets in which architectural and/or structural requirements come together. Such applications
include residential housing, commercial storefronts and structures, conference centers and areas (i.e., long roof bay requirements), highway
bridges and roadside structures, and a variety of holding tanks and
chemical structures (also considered under Chemical and Petroleum
Markets). Among the choices are:
O Bridges and other highway structures: 6061 and 6063 extrusions (Fig.
30); 5083, 5086, and 5454 plate (Fig. 26, 30, 31, 33)
O Storefronts, curtain wall: 6063 extrusions
O Building sheet, siding: 3005, 3105, and 5005 sheet
O Arena and convention center roofs: 6061 extrusions with 5xxx alloy
sheet panels (Fig. 29)
O Residential housing structures: 6063 extrusions
O Architectural trim: 5257, 5657, 6463
O Composite wall panels: 5xxx alloy sheet plus expanded polymers (Fig.
24)

Transportation Applications
The transportation market has several major subsections, as discussed
subsequently.
Automobile, Van, Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), Bus, and Truck
Applications. Automotive structures require a combination of aluminum
castings, sheet, and extrusions to cover all good opportunities to increase
gasoline mileage and reduce pollutants. Among examples are the following:
O Frame: 5182 or 5754 sheet (Fig. 14, 22) or, for space frame designs,
6063 or 6061 extrusions (Fig. 34a and b)
O External body sheet panels where dent resistance is important: 2008,
6111 (Fig. 36)
O Inner body panels: 5083, 5754
O Bumpers: 7029, 7129
O Air conditioner tubes, heat exchangers: 3003 (Fig. 10, 14)
O Auto trim: 5257, 5657, 5757
O Door beams, seat tracks, racks, rails, and so on: 6061, 6063
O Hood, deck lids: 2036, 6016, 6111 (Fig. 36)

Applications for Aluminum Alloys and Tempers / 117

O
O
O
O

Truck beams: 2014, 6070 (Fig. 7)


Truck trailer bodies: 5456 (Fig. 7)
Wheels: A356.0 (Fig. 46) or formed 5xxx sheet
Housings, gear boxes: 357.0, A357.0 (Fig. 43, 44)

Aircraft and Aerospace Applications. Aircraft and aerospace applications require high strength combined with, depending on the specic
component, high fracture toughness, high corrosion resistance, and/or
high modulus (sometimes all three). The result has been a great number
of alloys and tempers developed specically for this market, as illustrated
by the examples below:
O Space mirror: High-purity aluminum (Fig. 5)
O Wing and fuselage skin: 2024, alclad 2024, 7050 and 7475 sheet and
plate or extrusions (Fig. 6)
O Wing structures: 2024, 2124, 2314, 7050 stiffened extrusions (Fig. 37)
O Bulkhead: 2197, 7049, 7050, 7175
O Rocket tankage: 2195, 2219, 2419 (Fig. 8a, b)
O Engine components: 2618
O Propellers: 2025
O Rivets: 2117, 6053
O If high modulus is critical: Lithium-bearing alloys 2090, 2091, 2195,
8090
O If high fracture toughness is critical: 2124, 2224, 2324, 7050, 7175,
7475
O For maximum fracture toughness: 7475
O If stress-corrosion resistance is important: 7X50 or 7X75 in the
T73-type temper
O If resistance to exfoliation attack is vital: 7xxx alloys in the T76-type
temper
O For welded construction, as for shuttle tanks: 2219, 2195, 5456

Marine Transportation
Many aluminum alloys readily withstand the corrosive attack of marine
salt water and so nd applications in boats, ships, offshore stations, and
other components that are immersed in saltwater:
O
O
O
O

Hull material: 5083, 5383, 6061, 6063 (Fig. 1517)


Superstructure: 5083, 5456 (Fig. 15)
Structural beams: 6061, 6063 (Fig. 16, 17)
Offshore stations, tanks: 5083, 5456 (Fig. 21)

Rail Transportation
Much as for automobile and truck bodies, aluminum lends itself to
railcar structural and exterior panel applications:

118 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

O
O
O
O
O

Beams: 2014, 6061, 6070 (Fig. 9)


Exterior panels: 5456, 6111 (Fig. 9, 32)
Tank cars: 5083, 5454
Coal cars: 5083, 5454 (Fig. 20)
Cars for hot cargo: 5454 (Fig. 20)

Packaging Applications
Packaging applications require either great ductility and corrosion
resistance for foil and wrapping applications or great strength and
workability for rigid container sheet applications (i.e., cans). Alloy
choices include:
O Aluminum foil for foods: 1175 (Fig. 24)
O Rigid container (can) bodies: 3004 (Fig. 12)
O Rigid container (can) ends: 5182 (Fig. 23)

Petroleum and Chemical Industry Components


The excellent combination of high strength combined with superior
corrosion resistance plus weldability makes a number of aluminum alloys
ideal for chemical industry applications, even some involving very
corrosive uids:
O
O
O
O
O

Chemical piping: 1060, 5254, 6063


Pressure vessels (ASME Code): 5083, 5086, 6061, 6063
Pipelines: 6061, 6063, 6070
Cryogenic tankage: 5052, 5083, 5454, 6061, 6063 (Fig. 18)
Containers for hydrogen peroxide: 5254, 5652

Other Markets
While not major markets in themselves, a variety of specialty products
nd great advantage in aluminum alloys:
O
O
O
O

Screw machine products: 2011, 6262


Appliances: 5005, 5052
Tread plate: 6061
Weld wire: 4043 (for welding 6xxx alloys), 5356, 5183, 5556 (for
welding 5xxx alloys) (Fig. 14)

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p119-184
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p119

CHAPTER

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

7
Representative
Micrographs

A COMPILATION OF MICROGRAPHS illustrating the microstructure of a wide range of aluminum alloys and tempers is a valuable
additional resource in understanding aluminum alloys and tempers.
Therefore, micrographs of a number of representative alloys and tempers
are shown in the following pages.
The reader should recognize that even within a single cross section of
a piece of plate, forging, extrusion, or casting, a considerable range of
microstructural features may be evident. Among different samples of a
single alloy, temper, and product, an even wider range of variations in
microstructure will be evident. Thus, it should be clear that the microstructures presented here are to be considered representative of the
respective alloy, temper, and product but that not all other lots or even all
other locations within these particular lots will look exactly like the
examples provided. Micrographs were taken mostly from Metallography
and Microstructures, Volume 9 of the ASM Handbook, ASM International, 1985, pages 360 to 387. A few were taken from D.G. Altenpohls
book Aluminum: Technology, Applications and Environment (see Chapter
8), courtesy of the Aluminum Association, Inc.

120 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Wrought Aluminum Alloys

(a)

(b)

Fig. 1

99.99% high-purity aluminum as-cast. Transmission electron micrographs show subgrain structure in 99.99% 0.1 mm (0.004 in.) thick: (a)
hard rolled; (b) after recovery, 2 h at 150 C (302 F). 350

Fig. 2

99.5% aluminum as-cast. Structure of 99.5% aluminum, DC case with


grain rener. Grain size is smaller than 0.5 mm (0.02 in.); cell size is
from 50 to approximately 300 m. The residual melt has solidied mainly in the
cell boundaries.

Representative Micrographs / 121

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 3 99.5% aluminum as-cast. (a) Coarse cell structure due to the solidication rate. Continuous
case 99.5% aluminum. Average cell size: 90 m. (b) Fine cell structure. Normal
solidication rate. Average cell size: 60 m. (c) Adjacent coarse and ne cells in direct chill (DC) cast
99.5% aluminum. The coarse cells solidied relatively slowly and belong to a oating crystal.

(a)

Fig. 4

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Alloy 1100, various amounts of cold work. Recrystallized grain size as a function of cold
work. The following percentage numbers indicate the degree of cold work before
annealing: (a) 0%. (b) 2%. (c) 4%. (d) 6%. (e) 8%. (f) 10%.

122 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

(a)

Fig. 5

Alloy 1100 as-cast. (a) Cross sections through


cast, commercial purity aluminum ingots (DC
cast in rolling ingot shape). The grain structure has been
revealed through etching. Columnar crystals (grains) can be
seen in the outer zones, especially in the upper ingot. The
columnar grains grow in a direction opposite to the removal
of heat. (b) Composition of the cast structure near the ingot
surface. R, narrow exterior band of ne crystals, due to rapid
cooling of the surface of the casting; St, zone of columnar
grains, with axes parallel to the heat ow; K, grain zone
without directional cooling equiaxed grain structure
(b)

Representative Micrographs / 123

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Alloy 1100-O sheet, cold rolled and annealed. Recrystallized, equiaxed grains, and
insoluble particles of FeAl3 (black). Size and distribution
of FeAl3 in the worked structure were unaffected by
annealing. See Fig. 7. 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy 2014-T4 closed-die forging, solution


heat treated at 500 C (935 F) for 2 h and
quenched in water at 60 to 70 C (140 to 160 F).
Longitudinal section. Structure contains particles of
CuAl2 (white, outlined) and insoluble (Fe,Mn)3SiAl12
(dark). Kellers reagent. 100

Alloy 1100-H18 sheet, cold rolled. Note


metal ow around insoluble particles of
FeAl3 (black). Particles are remnants of scriptlike constituents in the ingot that have been fragmented by
working. See Fig. 6. 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy 2014-T6 closed-die forging, solution


heat treated, then aged at 170 C (340 F) for
10 h. Longitudinal section. Fragmented grain structure
contains particles of CuAl2 (white, outlined) and insoluble (Fe,Mn)2SiAl12 (dark), but very ne particles of
CuAl2 have precipitated in the matrix. Kellers reagent.
100

124 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 11

Fig. 10

Alloy 2014-T61 closed-die forging. Blister


on surface is associated with hydrogen porosity. As-polished. 50

Fig. 12

Fig. 13

Alloy 2014-T6 closed-die forging, overaged. Solution heat treatment was sufcient, but specimen was overaged. Fragmented grain
structure contains particles of CuAl2 (white, outlined)
and insoluble (Fe,Mn)2SiAl12 (dark), but more CuAl2 has
precipitated. Note lack of grain contrast. Kellers reagent. 100

Alloy 2024-O plate, 13 mm (0.5 in.) thick,


hot rolled and annealed. Longitudinal section. Elongated recrystallized grains and unrecrystallized
stringers resulting from polygonization that occurred
during the hot water working. KMnO4, Na2CO3. 100

Alloy 2024-O sheet. Structure consists of


light gray particles of insoluble (Cu,Fe,
Mn)Al6 and ne particles of CuMgAl2 that precipitated
during annealing. 25% HNO3. 500

Representative Micrographs / 125

Fig. 14

Alloy 2024-T3 sheet, solution heat treated


at 495 C (920 F) and quenched in cold
water. Longitudinal section. Dark particles are CuMgAl2,
Cu2MnAl20, and Cu2FeAl7. See also Fig. 15. Kellers
reagent. 500

Alloy 2024-T3 sheet, solution heat treated


at 495 C (920 F) and quenched in boiling
water. The lower quenching rate resulted in precipitation of CuMgAl2 at grain boundaries. Kellers reagent.
500

Fig. 16

Fig. 17

Alloy 2024-T3 sheet, solution heat treated


at 495 C (920 F) and cooled in an air
blast. The lower cooling rate resulted in increased
precipitation of CuMgAl2 at grain boundaries. Kellers
reagent. 500

Fig. 15

Alloy 2024-T3 sheet, solution heat treated


at 495 C (920 F) and cooled in still air.
The slow cooling resulted in intragranular and grainboundary precipitation of CuMgAl2. Kellers reagent.
500

126 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 18

Alloy 2024-T3 alclad, sheet clad with alloy


1230 (5% per side), solution heat treated.
Normal amount of copper and magnesium diffusion
from base metal into cladding (top). Kellers reagent.
100

Fig. 20

Alloy 2024-T6 sheet, 6.4 mm (0.24 in.)


thick (reduced from 406 mm, or 16 in.,
thick ingot), stretched 6%. Longitudinal section. Some
faint strain lines have formed. See also Fig. 21. Kellers
reagent. 100

Fig. 19

Alloy 2024-T6 sheet, 6.4 mm (0.24 in.)


thick (reduced from 406 mm, or 16 in.,
thick ingot), stretched 2%. Longitudinal section. Note
absence of strain lines in structure. See also Fig. 20 and
21. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 21

Alloy 2024-T6 sheet, 6.4 mm (0.24 in.)


thick (reduced from 406 mm, or 16 in.,
thick ingot), stretched 20%. Longitudinal section. Many
strain lines have formed. See also Fig. 20. Kellers
reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 127

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.)


Fig. 22 thick,
cold rolled, solution heat treated,
stretched, and articially aged. Section was taken in the
rolling plane (long transverse) from an area near the
surface showing elongated grains. Kellers reagent.
200

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.)


Fig. 23 thick,
cold rolled, solution heat treated,
stretched, and articially aged. Longitudinal section
showing the edge view of an area near the surface of the
plate. Grains are attened and elongated in the direction
of rolling. See also Fig. 24. 200

Fig. 24

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.)


thick, cold rolled, solution heat treated,
stretched, and articially aged. A short transverse section
showing the end view of an area near the surface of the
plate. Grains are attened but are not as elongated as
grains in Fig. 23. Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 25 Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.)


thick, cold rolled, solution heat treated,
stretched, and articially aged. Section was taken in the
rolling plane (long transverse) from the center of the
plate thickness, which received less cold working than
the surface. Kellers reagent. 200

128 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 26

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.) thick,


cold rolled, solution heat treated, stretched,
and articially aged. Specimen was taken from the center of
the plate thickness. There is less attening and elongation of
the grains. Kellers reagent. 200

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 150 mm (6 in.) thick,


cold rolled, solution heat treated, stretched,
and articially aged. A short transverse section showing the
end view of an area from the center of the plate thickness.
Less cold working resulted in less deformation. Kellers
reagent. 200

Fig. 28

Fig. 29

Alloy 2024-T851 plate, 100 mm (4 in.) thick,


hot rolled, solution heat treated, stretched, and
articially aged. Fragmented grain structure, one small
recrystallized grain. High rolling temperature limited strain
and recrystallization. 10% H3PO4. 500

Fig. 27

Alloy 2025-T6 closed-die forging, solution


heat treated and articially aged. Longitudinal
section. Complete recrystallization resulted from high residual strain in the forging before solution treatment. See
also Fig. 30. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 30

Alloy 2025-T6 closed-die forging, solution


heat treated and articially aged. Longitudinal
section. Worked structure is only partly recrystallized. Incomplete recrystallization occurred because forging had
lower residual strain before solution heat treatment than in
Fig. 29. Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 129

(a)

(b)

Fig. 31

Fig. 32

Alloy 2090, plate and sheet. Crystallized microstructures. (a) 45 mm


(1.75 in.) thick 2090 plate. (b) 1.6 mm (0.063 in.) thick 2090 sheet.

Alloy 2117-T4 rivet, cold upset, solution


heat treated at 500 C (935 F) for 35 min,
quenched in water at 25 C (75 F) max. The small
recrystallized grains are in the rivet head, and the large
grains are in the shank. Kellers reagent. 60

Fig. 33

Alloy 2218-T61 closed-die forging, solution heat treated and articially aged. Fine,
recrystallized structure. The dark particles of insoluble
FeNiAl9 phase show banding, which resulted from the
working during forging. Kellers reagent. 100

130 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 34

Alloy 2219-T6 closed-die forging solution


heat treated and articially aged. Longitudinal section. Worked structure contains some recrystallized grains. See Fig. 35 for a totally unrecrystallized
structure. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 35

Alloy 2219-T6 closed-die forging solution


heat treated and articially aged. Longitudinal section shows no recrystallization of the worked
structure. Note the large amount of slip (light parallel
lines) that has occurred on two sets of slip planes.
Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 36

Alloy 2618-T4 closed-die forging, solution


heat treated at 530 C (985 F) for 2 h,
quenched in boiling water. Small particles of CuMgAl2
precipitated at grain boundaries; larger particles are
insoluble FeNiAl9 phase. 0.5% HF. 500

Fig. 37

Alloy 2618-T4 forging, solution heat


treated at 530 C (985 F) for 2 h and
cooled in still air. Small particles of CuMgAl2 precipitated at grain boundaries; larger particles are insoluble
FeNiAl9 phase. Slower cooling resulted in an increase of
CuMgAl2 at grain boundaries and within grains. 0.5%
HF. 500

Fig. 38 Alloy 2618-T61 forging, solution heat


treated, quenched in boiling water, aged at
200 C (390 F) for 20 h, stabilized at 230 C (450 F) for
7 h. Small particles of CuMgAl2 precipitated at grain
boundaries; larger particles are insoluble FeNiAl9 phase.
CuMgAl2 also has precipitated in grains. 0.5% HF. 500

Fig. 39 Alloy 2618-T61 forging, solution heat


treated, cooled in still air, aged at 200 C
(390 F) for 20 h, stabilized at 230 C (450 F) for 7 h.
Small particles of CuMgAl2 precipitated at grain boundaries; larger particles are insoluble FeNiAl9 phase.
CuMgAl2 also has precipitated in grains. Note increase
in precipitation and alloy depletion near light grain
boundaries. 0.5% HF. 500

Representative Micrographs / 131

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 40 Alloy 3003 as-cast. (a) Structure of a DC cast rolling ingot. Angular precipitates of the aluminummanganese-iron phase in the cast grains and at the grain boundaries. 860. (b) Structure of a DC cast
rolling ingot heat-treated 72 h at 600 C (1112 F) then quenched. Through diffusion processes the precipitates have
grown and rounded off (spheroidized). 800. (c) Structure of a DC cast rolling ingot heat-treated 6 h at 600 C (1112
F), then furnace cooled for 15 h to 450 C (842 F). A ne AlMnFe precipitate originated from the supersaturated
solid solution due to the slow cooling. At the same time, the precipitates from the cast structure spheroidized, less
than in (b) due to the shorter heat treatment. 860

Fig. 41

Alloy 3003-F hot rolled. Longitudinal section


shows stringer of oxide from an inclusion in the
cast ingot and particles of phases that contain manganese,
both primary (large, angular) and eutectic (small). Aspolished. 500

Fig. 42

Alloy 3003-O sheet, annealed. Longitudinal


section shows recrystallized grains. Grain
elongation indicates rolling direction, but not the crystallographic orientation within each grain. Polarized light. Barkers reagent. 100

132 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 43

Alloy 3003-O sheet, annealed. Higher magnication of the longitudinal section shows recrystallized grains. Grain elongation indicates rolling direction, but not the crystallographic orientation within each
grain. Dispersion of insoluble particles of (Fe,Mn)Al6 (large)
and aluminum-manganese-silicon (both large and small)
was not changed by annealing. 0.5% HF. 750

Fig. 44

Alloy 5083 plate, cold rolled. The coarse, gray


areas are particles of insoluble (Fe,Mn)3Al12;
adjacent black areas are voids caused by breakup of the
brittle (Fe,Mn)3Al12 particles during cold rolling. Separate
black areas may be insoluble particles of Mg2Si. As-polished. 500

Fig. 45

Alloy 5083-H112 plate, cold rolled. Longitudinal section shows particles of primary MnAl6
(gray, outlined). Small, dark areas may be particles of
insoluble phases, such as phases that contain magnesium
(for example, Mg2Si) or that contain manganese. Kellers
reagent. 50

Representative Micrographs / 133

Fig. 46

Alloy 5083, plate. Development of microstructures during hot


rolling at 315 C (600 F)

134 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 47

Alloy 5086-H34 plate, 13 mm (0.5 in.)


thick, cold rolled and stabilized at 120 to
175 C (250 to 350 F) to prevent age softening.
Undesirable continuous network of Mg2Al3 particles
precipitated at grain boundaries; large particles are
insoluble phases. See also Fig. 50. 25% HNO3. 250

Alloy 5454, hot-rolled slab, longitudinal


section. Oxide stringer from an inclusion in
the cast ingot. The structure also shows some particles of
(Fe,Mn)Al6 (light gray). As-polished. 500

Fig. 49

Fig. 50

Alloy 5456 plate, hot rolled. Longitudinal


section. Polarized light. Partial recrystallization occurred immediately after hot rolling from residual heat. This type of recrystallization is frequently
referred to as dynamic recrystallization. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 48

Alloy 5456 plate, 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) thick,


cold rolled and stress relieved below the
solvus at 245 F (475 F) . Particles are (Fe,Mn)Al6 (gray),
Mg2Si (black), and Mg2Al3 (ne precipitate). In contrast
to Fig. 47, there is no continuous network of precipitate
at grain boundaries. 25% HNO3. 500

Representative Micrographs / 135

Alloy 5456-O plate, 13 mm (0.5 in.) thick,


Fig. 51 hot
rolled and annealed above the solvus.
Rapid cooling resulted in retention of Mg2Al3 in solid
solution. The light, outlined particles are insoluble
(Fe,Mn)Al6; the dark particles are insoluble Mg2Si. 25%
HNO3. 500

Fig. 53

Alloy 5457-F plate, 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) thick,


hot rolled. Fine particles of Mg2Si precipitated during the rolling. If carried through to nal sheet,
this amount of precipitate would cause an objectionable
milky appearance in a subsequently applied anodic
coating. 0.5% HF. 500

Fig. 52

Alloy 5457-F extrusion. A transverse section, photographed with polarized light.


Surface grains (top) show random reection, indicating
random crystallographic orientation; interior grains
show uniform reection, indicating a high degree of
preferred orientation. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 54

Alloy 5457-O plate, 10 mm (0.4 in.) thick,


longitudinal section. Annealed at 345 C
(650 F). Polarized light. The grains are equiaxed. See
also Fig. 5557. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 55

Alloy 5457-O plate, originally 10 mm (0.4 in.)


thick, annealed at 345 C (650 F). Effect of
cold rolling. Polarized light. See Fig. 56 for annealed
structure. 10% reduction. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 56

Alloy 5457-O plate, originally 10 mm (0.4 in.)


thick, annealed at 345 C (650 F). Effect of
cold rolling. Polarized light. See Fig. 54 for annealed
structure. 40% reduction. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 57

Alloy 5457-O plate, originally 10 mm (0.4 in.)


thick, annealed at 345 C (650 F). Effect of
cold rolling. Polarized light. See Fig. 54 for annealed
structure. 80% reduction. Barkers reagent. 100

Fig. 58

Alloy 5657 ingot. Dendritic segregation (coring) of titanium. Black spots are etch pits.
Anodized coating from Barkers reagent was stripped with
10% H3PO4 at 80 C (180 F). 200

Fig. 59

Alloy 5657-F sheet, cold rolled (85% reduction). Longitudinal section. Polarized light.
Grains are greatly elongated and contribute to high strength,
but ductility is lower than for specimen in Fig. 61. Barkers
reagent. 100

Fig. 60 Alloy 5657-F sheet, cold rolled (85% reduction). Stress relieved at 300 C (575 F) for 1 h.
Polarized light. Structure shows onset of recrystallization,
which improves formability. Barkers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 137

Fig. 61

Alloy 5657-F sheet, cold rolled (85% reduction). Annealed at 315 C (600 F) for 1
h. Polarized light. Recrystallized grains and bands of
unrecrystallized grains. Barkers reagent. 100

Alloy 5657 sheet. Banding from dendritic


Fig. 62 segregation
(coring) of titanium in the ingot
(see Fig. 58). Anodized coating from Barkers reagent
was stripped with 10% H3PO4 at 80 C (180 F). 200

Fig. 63

Fig. 64

Alloy 6061-F plate, 38 mm (1.5 in.) thick,


as hot rolled (91% reduction). Longitudinal
section from center of plate thickness. Particles are
Fe3SiAl12 (gray, scriptlike) and Mg2Si (black) See also
Fig. 64 and 65. 0.5% HF. 250

Alloy 6061-F plate, 38 mm (1.5 in.) thick,


as hot rolled (91% reduction). Longitudinal
section from near plate surface. Particles of Fe3SiAl12
and Mg2Si are more broken up and uniformly distributed
than in Fig. 63 (midthickness). See also Fig. 65. 0.5% HF.
250

138 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 65

Alloy 6061-F 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) sheet, hot


rolled (reduced 98%); midthickness longitudinal section Fe3SiAl12 particles more broken and dispersed
than in Fig. 64. Most Mg2Si will dissolve during solution
treating. 0.5% HF. 250

Fig. 66

Alloy 6063-T5 extrusion. Transverse section.


Grains at surface of extrusion have recrystallized because of more working and heating. Grains in the
interior of the extrusion are unrecrystallized. Tuckers reagent. Actual size

Fig. 67

Alloy 6063 as-cast. Cross section. Annealed at 580 C (1076 F) and


slow cooled. Precipitation of ne Mg2Si particles within the grains
and coarser Mg2Si phases along the grain boundaries. H2SO4 HF. 200

Representative Micrographs / 139

Fig. 68

Alloy 6063 extrusion. Longitudinal section. Cooled with agitated air.


Metastable, oversaturated mixed crystal and primary phases aligned
along the direction of the deformation. H2SO4 HF. 200

Fig. 69

Alloy 6063 extrusion, articially aged, air cooled. Cross section


showing coherent ne precipitates and primary phases in the grains
and coarser precipitates on the grain boundaries. H2SO4 HF. 200

140 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 70

Alloy 6063, continuous casting. Cross section. Alloy segregation


(coring) with areas of leftover molten material at the grain boundaries. Barkers reagent. 50

Fig. 71

Alloy 6063-T4, annealed at 580 C (1076 F) and water quenched.


Cross section showing substantial removal of segregation and
absorption of the cast phases. Barkers reagent. 50

Representative Micrographs / 141

Fig. 72

Alloy 6063-T6, annealed at 580 C (1076 F) and air cooled. Cross


section showing precipitation of ne Mg2Si particles within the
grains and cast phases along the grain boundaries. H2SO4 HF. 200

Fig. 73

Alloy 6151-T6 closed-die forging showing


large particles of Mg2Si (rounded) and
(Fe,Mn)3SiAl12 (angular or scriptlike) and a ne, banded
dispersion of extremely small particles of a chromium
intermetallic phase. Kellers reagent. 250

Fig. 74 Alloy 6351-T6 extruded tube, 1.5 mm (0.06


in.) wall. Longitudinal section. Polarized
light. Coarse, recrystallized grains at top are near surface; polygonized subgrains are in unrecrystallized interior. Barkers reagent. 100

142 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 76

Alloy 7039 ingot 305 mm (12 in.) thick.


Polarized light. Structure shows equiaxed
grains with interdendritic areas of Mg2Si and Fe3-SiAl12.
See also Fig. 76. Barkers reagent. 50

Alloy 7039 ingot 305 mm (12 in.) thick.


Dendritic cells are more evident than in
Fig. 75 because of the higher magnication and the
etchant used. Dendritic cells also show precipitate
formed during homogenization. 10% H3PO4. 100

Fig. 77

Fig. 78

Fig. 75

Alloy 7039-F plate, 150 mm (6 in.) thick, as


hot rolled (50% reduction). Polarized light.
Grains are elongated and thinned by working. See also
Fig. 78. Barkers reagent. 50

Alloy 7039-F plate, 50 mm (2 in.) thick, as


hot rolled (83% reduction). Polarized light.
Grains are greatly elongated and thinned. See also Fig.
79. Barkers reagent. 50

Representative Micrographs / 143

Fig. 79

Alloy 7039-F plate, 150 mm (6 in.) thick, as


hot rolled (50% reduction). Dendritic cells
are elongated and thinned by working. See also Fig. 77.
10% H3PO4. 100

Alloy 7039-F plate, 50 mm (2 in.) thick, as


hot rolled (83% reduction). Dendritic cells
are elongated and thinned by working. See also Fig. 78.
10% H3PO4. 100

Fig. 81

Fig. 82

Alloy 7075-O sheet, annealed. The ne


particles of MgZn2 (dark) were precipitated
at lower temperatures during heating to or cooling from
the annealing temperature. The insoluble particles of
FeAl3 (light gray, outlined) were not affected by the
annealing treatment. See also Fig. 82. 25% HNO3.
500

Fig. 80

Alloy 7075-O sheet, annealed, cooled


more slowly from annealing temperature
than specimen in Fig. 81. The ne particles of MgZn2
(dark) were precipitated at lower temperatures during
heating to or cooling from the annealing temperature.
The soluble particles of FeAl3 (light gray) were not
affected by the annealing treatment. Platelets of MgZn2
precipitated at grain boundaries during slow cooling.
25% HNO3. 500

144 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 83

Alloy 7075-T6 sheet clad with 0.07 mm


(0.0027 in.) of alloy 7072 for 1.6 mm
(0.064 in.) total thickness. Particles in cladding (top) are
Fe3SiAl12; those in core are Cr2Mg3Al18 and (Fe,Mn)Al6.
Kellers reagent. 350

Fig. 84

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Parting-plane fracture in a forging that contained a bushing in


a machined hole. Fracture was caused by excessive
assembly stress. See also Fig. 87 and 88. Kellers reagent.
1.5

Fig. 85

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Detail of parting- Fig. 86 Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Fracture surface of
plane fracture in Fig. 84. The fracture
parting-plane fracture in Fig. 84 (machined
started at the machined hole and progressed parallel to hole at bottom). Woody, brittle fracture pattern is typical
the aw lines of the forging. See also Fig. 88. Kellers of parting-plane fracture in this alloy. Not polished, not
reagent. 8
etched. 4

Representative Micrographs / 145

Fig. 87

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Fold, or lap, at a machined llet in a forging.


Defect was continuous before machining. See also Fig. 88 for details
of a small area of the portion of the defect at lower right. Kellers reagent. 8

Fig. 88

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Enlarged view of an area of the fold, or lap,


at lower right in Fig. 87. Defect contains nonmetallic particles,
oxides, and voids, which prevented it from welding, or healing, during forging.
Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 89

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Surface appearance of a lap (at trough,


center). Forging ow lines bend in the vicinity of the lap, indicating
that the defect occurred during forging. See also Fig. 90. Not polished, not
etched. 10

146 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 90

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Section through the forging lap shown in surface view in
Fig. 89. The trough at the surface is at the left. The grains near the lap are deformed,
which indicates that the defect occurred during forging. Kellers reagent. 500

Fig. 91

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Band of shrinkage cavities and internal cracks. The cracks
developed from the cavities, which were produced during solidication of the
ingot and which remained during forging because of inadequate cropping. See Fig. 93 and 94
for higher magnication view of this defect. Kellers reagent. 9

Fig. 92 Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Fractured lug. Arrows illustrate sites at machined hole
where stress-corrosion cracks originated because of stress acting across the short
transverse grain direction. See also Fig. 94. Kellers reagent. 2.75

Representative Micrographs / 147

Fig. 93

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Area of the forging in Fig. 91 that contains


rows of unhealed shrinkage cavities (black) shown at higher magnication. No cracks have developed from the cavities in this particular area. See
Fig. 95 for view of cracked area. Kellers reagent. 200

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Higher magnication view of area of the


Fig. 94 fractured
lug in Fig. 92 that contains intergranular cracks caused by
stress corrosion, which resulted when assembly of a pin in the machined hole
produced excessive residual hoop stress in the lug. Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 95

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Area of the forging in Fig. 91 that contains


intergranular and connecting transgranular cracks shown at a higher
magnication. The cracks developed from shrinkage cavities. See also Fig. 93.
Kellers reagent. 200

148 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 96

Alloy 7075-T6 forging. Brittle surfaces in a tension-test specimen


machined from an alloy 7075-T6 forging that contained a defect of
the type shown in Fig. 91 (shrinkage cavities and internal cracks). Not polished,
not etched. 3

Fig. 97 Alloy 7075-T6 extrusion. Fracture in an extrusion, showing segregation of chromium particles (light gray, fractured). Segregation
originated in the ingot and persisted through to the nal product. Kellers reagent.
200

Representative Micrographs / 149

Alloy 7075-T6 extrusion. Fracture showing a spongy inclusion of


Fig. 98 dross
(center) and some segregation of chromium particles (left) at
fracture surface, both of which originated in the ingot. Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 99

Alloy 7075-T6 extrusion. Pitting-type corrosion (dark area) in the


surface of an aircraft wing plank machined from an extrusion.
Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 100
200

Alloy 7075-T6 plate. Intergranular corrosion. Grain boundaries


were attacked, causing the grains to separate. Kellers reagent.

150 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 101

Alloy 7075-T6 extrusion. Exfoliation-type corrosion. Rapid attack


was parallel to the surface of the extrusion and along the grain
boundaries or along striations within elongated grains. See also Fig. 102. Kellers
reagent. 20

Fig. 102

Alloy 7075-T6 extrusion. Higher magnication view of Fig. 101


(rotated 90), showing how the corrosion product caused the
uncorroded, recrystallized skin of the extrusion to split away, resulting in a leang
action. Kellers reagent. 200

Representative Micrographs / 151

Fig. 103

Alloy 7075-T6 alclad sheet. Typical ductile fracture, showing the deformed grains
and necking at the fracture. Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 105

Alloy 7075-T6 extruded bar. Typical


branched intergranular stress corrosion
cracks. Transverse section. Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 104

Alloy 7075-T6 alclad sheet. Brittle fracture in overheated alclad sheet, caused
by solid-solution melting at the grain boundaries.
Kellers reagent. 200

Fig. 106 Alloy 7075-T6 sheet. Surface fretting


(dark gray) on 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) thick
sheet that was fayed to a 4130 steel strap in a fatigue test.
Fretting corrosion product is Al2O3. Kellers reagent.
1050

(a)

(b)

Fig. 107

Alloy 7075-T652 forging, showing the effect of saturation peening. (a) Longitudinal section. (b)
Transverse section. The forging was peened with S230 cast steel shot to an Almen-gage intensity
of 0.006 to 0.008 A. The surface of the sheet (at top) shows deformation and roughening. Kellers reagent. 150

Fig. 108

Alloy 7075-T7352 forging, solution heat


treated, cold reduced, and articially aged.
Particles are insoluble (Fe,Mn)Al6 (dark gray). Some unresolved Mg2Si may be present. This is a normal structure. See
also Fig. 109. Kellers reagent. 250

Fig. 109

Fig. 110

Fig. 111

Alloy 7178-T76 sheet, 3.2 mm (0.125 in.)


thick, exposed in a test chamber containing a
fog of 5% NaCl for two weeks. Note exfoliation of the sheet.
See also Fig. 111. Kellers reagent. 75

Alloy 7075-T7352 forging, solution heat


treated, cold reduced, and articially aged.
Eutectic melting temperature was exceeded during solution
heat treatment. Fusion voids (black areas) and agglomeration of insoluble phases (dark gray). Kellers reagent. 250

Alloy 7178-T76 sheet, 3.1 mm (0.125 in.)


thick, clad with 0.127 mm (0.005 in.) of alloy
7072 (3.2 mm, or 0.125 in., total thickness). Sacricial
corrosion of cladding prevented exfoliation of sheet during
testing. Kellers reagent. 75

Representative Micrographs / 153

Welded Wrought Aluminum Alloys

Fig. 112

Pressure weld (cold) in alloy 2014-T6 bar.


The ow lines of the joint show the
movement of metal toward the edge of the bar during
weld upsetting. 0.5% HF. 150

Fig. 114

Fig. 113

Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with


alloy 1230. Core of alclad sheet used in
resistance spot weld shown in Fig. 114. The dark
particles are CuMgAl2, Cu2MnAl20, and Cu2FeAl7; light
particles, CuAl2. See also Fig. 115118. Kellers reagent.
500

Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with alloy 1230. Resistance spot
weld. Oval nugget has zone of columnar grains, surrounding
equiaxed grains. See also Fig. 115118. Tuckers reagent. 10

154 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 115

Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with alloy 1230. Inner zone of
nugget of the resistance spot weld shown in Fig. 114. The structure
consists of small equiaxed grains. This inner zone is surrounded by an outer zone
that consists of columnar grains. See also Fig. 116. Kellers reagent. 500

Fig. 116

Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with alloy Fig. 117 Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with
1230. Outer zone of nugget of the weld
alloy 1230. Transition zone of the weld in
shown in Fig. 114. Columnar grains are normal to the edge Fig. 114 showing eutectic segregationdepletion (light
of the nugget. See also Fig. 115, which shows inner zone of band) at edge of nugget and concentration (dark band) in
nugget. Kellers reagent. 550
the base metal. Kellers reagent. 550

Fig. 118 Weld in alloy 2024-T4 sheet clad with


alloy 1230. Outer zone of nugget (at
interface) of resistance spot weld made in alclad sheets.
Unfused cladding (right) projects into the weld nugget.
See also Fig. 114. Kellers reagent. 550

Fig. 119 Parent metal alloy 2219-T37 sheet. Structure of 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) thick sheet
used for the weld shown in Fig. 120 and 121. Longitudinal section. Elongated grains of solid solution with
particles of CuAl2 (light) and (Fe,Mn)3SiAl12 (dark)
Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 155

Fig. 120

Weld in alloy 2219-T37 sheet. Gas tungsten arc weld in a butt joint.
Alloy ER 2319 ller metal. See also Fig. 122. Kellers reagent. 10

Fig. 121

Weld in alloy 2219-T37 sheet. Electron beam weld in a butt joint.


Alloy ER 2319 ller metal. See also Fig. 123. Kellers reagent. 10

156 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 122

Weld in alloy 2219-T37 sheet. Gas tungsten arc weld in a butt


joint. Alloy ER 2319 ller metal. Edge of the fusion zone of the gas
tungsten arc weld shown in Fig. 120. The base metal is on the left. See also Fig.
123. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 123

Weld in alloy 2219-T37 sheet. Alloy ER 2319 ller metal. Edge of


the fusion zone of the electron beam weld shown in Fig. 121. The
base metal is on the left. Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 157

Fig. 124

Parent metal alloy 5052-O sheet, 10 mm


(0.40 in.) thick, used for weld shown in
Fig. 125127. Structure shows particles of CrAl7 (coarse
black). Rounded, outlined areas are pits, where etchant
removed Mg2Si. Kellers reagent. 500

Fig. 126

Welded alloy 5052-O sheet, 10 mm (0.40


in.) thick. Bead of weld shown in Fig.
127. Filler metal was alloy ER 5356. The structure
consists of equiaxed dendrites of aluminum with a ne
precipitate of Mg2Al3 (dark) in the dendrites and at
dendrite boundaries. Kellers reagent. 500

Fig. 125

Welded alloy 5052-O sheet, 10 mm (0.40


in.) thick. Weld bead (See also Fig. 126) is
to the right. Structure equiaxed dendrites of aluminum
with much Mg2Al3 precipitate near dendrite boundaries
forming the dark band in Fig. 127. Kellers reagent.
500

Fig. 127 Weld in alloy 5052-O sheet, 10 mm (0.40


in.) thick. Gas tungsten arc llet weld.
Filler metal was alloy ER 5356. See also Fig. 124126.
Tuckers reagent. 15

158 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 128

Weld in alloy 5456-H321 plate, 25 mm (1 in.) thick. Electron beam weld in a butt joint. No ller
metal was used. See Fig. 129 for details of the edge of the fusion zone. Kellers reagent. 10

Fig. 129 Weld in alloy 5456-H321 plate, 25 mm (1 in.) thick. Edge of fusion
zone (base metal is at bottom) of the electron beam weld in Fig.
128. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 130

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 sheet, 1.6 mm (0.063 in.) thick. Gas


tungsten arc weld in a butt joint. Alternating current and ER 4043
ller metal were used. Note the extent of the heat-affected zone. See also Fig. 131
and 138. Kellers reagent. 5.5

Representative Micrographs / 159

Fig. 131

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 sheet. Structure of


1.6 mm (0.063 in.) thick sheet used in
making the weld shown in Fig. 130. The microstructure
is the same as Fig. 136 but contains more Mg2Si. See Fig.
138 for structure of edge of fusion zone. Kellers reagent.
100

Fig. 132

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 sheet. Electron


beam weld in a 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) thick
sheet. No ller metal was used. See Fig. 133 and 134 for
details of the edge of the fusion zone. Kellers reagent.
10

Fig. 133

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 sheet, 3.2 mm


(0.125 in.) thick. Edge of the fusion zone
(base metal is at left) of the electron beam weld in Fig.
132. Note abrupt change from structure of base metal to
that of weld bead. See also Fig. 134. Kellers reagent.
100

Fig. 134

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 sheet, 3.2 mm


(0.125 in.) thick, shown at a higher magnication than Fig. 133. Particles of Mg2Si (black) and
Fe3SiAl12 (gray) in base metal (left) and interdendritic
Al-Mg2Si eutectic in weld metal. Kellers reagent. 500

Fig. 135

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 plate, 6.4 mm (0.250 in.) thick. Gas


tungsten arc weld in a butt joint. Alternating current and ER 4043
ller metal were used. See also Fig. 136 and 137 for other views of the weld.
Kellers reagent. 5.5

Fig. 137

Fig. 136

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 plate. Structure of


6.4 mm (0.250 in.) thick plate used in
making the weld shown in Fig. 135. Elongated grains of
aluminum solid solution contain particles of Mg2Si
(black). See also Fig. 131. Kellers reagent 100

Welded alloy 6061-T6 plate. Edge of


fusion zone of a weld made in 6.4 mm
(0.250 in.) thick plate, using alternating current. Interdendritic network of aluminum-silicon eutectic (dark) in
weld beam (right), dark band of Al-Mg2Si eutectic in the
heat-affected zone. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 138

Fig. 139

Welded alloy 6061-T6 plate. Edge of


fusion zone of a weld made in 1.6 mm
(0.063 in.) thick plate, using alternating current. The
base metal is located on the left, and weld bead is
located on the right. The structure is the same as that in
Fig. 137, but some porosity (large, black areas) is
evident. Kellers reagent. 100

Welded alloy 6061-T6 plate. Edge of


fusion zone of a weld made in 6.4 mm
(0.250 in.) thick sheet, using straight-polarity direct
current. Dark band of Al-Mg2Si eutectic in heat-affected
zone, next to weld beam (right), is narrower and more
pronounced than in Fig. 137 (weld made with alternating current). Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 161

Fig. 140

Welded alloy 6061-T6 plate. Edge of fusion zone of a weld made


in 1.6 mm (0.063 in.) thick plate using straight-polarity direct
current. The microstructure is the same as for the 6.4 mm (0.250 in) thick plate
in Fig. 139, but the amount of interdendritic aluminum-silicon eutectic in the
weld bead is greater. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 141

Parent metal alloy 6061-T6 extruded


tube. Structure of the extruded tube (extrusion direction vertical) used for the weld shown in
Fig. 142. Black dots are Mg2Si particles. Kellers reagent.
50

Fig. 142

Weld in alloy 6061-T6 extruded tube.


Gas tungsten arc llet weld joining a
6061-T6 tube (upper left) and an A356-T6 investment
casting; ER 4043 ller metal. Kellers reagent. 15

Fig. 143

Weld in alloy 7039-T63 plate, 25 mm (1 in.) thick. Electron beam weld in a butt joint of alloy.
No ller metal was used. See Fig. 144 for details of the edge of the fusion zone. Kellers reagent.

10

Fig. 144

Weld in alloy 7039-T63 plate, 25 mm (1 in.) thick. Edge of fusion zone (base metal is at bottom)
of the electron beam weld in Fig. 143. Kellers reagent. 100

Brazed Joints

Fig. 145

Brazed joint in alloy 6063-O sheet, made


with 4047 (BAIS-4) ller metal. See Fig.
146 for details of structure of the smaller llet. Aspolished. 5

Fig. 146

Brazed joint in alloy 6063-O sheet.


Smaller llet of brazed joint shown in Fig.
145. Structure consists of dendrites of aluminum solid
solution (light gray) and aluminum-silicon eutectic matrix (dark). As-polished. 50

Representative Micrographs / 163

Fig. 147

Brazed joint in alloy 7004-O sheet. Brazed joint between alloy


7004-O sheets, made with alloy 4245 ller metal. See Fig. 148 for
details of the microstructure of the larger llet. As-polished. 5

Fig. 148

Brazed joint in alloy 7006-O sheet.


Larger llet of brazed joint shown in Fig.
147. Structure consists of dendrites of aluminum solid
solution (light), matrix of aluminum-silicon eutectic
(mottled), and particles of primary silicon (dark). Aspolished. 50

Fig. 149

Brazed joint in alloy 3003 brazing sheets


(clad on both sides with alloy 4343 ller
metal). Brazed joint in 12-O brazing sheets. Fillets show
dendrites of solid solution (light) in aluminum-silicon
eutectic matrix. 0.5% HF. 30

164 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Cast Aluminum Alloys

Fig. 150 Alloy 201.0-F, as premium quality cast.


Structure consists of an interdendritic network of undissolved eutectic CuAl2 (gray, outlined);
some shrinkage cavities (black). See Fig. 151 and 152 for
the effect of solution heat treatment and stabilization.
0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 151

Alloy 201.0-T7, premium quality cast,


solution heat treated and stabilized.
Structure is a ne precipitate of CuAl2 in grains and at
grain boundaries; no undissolved eutectic CuAl2; some
shrinkage cavities (black). See Fig. 152 for structure at
higher magnication. 0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 153

Fig. 152

Alloy 201.0-T7, premium quality cast,


solution heat treated, and stabilized.
Higher magnication view of Fig. 151 showing pattern
of CuAl2 precipitate that resulted from segregation of
copper (coring). Note that the presence of silver in the
alloy has resulted in some agglomeration of the precipitate. See also Fig. 156. 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy 222.0-T61, sand cast, solution heat


treated, and articially aged. The structure consists of an interdendritic network of rounded
CuAl2 containing blades of Cu2FeAl7 and some
Fe3SiAl12 (dark-gray script). 0.5% HF. 250

Representative Micrographs / 165

Fig. 154

Alloy 224.0-F, as premium quality cast.


The structure consists of an interdentritic
network of undissolved eutectic CuAl2 (gray, outlined).
See Fig. 155 and 156 for the effect of heat treatment on
the structure. 0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 155

Alloy 224.0-T7, as premium quality cast,


solution heat treated, and stabilized.
Structure: ne CuAl2 precipitate; almost all of the eutectic CuAl2 present in Fig. 154 has been dissolved. See
also higher magnication view in Fig. 156. 0.5% HF.
100

Fig. 157

Fig. 156

Alloy 224.0-T7, premium quality cast,


solution heat treated, and stabilized. Enlarged view of structure in Fig. 155 showing a fairly even
pattern of very ne particles of CuAl2 precipitates in the
aluminum grains and slightly larger particles of the
precipitate at grain boundaries. 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy 238.0-F, as permanent mold cast.


The structure consists of an interdendritic
network of rounded CuAl2 (light gray) containing blades
of Cu2FeAl7 (medium gray) and some particles of silicon
(dark gray). 0.5% HF. 500

166 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 158

Alloy 240.0-F, as investment cast. The


microstructure contains large shrinkage
voids (black), an interdendritic network of Al-Cu-Mg Fig. 159 Alloy 308.0-F, as permanent mold cast.
Structure consists of an interdendritic neteutectic (mottled), and some interdendritic particles of
work of silicon particles (dark gray, angular) and
CuMgAl2 (gray). As-polished. 50
rounded particles of CuAl2 (light gray) that contain
blades of Fe2Si2Al9. 0.5% HF. 250

Fig. 160

Alloy 319.0-F, as permanent mold cast. Fig. 161 Alloy 319.0-T6, permanent solid cast,
Dendrites of aluminum solid solution
solution heat treated, and articially
show segregation (coring). Other constituents are inter- aged. Segregation in dendrites of solid solution was
dendritic network of silicon (dark gray) rounded CuAl2 eliminated by diffusion, and CuAl2 was dissolved during
and (Fe,Mn)3SiAl12 script. Kellers reagent. 100
solution heat treating. Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 167

Fig. 162

Alloy 356.0-F as investment cast with Fig. 163 Alloy 356.0-T51, sand cast, articially
sodium-modied ingot. Al2O3 inclusions.
aged. The angular, dark-gray constituent
Light-gray interdendritic network consists of particles of is silicon. Black script is Mg2Si. Blades are Fe2Si2Al9.
silicon. As-polished. 50
Light script is FeMg3Si6Al8. 0.5% HF. 250

Fig. 164

Alloy 356.0-T6. Hydrogen porosity


(black) in a 356-T6 permanent mold casting that had been solution heat treated and articially
aged. 0.5% HF. 100

Alloy 356.0-T7, modied by sodium adFig. 165 dition,


sand cast, solution heat treated,
and stabilized. Structure: rounded particles of silicon
and blades of Fe2Si2Al9. 0.5% HF. 250

168 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 166 Alloy 356.0-F sand casting to which no


grain rener was added. The macrograin
size is 5 mm (0.20 in.). See also Fig. 167. Tuckers
reagent. 2

(a)

Fig. 168

Alloy 356.0-F sand casting with 0.05% Ti


Fig. 167 and
0.005% B added as grain reners.
Macrograin size is 1 mm (0.04 in.). Tuckers reagent. 2

(b)

Alloy A356.0-T6. Comparison of structure neness using dendrite arm spacing (DAS). Two structures in the
eutectic alloy A356.0-T6. (a) DAS 20 m. (b) DAS 40 m.

Representative Micrographs / 169

Fig. 169

Alloy A356.0-T6. Scanning electron microscope image of the


fracture surface of a cast sample of A356.0-T6, with microporosity
exposing the bare dendrites. Only on the right is there a small area (appearing
brous) of ductile fracture where there had been cohesion. Dendrite arm spacing,
50 m; porosity, 34%; elongation in rupture, 1%

Fig. 170

Alloy A357.0-F, as premium quality cast.


The structure consists of an interdendritic
network of eutectic silicon (gray); some particles of
Mg2Si (black). See Fig. 171 and 172 for the effect of
solution heat treatment and articial aging. 0.5% HF.
100

Fig. 171

Alloy A357.0-T6, premium quality cast,


solution heat treated, and articially
aged. Compared with Fig. 170, the silicon particles in
the eutectic have been rounded and agglomerated by
solution heat treatment. See Fig. 172 for a higher
magnication view. 0.5% HF. 100

Alloy A357.0-T6, premium quality cast, solution heat treated, and


Fig. 172 articially
aged. At higher magnication than Fig. 171, showing
that very little undissolved Mg2Si (black particles) remained after solution heat
treatment. No silicon precipitate is visible. See Fig. 174 for the effect of
insufcient solution heat treatment. 0.5% HF. 500

Fig. 173

Alloy A357.0-T61, permanent mold cast,


solution heat treated at 540 C (1000 F)
for 12 h, quenched in water at 60 to 80 C (140 to 180
F), aged at 155 C (310 F) for 10 h. A desirable
structure: rounded silicon particles and no undissolved
Mg2Si. See also Fig. 176. 0.5% HF. 500

(a)

Fig. 174

Alloy A357.0-T61, permanent mold cast,


insufciently solution heat treated and
articially aged. Structure contains undissolved Mg2Si
(black), and some of the particles of silicon are more
angular than those in the desirable structure shown in
Fig. 175. 0.5% HF. 500

(b)

Fig. 175

Alloy A357.0-T6. Commercial thixocast parts and the equiaxed development of the
-crystals in the solid solution before and after deformation (thixostructure). Here, the
shape and size of the primary crystals remain unchanged, the solidication process being limited to the
residual melt in the thin layers between them. (a) Microstructure of a log in A357.0-T6. (b) Microstructure
of a landing gear component thixoformed in a die casting machine.

Representative Micrographs / 171

Fig. 176

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Area near a


machined surface (A) shows structure
typical of a casting that has desirable properties: interdendritic particles of eutectic silicon (B) and CuAl2 (C) in
a matrix of aluminum solid solution (D). See also Fig.
177. 0.5% HF. 260

Fig. 178

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Fine Al2O3 (A),


which should not cause machining difculties, near the machined surface (B) of an alloy 380-F
die casting. Eutectic silicon is indicated by (C); CuAl2 by
(D); and sludge, by (E). See also Fig. 179. 0.5% HF.
260

Fig. 177

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Area near a


machined surface (A) illustrates some primary crystals of sludge (B) in the aluminum matrix (C)
that contains eutectic silicon (D). Sludge is a highmelting iron-manganese-chromium phase that forms in
high-silicon aluminum alloys. See also Fig. 176. 0.5%
HF. 130

Fig. 179

Alloy 380.0-F die casting shown at a


higher magnication than in Fig. 178.
Aluminum oxide particles are indicated by (A) and (B);
particles of eutectic silicon, by (C); aluminum matrix, by
(D); and particles of sludge, by (E). 0.5% HF. 520

172 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 181

Fig. 180

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Hard area (A)


at a machined surface (B) of an alloy
380-F die casting. Figures 181 and 182 show details of
the microstructure in the hard area, which differs from
the normal microstructure (C). 0.5% HF. 65

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Edge of hard


area in Fig. 180 shown at a higher magnication. Hard area (A) is separated from the area of
normal structure (B) by a ow line (C) where two
streams of liquid alloy met. Some sludge (D) in hard
area. 0.5% HF. 425

Fig. 182

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Hard area in


Fig. 180 shown at a higher magnication.
Structure consists of a heavy concentration of eutectic
silicon (A) and CuAl2 (B) in the aluminum matrix (C).
The hard area caused difculty in machining. 0.5% HF.
1300

Fig. 183

Alloy 380.0-F die casting. Gas porosity


(A), caused by entrapped air, near the
machined surface (B) of an alloy 380-F die casting.
Eutectic silicon particles (C) in aluminum matrix (D) and
particles of sludge (E and F). 0.5% HF. 130

Representative Micrographs / 173

Fig. 184

Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Flow lines (A,


B, and C) in an alloy 384-F die casting. Fig. 185 Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Region near a
cast surface (A) has the desired structure,
These lines may have been caused by incorrect gating,
incorrect die lubrication, or incorrect injection and back which consists of interdendritic particles of eutectic
silicon (B) in an aluminum matrix (C), but also has some
pressures. 0.5% HF. 65
Al2O3 particles (D, and in outlines area E). For a higher
magnication view of area (E), see Fig. 186. 0.5% HF.
65

Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Area (E) in Fig. Fig. 187 Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Cold-shut (A,
B) and ow lines (C, D), both caused by
185 at higher magnication, which
shows that the Al2O3 particles (A and B) are ne and failure of the streams of molten metal to merge, at the
may not cause machining problems. Small particles of cast surface (E) of an alloy 384-F die casting. 0.5% HF.
sludge (C, D, and E) are associated with the Al2O3 55
particles. (F) is eutectic silicon; (G) is matrix of aluminum solid solution. 0.5% HF. 520

Fig. 186

174 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Void (A), which was caused by poor
Fig. 188 lling
of the mold and associated ow lines (B) in an alloy 384-F
die casting. Figure 183 shows for ow lines without voids. 0.5% HF. 65

Fig. 189 Alloy 384.0-F die casting. Gas-porosity Fig. 190 Alloy 384.0-F. Coarse primary crystals of
cavity (A), which was caused by ensludge (A, B, C, and D) removed from
trapped air, at a machined surface (B) of an alloy 384-F molten alloy 384 prior to die casting. The remainder of
die casting. Microstructure is eutectic silicon (C) in an the structure consists of aluminum matrix (E), eutectic
aluminum matrix (D); some sludge (E) is present. 0.5% silicon (F), and Al2O3 (G). 0.5% HF. 40
HF. 130

Representative Micrographs / 175

Fig. 191

Alloy 392.0-F, as permanent mold cast. The structure consists of


silicon (small, angular, gray particles in eutectic, and large,
unrened primary particles) and Mg2Si (black constituent). See also Fig. 192.
0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 192

Alloy 392.0-F, as permanent mold cast. The structure consists of


silicon (small, angular, gray particles in eutectic) and Mg2Si (black
constituent); however, the addition of phosphorus to the melt rened the size of
the particles of primary silicon. See also Fig. 191. 0.5% HF. 100

176 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Fig. 193

Alloy 413.0-F, as die cast. The structure


consists of eutectic silicon (gray constituent), blades of Fe2Si2Al9, and some light-gray particles
that probably are Fe3SiAl12 in a matrix of aluminum
solid solution. Note extreme neness of all particulate
constituents. 0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 195

Fig. 194

Alloy 413.0-F die casting. The gate area


(A) of the casting has the desired structure, which consists of interdendritic particles of eutectic
silicon (B) and the light-etching matrix of aluminum
solid solution (C). 0.5% HF. 41

Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Gate area (A)


Fig. 196 Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Area (G) in Fig.
of an alloy 413.0-F die casting, showing
195 at a higher magnication. Angular
gas porosity (B, C, and D) scattered from the outside wall eutectic silicon (A) in matrix of aluminum solid solution
(E) to the inside wall (F). See Fig. 196 for details of (G), (B) in normal and rounded silicon in undesirable struca sound region. 0.5% HF. 11
tures (C and D). 0.5% HF. 520

Representative Micrographs / 177

Fig. 197

Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Gate area (A).


Fig. 198 Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Gate area (A)
There are areas of undesirable silicon
of a die casting that has a cold-shut void
structure (B) and a gas pore (C), which was caused by air (B) and a region of undesirable structure (C and D)
entrapment, in a region that otherwise exhibits a normal surrounded by areas of normal structure (E and F). See
structure (D). 0.5% HF. 41
also Fig. 199 and 200. 0.5% HF. 11

Fig. 199

Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Area of coldshut void (A) in Fig. 198. The void resulted when two streams of molten metal failed to merge Fig. 200 Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Inner end of
cold-shut void (A) in Fig. 199 showing
and interdiffuse. One of the streams produced a normal
structure (B), and the other produced an undesirable start of ow line between region of normal structure (B),
structure (C). See also Fig. 200 and 201. 0.5% HF. 35 with eutectic silicon (C) of normal shape in matrix of
aluminum solid solution (D), and region of undesirable
structure (E). See also Fig. 201. 0.5% HF. 520

178 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Alloy 413.0-F die casting. Continuation of ow line (A) in Fig. 200,


Fig. 201 separating
normal structure (B), with angular silicon (C) in aluminum matrix (D), from undesirable structure (E), with rounded silicon (F) in
aluminum matrix (G). Line extends across entire section thickness. 0.5% HF.
520

(a)

(b)

Fig. 202

(c)

Alloy B413.0-F. (a) Angular. (b) Lamellar. (c) Modied

Representative Micrographs / 179

Fig. 203

Alloy 443.0-F, as sand cast. Large dendrite cells resulted from slow cooling in
the sand mold. Interdendritic structure: silicon (dark
gray), Fe3SiAl12 (medium-gray script), and Fe2Si2Al9
(light-gray needles). 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy B443.0-F, as permanent mold cast.


Fig. 204 Large
dendrite cells resulted from slow
cooling in the sand mold, but the dendrite cells are
smaller than in Fig. 201 because of faster cooling in the
metal permanent mold. Interdendritic structure: silicon
(dark gray), Fe2SiAl12 (medium gray script), and
Fe2Si2Al9 (light gray needles). See Fig. 205. 0.5% HF.
500

Fig. 205

Fig. 206

Alloy C443.0-F, as die cast. Dendrite cells


are smaller than in Fig. 203 and 204
because of the very rapid cooling obtained in the
water-cooled die-casting die. Interdendritic structure:
silicon (dark gray), Fe2SiAl12 (medium gray script), and
Fe2Si2Al9 (light-gray needles). 0.5% HF. 500

Alloy 520.0-F, as sand cast. Structure is


insoluble particles of FeAl2 (black) and
an interdendritic network of Mg2Al2 phase (gray). Figures 207 and 208 show the effect of solution heat
treatment 0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 207 Alloy 520.0-T4, sand cast, solution heat


treated at 425 C (800 F). Structure is insoluble particles of FeAl2 (black) and an interdendritic
network of Mg2Al2 phase (gray), although the solution heat
treating has dissolved most of the Mg2Al2 phase. See also
Fig. 208. 0.5% HF. 100

Fig. 208 Alloy 520.0-T4, sand cast, solution heat


treated. Solidus was exceeded during solution heat treating, and melting of the eutectic has formed a
lacy network and rosettes of Mg2Al2 phase (gray). See also
Fig. 207. 0.5% HF. 500

Fig. 209

Alloy D712.0-F, as sand cast. Interdendritic network: particles of


CrAl7, Fe3SiAl12, and FeAl6. Note the segregation (coring) of
magnesium and zinc in the grains. See also Fig. 210. Kellers reagent. 100

Fig. 210 Alloy D712.0-F, as investment cast. Interden- Fig. 211 Alloy 850.0-F, as permanent mold cast. Note
dritic network: particles of CrAl7, Fe2SiAl12,
hot tear, which occurred at or above the
and FeAl6. Intergranular fusion voids (black) were caused by solidus, and some Al-CuAl2 eutectic (gray) back lling of
eutectic melting as a result of exceeding the solidus tem- tear. Particles of tin (rounded), NiAl3, and FeNiAl9 (both
irregular). 0.5% HF. 100
perature during dip brazing. Kellers reagent. 100

Representative Micrographs / 181

Welded Cast Aluminum Alloys

Fig. 212

Welded alloy 295.0-T6, investment casting. Electron


beam weld in an alloy 295.0-T6 investment casting.
Weld was made without ller metal. Overheating during welding
resulted in a considerable amount of dropthrough (right), with
accompanying longitudinal shrinkage cracks in the center of the
weld metal. See also Fig. 213. Tuckers reagent. 5

Fig. 214

Welded alloy 356.0-F, investment casting. Edge of a fusion zone of a gas


tungsten arc repair weld in a 356.0-F investment casting.
Alternating current and R-SG70A ller metal were used.
Interdendritic aluminum-silicon eutectic (gray); porosity
(black). See also Fig. 215. Kellers reagent. 50

Fig. 213

Welded alloy 295.0-T6, investment casting. Edge of fusion zone of weld shown in Fig. 212 (base
metal at bottom). Large dendrites of solid
solution in base metal, small dendrites in
weld bead. Al-CuAl2-Si eutectic in both.
Kellers reagent. 150

Fig. 215

Welded alloy 356.0-F, investment casting


after solution heat treatment. Particles of
eutectic silicon have become rounded and agglomerated. Zone between weld bead and heat-affected zone is
less clearly dened than in Fig. 214; porosity remains.
Kellers reagent. 50

182 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Welded Wrought-to-Cast Alloys

Fig. 216

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to A356.0-T6. Gas tungsten arc llet weld


joining a 6061-T6 tube (upper left) with an A356.0-T6 investment
casting. ER 4043 ller metal. Kellers reagent. 15

Fig. 217

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to


A356.0-T6.
Structure
of
A356.0-T6 investment casting (sodium-modied, grain-rened) used for the weld shown in
Fig. 216. Interdendritic network is eutectic silicon. Kellers reagent. 50

Fig. 218

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to A356.0-T6.


Edge of the fusion zone of the weld
shown in Fig. 216, with the tube at the left and the weld
bead at the right. Aluminum-silicon eutectic is present
between the dendrites of the weld bead; Al-Mg2Si
eutectic is between the grains of the heat-affected zone
of the tube. Kellers reagent. 50

Representative Micrographs / 183

Fig. 219

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to A356.0-T6. Edge of the fusion zone of the weld shown
in Fig. 216, with the weld bead at the top and left and the casting at bottom and
right. Interdendritic aluminum-silicon eutectic is present, some in the weld bead, and a large
amount in the heat-affected zone of the casting. Kellers reagent. 50

Fig. 220

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to A356.0-T6. Bead (near tube) at the weld in Fig. 216.
Interdendritic network of aluminum-silicon eutectic is present in the matrix solid
solution. Kellers reagent. 50

Fig. 221

Welded alloy 6061-T6 to A356.0-T6. Bead (near casting) of the weld in Fig. 216.
Dendrites of solid solution are less equiaxed, more columnar than in Fig. 220.
Kellers reagent. 50

184 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Welded Aluminum to Steel

Aluminum-steel weld. Explosive welded Fig. 223 Aluminum-steel weld. Ripple at interface
of explosive welded joint between alumijoint between aluminum sheet (top) and
steel showing characteristic ripples at the interface. A num sheet (top) and steel. Cracks have appeared in the
ripple is shown at a high magnication in Fig. 223. dark-gray phase (which probably is FeAl3). As-polished.
60
As-polished. 6

Fig. 222

Welded Aluminum to Copper

Fig. 224

Aluminum-copper weld. Explosive welded joint between aluminum sheet (top) and copper. Cracks (black) have appeared in the
aluminum-copper phase (light gray) at the relatively smooth interface. Aspolished. 225

Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers


J. Gilbert Kaufman, p187-224
DOI:10.1361/iaat2000p187

Copyright 2000 ASM International


All rights reserved.
www.asminternational.org

APPENDIX

Terminology
The following list of terms covers wrought and cast aluminum products
and their production. These terms may be helpful in understanding and
interpreting other information in this book regarding aluminum alloys,
tempers, production processes, and applications.
Most of these terms come from the Aluminum Association publication
Aluminum Standards and Data and are republished with the permission of
the Aluminum Association. The terms included for casting processes are
taken from publications of the American Foundrymens Society (AFS);
the reader is referred to those publications for more complete terminology
for casting and casting processes.
The list is not intended to include every term likely to be used within
the aluminum industry, but it is hoped that most of the terms that are
unique to the industry are dened and may help in understanding the alloy
and temper designations that are the subject of this book.
Note: Italicized words within a denition can be found as a separate
entry in this list.

A
AFS. American Foundrymens Society
AMS. Aerospace Material Specication.
ANSI. American National Standards Institute.
ASME. American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
AWS. American Welding Society.
abrasion. See mark, traffc.
age hardening. An aging process that results in increased strength and
hardness.
age softening. Spontaneous decrease of strength and hardness that takes
place at room temperature in certain strain-hardened alloys containing
magnesium.

188 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

aging. Precipitation from solid solution resulting in a change in properties of an alloy, usually occurring slowly at room temperature (natural
aging) and more rapidly at elevated temperatures (articial aging).
alclad. An aluminum or aluminum-alloy coating that is metallurgically
bonded to either one or both surfaces of an aluminum alloy product,
and that is anodic to the alloy to which it is bonded, thus electrolytically protecting the core alloy against corrosion. For alclad products,
see specic product such as plate, sheet, tube, or wire.
alligatoring. See lamination.
alloy. A substance having metallic properties and composed of two or
more elements of which at least one is an elemental metal.
angularity. Conformity to, or deviation from, specied angular dimensions in the cross section of a shape or bar.
angulation. The deliberate departure from a horizontal passline on the
entry side of a rolling mill used for one-side bright rolling.
annealing. A thermal treatment to soften metal by removal of stress
resulting from cold working or by coalescing precipitates from solid
solution.
annealing, partial. Thermal treatment (H2X temper nomenclature)
given cold-worked metal to reduce strength and increase ductility to
controlled levels other than annealed temper.
anodizing. Forming a coating on a metal surface produced by electrochemical treatment through anodic oxidation.
anodizing sheet. See sheet, anodizing.
arbor break. See buckle, arbor.
arbor mark. See mark, arbor.
articial aging. See aging.
as-cast condition. Referring to newly produced, unmachined castings
that have not been subjected to any form of nishing operations
(beyond gate removal or shot-blast cleaning) or treatment of any kind,
including heat treatment.

B
back-end condition. A condition occurring in the last metal to be
extruded. It is a result of the oxidized surface of the billet feeding into
the extrusion.
backup roll. Nongrooved roll that stiffens or strengthens work rolls.
bar. A solid wrought product that is long in relation to its cross section,
which is square or rectangular (excluding plate and attened wire),
with sharp or rounded comers or edges, or is a regular hexagon or
octagon, and in which at least one perpendicular distance between
parallel faces is over 10 mm (0.375 in. or greater).

Terminology / 189

bar, cold-nished. Bar brought to nal dimensions by cold work to


obtain improved surface nish and dimensional tolerances.
bar, cold-nished extruded. Cold-nished bar produced from extruded
bar.
bar, cold-nished rolled. Cold-nished bar produced from rolled bar.
bar, extruded. Bar brought to nal dimensions by hot extruding.
bar, rolled. Bar brought to nal dimensions by hot rolling.
bar, saw-plate. Bar brought to nal thickness by hot or cold rolling and
to nal width by sawing.
base box, general. An agreed-upon unit of area used primarily in
packaging applications. One common base box for aluminum is 20,232
m2 (31,360 in.2) originally composed of 112 rectangular sheets, each
356 by 508 mm (14 by 20 in.).
belled edge. See edge, belled.
belly. A loose center buckle extending to near the edges of a sheet.
billet. A hot-worked seminished product suitable for subsequent working by such methods as rolling, forging, extruding, and so on.
binder. A material used to hold the grains of foundry sand together to
form a mold or core. It can be a cereal, an oil, clay, or natural/synthetic
resin.
blank. A piece of metal cut or formed to regular or irregular shape for
subsequent processing such as by forming, bending, or drawing. The
piece of sheet stock cut out by blanking die. It will subsequently be
drawn into a cup or end shell.
blast cleaning. A process to clean or nish castings by use of an air blast
or airless centrifugal wheel that throws abrasive particles or metal shot
against the surface of castings.
bleed out. See two-tone.
blister. A raised area on the surface of an extruded product due to
subsurface gas expansion. This condition can occur during extrusion or
thermal treatment.
blister, bond. A raised spot on only one surface of the metal whose
origin is between the cladding and core in clad products.
blister, coating. A blister in the coating of an alclad or a clad product.
blister, core. A raised spot (one or both sides) on rolled metal.
block mark. See scratch, tension.
bloom. A seminished hot-rolled product, rectangular or square in cross
section, produced on a blooming mill.
blow hole. A blister that has ruptured and may produce a void. See also
blister.
boss. A knoblike projection on the main body of a forging or casting.
bottom draft. Taper or slope in the bottom of a forged depression to
assist the ow of metal toward the sides of the depressed area.
bow. Longitudinal curvature of rod, bar, proles (shapes), and tube. Bow
is measured after allowing the weight of the extrusion to minimize the

190 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

deviation. Bow can be caused by a nonuniform extrusion rate across


the cross section, resulting in one portion of the extrusion being longer
than the other or nonuniform contraction during quenching.
bow, lateral. Deviation from straight of a longitudinal edge.
bow, longitudinal. Curvature in the plane of sheet or plate in the rolling
direction.
bow, transverse. Curvature across the rolling direction of sheet or plate.
brazing. Joining metals by fusion of nonferrous alloys that have melting
points above 425 C (800 F) but lower than those of the metals being
joined. This may be accomplished by means of a torch (torch brazing),
in a furnace (furnace brazing), or by dipping in a molten ux bath (dip
or ux brazing).
brazing rod. A rolled, extruded, or cast round ller metal for use in
joining by brazing.
brazing sheet. Sheet of a brazing alloy or sheet clad with a brazing alloy
on one or both sides.
brazing wire. Wire for use as a ller metal in joining by brazing.
bright sheet. See sheet, (1SBMF), (S1SBF) and (S2SBF).
bristle mark. See mark, bristle.
broken edge. See edge, broken.
broken eie. A deviation from the desired cross section due to the absence
of a certain portion of the die used to extrude the prole (shape).
broken matte nish. Nonuniform surface on the inside of packed rolled
foil (bright spots).
broken surface. See crazing.
bruise. See mark, roll bruise.
buckle. A distortion of the surface of the metal.
buckle, arbor. Bend, crease, wrinkle, or departure from at, occurring
perpendicular to the slit edge of a coil and which are repetitive in
nature, with severity decreasing as the distance increases in the coil
from the original source. Normally, it is found on the inside diameter
of a coil but can appear on the coil outside diameter as a result of a
prior winding operation.
buckle, center. Undulation (wavy region) in the center of the metal.
buckle, edge. Undulation (wavy region) along the edge(s) of the metal.
buckle, oil can. See buckle, trapped.
buckle, quarter. Undulation (wavy region) that occurs approximately at
both quarter points across the width.
buckle, trapped. Undulation (wavy region) that is smaller sized and
often circular in shape.
buffing. A mechanical nishing operation in which ne abrasives are
applied to a metal surface by rotating fabric wheels for the purpose of
developing a lustrous nish.
buff streak. See streak.
burnish streak. See streak, burnish.

Terminology / 191

burnishing. See two-tone.


burr. A thin ridge of roughness left by a cutting operation such as
slitting, trimming, shearing, blanking, or sawing.
bursting strength. The pressure required to rupture a foil specimen
when it is tested in a mullen instrument under specied conditions. See
also mullen test.
bus bar. A rigid electric conductor in the form of a bar.
butt-seam tube. See tube, open-seam.

C
Camber. See bow, lateral.
carbon mark. See mark, carbon.
casting (noun). An object formed by pouring, pumping, or sucking
molten metal into a mold or set of dies and allowing it to solidify.
casting (verb). The act of pouring, pumping, or sucking molten metal
into a mold (made of sand, metal, ceramic, or graphite) or a set of metal
dies.
casting strains. Strains in a cast metal component resulting from internal
stresses created during cooling. Heat treatment and other processes are
used to remove these strains.
casting yield. The weight of casting or castings divided by the total
weight of metal poured into the mold, expressed as a percent.
center. The difference in thickness between the middle and edges
(average) of a sheet.
centrifugal casting. In the centrifugal casting process, commonly applied to cylindrical castings, a permanent mold is rotated rapidly about
the axis of the casting while a measured amount of molten metal is
poured into the mold cavity. Centrifugal force is used to hold the metal
against the outer walls of the mold with the volume of metal poured
determining the wall thickness of the casting.
center buckle. See buckle.
chang. See mark, traffc.
chatter mark. See mark, chatter.
chill. Metal insert placed in a mold to increase speed of cooling. Internal
chills are placed in the mold cavity and become integral parts of the
casting.
chip mark. See dent, repeating.
chop. Metal sheared from a vertical surface of a die forging, which is
spread by the die over an adjoining horizontal surface.
chucking lug. A lug or boss added to a forging so that on-center
machining and forming may be performed with one setup or checking.
This lug is nally machined or cut away.
cinching. See scratch, tension.

192 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

circle. A circular blank fabricated from plate, sheet, or foil.


clad sheet. See sheet, clad.
cleaning. Removal of sand and excess metal from a sand casting,
ceramic and excess metal from an investment casting, or excess metal
from a die casting.
CO2 process. Molds and cores, made with sand containing sodium
silicate, which are hardened by permeating the sand with carbon
dioxide gas.
coating. Continuous lm on the surface of a product.
coating blister. See blister, coating.
coating buildup. A coating thickness greater than nominal in localized
area of sheet, usually along edges, due to uneven application techniques.
coating, conversion. An inorganic pretreatment sometimes applied to a
metal surface to enhance coating adhesion and to retard corrosion.
coating drip. A nonuniform extraneous deposit of coating on the coated
sheet.
coating, high or low. Failure of the coating to meet the agreed-upon
thickness limits measured in weight per unit area.
coating oven trash. See dirt.
coating streak. See streak, coating.
cobble. A jamming of the mill by aluminum product while being rolled;
a piece of aluminum, which for any reason has become so bent or
twisted that it must be withdrawn from the rolling operation and
scrapped.
coil curvature. See coil set.
coil orientation, clockwise coil. With the coil core vertical (eye to the
sky) and viewed from above, a trace of the metal edge from the inside
diameter to the outside diameter involves clockwise movement.
coil orientation, counterclockwise (anticlockwise) coil. With the coil
core vertical (eye to the sky) and viewed from above, a trace of the
metal edge from the inside diameter to the outside diameter involves
counterclockwise (anticlockwise) movement.
coil set. Longitudinal bow in an unwound coil in the same direction as
curvature of the wound coil.
coil set differential. The difference in coil set from edge to edge of a
coiled sheet sample. It is measured with the sample on a at table,
concave side up, and is the difference in elevation of the comers on one
end.
coil set, reversed. Longitudinal bow in an unwound coil in the direction
opposite the curvature of the wound coil.
coiled sheet. See sheet, coiled.
cold shut. (1) A linear discontinuity in a cast surface caused when
meeting streams of metal fail to merge prior to solidication. (2)

Terminology / 193

Forging defect developed by metal owing into a section from two


directions, resulting in a discontinuity at the junction.
cold working. Plastic (i.e., permanent) deformation of metal at such
temperature and rate that strain hardening occurs.
collapse. Out-of-round condition of coil often due to inappropriate
tension during rewinding operations.
coloring. A nishing process, or combination of processes, that alters the
appearance of an aluminum surface via coating, chemical, and/or
mechanical operations.
combination die (multiple-cavity die). In die casting practice, a die
with two or more different cavities for different castings.
concavity. Curved as the inner surface of a sphere. See also convexity.
concentricity. Conformance to a common center as, for example, the
inner and outer walls of round tube.
condensation stain. See corrosion, water stain.
condenser tube. The term heat-exchanger tube is preferred, unless
specic reference to a condenser application is intended.
conduit. A tube used to protect electric wiring. See also tubing, electrical
metallic.
conduit, rigid. Conduit having dimensions of ANSI schedule 40 pipe in
standardized length with threaded ends.
coned-out coil. See telescoping.
contour. That portion of the outline of a transverse cross section of an
extruded shape that is represented by a curved line or curved lines.
controlled cooling. Process by which a metal object is cooled from an
elevated temperature in a manner that avoids hardening, cracking, or
internal damage.
conversion coating, can ends. See coating, conversion.
convexity. Curved such as the outer surface of a sphere. See also
concavity.
core (for casting). Separable part of a mold that usually is made of sand
and a binder to create openings and various specially shaped cavities in
castings.
core (for rolled products). A hollow cylinder on which a coiled product
may be wound that forms the inside diameter of a coil.
core blister. See blister, core.
coring. See back-end condition.
corner turnup. A distortion, buckle, or twist condition that causes the
corner(s) of the sheet to deviate from a perfectly at plane on which
it rests.
corrosion. The deterioration of a metal by chemical or electrochemical
reaction with its environment.
corrosion, exfoliation. Corrosion that progresses approximately parallel
to the metal surface, causing layers of the metal to be elevated by the
formation of corrosion product.

194 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

corrosion, galvanic. Corrosion associated with the current of galvanic


cell consisting of two dissimilar conductors in an electrolyte or two
similar conductors in dissimilar electrolytes. Aluminum will corrode if
it is anodic to the dissimilar metal.
corrosion, intergranular. Corrosion occurring preferentially at grain
boundaries (also termed intercrystalline corrosion).
corrosion, pitting. Localized corrosion resulting in small pits or craters
in a metal surface.
corrosion, stress-cracking. Failure by cracking resulting from selective
directional attack caused by the simultaneous interaction of sustained
tensile stress at an exposed surface with the chemical or electrochemical effects of the surface environment. The term often is abbreviated
SCC, which correctly stands for stress-corrosion cracking.
corrosion, water stain. Supercial oxidation of the surface with a water
lm, in the absence of circulating air, held between closely adjacent
metal surfaces.
corrugating. Forming rolled metal into a series of straight parallel
regular alternate grooves and ridges.
coupon. A piece of metal from which a test specimen may be prepared.
covering area. Yield expressed in terms of a given number of square
inches in a pound. For metric units, use square meters per kilogram.
crazing. A macroscopic effect of numerous surface tears, transverse to
the rolling direction, which can occur when the entry angle into the
cold mill work rolls is large.
crease. A sharp deviation from at in the sheet that is transferred from
processing equipment subsequent to the roll bite.
cross hatching. See crazing.
crown. See convexity.
curl. An undesirable condition caused by uneven rates of absorption or
evaporation of moisture, uneven rates of contraction or expansion, or
internal stresses in the material. Curl is most prevalent in laminated
structures where the components have differing physical properties.
cutoff. Removal of gates, risers, and other excess metal from a casting.

D
deep drawing. Forming a deeply recessed part by forcing sheet metal to
undergo plastic ow between dies, usually without substantial thinning
of the sheet.
defect. A defect is anything that renders the aluminum unt for the
specic use for which it was ordered.

Terminology / 195

dent. (1) For rolled products, a sharply dened surface impression on the
metal that may be caused by a blow from another object. (2) For
extrusions, a synonym for handling mark. See also mark, handling.
dent, expansion. Localized surface deviation from at generated by
expansion of vapor during thermal treatment of cold-rolled coiled
sheet.
dent, repeating. Repeating depression caused by a particle adhering to a
rotating roll over which the metal has passed.
die (in casting). Metal form(s) used to produce a die casting, a lost foam
pattern, or a wax pattern. A metal block used in the die casting process,
incorporating the cavity or cavities that form the cast component, the
molten metal distribution system, and means for cooling and ejecting
the casting.
die (in forging or extrusion). Metal forms between which metal is
forged or through which metal is extruded. The shapes of the dies
control the form and shape of the nished parts.
die casting (noun). A casting produced by the die casting process. Today,
the process is most suitable for high-volume production of aluminum,
zinc, and magnesium alloy castings.
die casting (verb). Injecting molten metal under pressure into a mold
chamber, which is formed by metal die. In Europe, any casting
produced in a metal mold.
die casting, cold chamber. Die casting process in which the metal
injection mechanism is not submerged in molten metal.
die casting, gravity. Term used in Europe for producing a casting by
pouring molten metal (gravity pouring) into a metal mold, with no
application of pressure. In the United States, this is the permanentmold casting process.
die casting, hot chamber. Die casting process in which the metal injection mechanism is submerged in the molten metal.
die casting, pressure. In Europe, a casting made in a metal mold (set of
metal dies) in which the metal is injected under high pressure, by either
cold-chamber or hot-chamber die casting machines. In the United
States, this is simply die casting. High-pressure die casting and
low-pressure die casting are terms commonly used in Europe to
differentiate between what in the United States would be called,
respectively, die casting and low-pressure permanent molding. See also
low-pressure casting process and high-pressure molding.
die line. A longitudinal depression or protrusion formed on the surface of
drawn or extruded material. Die lines are present to some degree in all
extrusions and are caused by a roughening of the die bearing.
die number. The number assigned to a die for identication and
cataloging purposes, and which usually is assigned for the same
purpose to the product produced from that die.
diffusion streak. See streak, diffusion.

196 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

dimensional stability. Ability of a casting to remain unchanged in size


and shape under ordinary atmospheric conditions.
dirt. Foreign debris from rolling or post-rolling operations imbedded in
or under the coating.
disc. A circular blank fabricated from plate, sheet, or foil, from which a
central concentric area has been removed.
double shear notch. See notch, double shear.
draft. Taper on the sides of a die or mold impression to facilitate removal
of forgings, castings, or patterns from dies or molds.
drag mark. See rub, tool.
draw and iron-can bodies. Term that refers to a method of fabricating
a can body in which a cup is drawn from at sheet, redrawn to the nal
diameter, and then wall ironed to reduce the wall thickness and to
achieve the required height.
drawing. (1) In forging, an operation of working metal between at dies
to reduce the cross section and increase length. (2) The process of
pulling material through a die to reduce the size, change the cross
section or shape, or harden the material.
drawing stock. A hot-worked intermediate solid product of uniform
cross section along its whole length, supplied in coils and of a quality
suitable for drawing into wire.
drawn-in scratch. See scratch, drawn-in.
drawn product. A product formed by pulling material through a die.
dropped edge. See edge, dropped.
dry sand molding. Dry sand molds are made by many different
processes. Sand mixed with binders that cure by baking is one form of
dry sand mold; other more common dry sand molding techniques use
sand with binders that can be cured by chemical, or catalytic, reaction
induced by mixing with the sand or by blowing gases through the mold
after it is formed.
dry sheet. See lube, low.
dry surface. A foil surface substantially free from oily lm and suitable
for lacquering, printing, or coating with water-dispersed adhesives.
ductility. The property that permits permanent deformation before fracture by stress in tension.
duct sheet. Coiled or at sheet in specic tempers, widths, and thicknesses, suitable for duct applications.

E
earing. Wavy symmetrical projections formed during cupping, deep
drawing, or spinning. Earing is caused by nonuniform directional
properties in the aluminum and/or by improperly adjusted tooling.

Terminology / 197

ears. Wavy symmetrical projections formed in the course of deep


drawing or spinning as a result of directional properties or anisotropy
in sheet. Ears occur in groups of four or eight with the peaks of the
projections located at 45 and/or at 0 and 90 to the rolling direction.
Degree of earing is the difference between average height at the peaks
and average height at the valleys, divided by average height at the
valleys, multiplied by 100 and expressed in percent.
eccentricity. Deviation from a common center as, for example, the inner
and outer walls of a round tube. The difference between the mean wall
thickness and minimum or maximum wall thickness at any one cross
section. The permissible degree of eccentricity can be expressed by a
plus and minus wall-thickness tolerance.
edge, band. See two-tone.
edge, belled. Excessive buildup of material on edge(s) during a rewinding operation. Typical causes include excessive edge burr, turned edge,
and dog bone-shaped cross-sectional proles.
edge, broken (cracked). Edge(s) containing crack, split, and/or tear
caused by the inability to deform without fracturing.
edge, build-up. See edge, belled.
edge, damaged. Edge of a coil that has been bent, torn, or scraped by an
object.
edge, dropped. A continuous, downward edge deection.
edge, liquated. Surface condition remaining after portions of a side of an
as-cast rolling ingot deforms enough during hot rolling to become top
and/or bottom surface(s) of the rolled product at an edge.
edge, rippled. See buckle, edge.
edge, wavy. See buckle, edge.
elastic limit. The highest stress that a material can withstand without
permanent deformation after complete release of an applied stress. For
most practical application purposes, the elastic limit is the yield
strength.
electrical conductivity. The capacity of a material to conduct electrical
current. For aluminum, this capacity is expressed as a percentage of the
International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), which has a resistivity of 1/58 ohm-mm2/m at 20 C (68 F) and an arbitrarily designated
conductivity of unity.
electrical resistivity. The electrical resistance of a body of unit length
and unit cross-sectional area or unit weight. The value of 158
ohm-mm2/m at 20 C (68 F) is the resistivity equivalent to the IACS
for 100% conductivity. This means that a wire of 100% conductivity,
1 m (3 ft) in length and 1 mm2 (0.002 in.2) in cross-sectional area
would have a resistance of 0.017241 ohms at 20 C (68 F).
elongation. The percentage increase in distance between two gage marks
that results from stressing the specimen in tension to fracture. The
original gage length is usually 50 mm (2 in.) for at specimens. For

198 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

cylindrical specimens, the gage length is 5D for metric usage and 4D


for U.S. standards. Elongation values depend to some extent upon size
and form of the test specimen. For example, the values obtained from
sheet specimens will be lower for thin sheet than for thicker sheet;
those obtained in 5D will be lower than those for 4D.
embossing. Raising a design in relief against a surface.
endurance limit. The limiting stress below which a material will
withstand a specied large number of cycles of stress.
equivalent round. The diameter of a circle having a circumference equal
to the outside perimeter of other than round tube.
expendable pattern casting. Metal casting process that employs a foam
plastic pattern-and-sprue assembly that is usually robot positioned in a
metal ask. Loose sand is poured into the ask and vibrated in and
around the pattern-and-sprue assembly. Molten metal, poured into the
sprue, vaporizes it and the foam pattern instantly and replaces its shape
with what becomes the casting when it solidies. This process is also
widely referred to as lost foam casting.
extrusion. A product formed by pushing material through a die.
extrusion billet. The starting stock for the extrusion operation. Extrusion
billet is a solid or hollow form, commonly cylindrical, and is the length
charged into the extrusion press cylinder. It is usually a cast product but
may be a wrought product or powder compact.
extrusion butt end defect. A longitudinal discontinuity in the extreme
rear portion of an extruded product, which is normally discarded.
extrusion log. The starting stock for extrusion billet. Extrusion log is
usually produced in lengths from which shorter extrusion billets are
cut.
extrusion seam. A region in extruded hollow proles observed after
creating two streams of metal and rejoining them around the mandrel
of a porthole or bridge die.
eyehole. See holiday.

F
fatigue. The tendency for a metal to break under conditions of repeated
cyclic stressing considerably below the ultimate tensile strength.
feeder. See riser.
feed in. See back-end condition.
feed line. See streak, grinding.
llet. A concave junction between two surfaces.
n. A thin projection on a forging resulting from trimming or from the
metal under pressure being forced into hairline cracks in the die or
around die inserts.

Terminology / 199

nish. The characteristics of the surface of a product.


n stock. Coiled sheet or foil in specic alloys, tempers, and thickness
ranges suitable for manufacture of ns for heat-exchanger applications.
sh mouthing. See lamination.
ag. A marker inserted adjacent to the edge at a splice or lap in a roll or
foil.
aking. A condition in coated sheet where portions of the coating
become loosened due to inadequate adhesion.
ange. See rib.
ash. A thin protrusion at the parting line of a forging that forms when
metal, in excess of that required to ll the impressions, is forced
between the die interfaces.
ash line. A line left on a forging where ash has been removed.
atness. (1) For rolled products, a distortion of the surface of sheet such
as a bulge or a wave, usually transverse to the direction of rolling.
Often described by location across width (i.e., edge buckle, quarter
buckle, center buckle, and so on). (2) For extrusions, atness (off
contour) pertains to the deviation of a cross-section surface intended to
be at. Flatness can be affected by conditions such as die performance,
thermal effects, and stretching.
ow lines. (1) Lines on the surface of painted sheet, brought about by
incomplete leveling of the paint. (2) The line pattern revealed by
etching, which shows the direction of plastic ow on the surface or
within a wrought structure.
ow through. A forging defect caused when metal ows past the base of
a rib, resulting in rupture of the grain structure.
foil. A rolled product rectangular in cross section of thickness less than
0.15 mm (0.006 in.). In Europe, foil is equal to and less than 0.20 mm
(0.008 in.).
foil, annealed. Foil completely softened by thermal treatment.
foil, bright two sides. Foil having a uniform bright specular nish on
both sides.
foil, chemically cleaned. Foil chemically washed to remove lubricant
and foreign material.
foil, embossed. Foil on which a pattern has been impressed by means of
an engraved roll or plate.
foil, etched. Foil roughened chemically or electrochemically to provide
an increased surface area.
foil, hard. Foil fully work hardened by rolling.
foil, intermediate temper. Foil intermediate in temper between annealed
foil and hard foil.
foil, matte one side (M1S). Foil with a diffuse reecting nish on one
side and a bright specular nish on the other.
foil, mechanically grained. Foil mechanically roughened for such applications as lithography.

200 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

foil, mill nish (MF). Foil having a nonuniform nish that may vary
from coil to coil and within a coil.
foil, scratch brushed. Foil abraded, usually with wire brushes, to
produce a roughened surface.
foil stock. See reroll stock.
fold. A forging discontinuity caused by metal folding back on its own
surface during ow in the die cavity.
forgeability. The term used to describe the relative workability of
forging material.
forging. A metal part worked to a predetermined shape by one or more
processes such as hammering, upsetting, pressing, rolling, and so on.
forging billet. The term forging stock is preferred.
forging, blocker-type. A forging made in a single set of impressions to
the general contour of a nished part.
forging, cold-coined. A forging that has been restruck cold to obtain
closer dimensions, to sharpen comers or outlines, and in non-heattreatable alloys, to increase hardness.
forging, die. A forging formed to the required shape and size by working
in impression dies.
forging, draftless. A forging with zero draft on vertical walls.
forging, ashless. A closed-die forging made in dies constructed and
operated to eliminate, in predetermined areas, the formation of ash.
forging, hammer. A forging produced by repeated blows in a forging
hammer.
forging, hand. A forging worked between at or simply shaped dies by
repeated strokes or blows and manipulation of the piece.
forging, no-draft. See forging, draftless.
forging plane. A reference plane or planes normal to the direction of
applied force from which all draft angles are measured.
forging, precision. A forging produced to tolerances closer than standard.
forging, press. A die forging produced by pressure applied in a forging
press.
forging, rolled ring. A cylindrical product of relatively short height,
circumferentially rolled from a hollow section.
forging stock. A wrought or cast rod, bar, or other section suitable for
forging.
forging, upset. A forging having part or all of its cross section greater
than that of the stock.
formability. The relative ease with which a metal can be shaped through
plastic deformation.
fracture toughness. A generic term for measure of resistance to extension of a crack. The term is sometimes restricted to results of a fracture
mechanics test, which is directly applicable in fracture control.
fretting. See mark, traffc.

Terminology / 201

friction scratch. See scratch, friction.


full center. See buckle, center.

G
gage. A term previously used in referring to the thickness of a wrought
product. Thickness is preferred in dimension description.
gas porosity. Casting defects caused by gases trapped in molten metal or
developed during solidication.
gate. Specically, the point in the runner system at which molten metal
enters the sand mold cavity. Sometimes used as a general term to
indicate the entire assembly of connected columns and channels
carrying the metal from the top of a mold to the part forming the
casting cavity proper. Term also applies to pattern parts that form the
passages or to the metal that lls them.
gated patterns. One or more patterns with gates or channels attached.
gated system. The complete assembly of sprues, runners, and gates in a
mold through which metal ows to enter the casting cavity. Term also
applies to equivalent portions of the pattern.
gating system. Gating is the term used to describe all of the passages
leading to the casting cavity. When molten metal is poured into a mold,
it is poured into the pouring basin or cup. It travels down the sprue
through the runner into the feeder or riser then through the gate into the
casting cavity. The gate is the breaking point at the casting from which
the gating system is separated from the casting.
glaze. See pickup, roll.
gouge. A gross scratch. See also scratch.
gouge, rolled in. A more localized gross rolled-in scratch. See also
scratch, rolled-in.
grain ow. The directional characteristics of the metal structure after
working, revealed by etching a polished section.
grain size. A measure of crystal size usually reported in terms of average
diameter in millimeters, grains per square millimeter, or grains per
cubic millimeter.
grease streak. See streak, grease.
green sand. Moist clay-bonded molding sand ready for making molds.
green sand molding. The mold is composed of a prepared mixture of
sand, clay, sea coal, and moisture for use while still in the damp
condition. The mold is not cured or dried and therefore is known as a
green (uncured) sand mold.

202 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

H
hair, slitter. Minute hairlike sliver along edge(s) due to shearing or
slitting operation.
handling mark. See mark, handling.
hardener. An alloy containing at least some aluminum and one or more
added elements for use in making alloying additions to molten
aluminum. Also referred to as master alloy.
hardness. Resistance to plastic deformation, usually by indentation. The
term also may refer to stiffness or temper, or to resistance to scratching,
abrasion, or cutting. Brinell hardness of aluminum alloys is obtained by
measuring the permanent impression in the material made by a ball
indenter 10 mm in diameter after loading with a 500 kgf (4.903 kN) for
15 s and dividing the applied load by the area of the impression.
Rockwell hardness: An indentation hardness test based on the depth of
penetration of a specied penetrator into the specimen under certain
arbitrarily xed conditions.
heat streak. See streak, heat.
heat treatable alloy. An alloy that may be strengthened by a suitable
thermal treatment.
heat treating. Heating and cooling a solid metal or alloy in such a way
as to obtain desired conditions or properties. Commonly used as a shop
term to denote a thermal treatment to increase strength. Heating for the
sole purpose of hot working is excluded from the meaning of this
denition. See also solution heat treating and aging.
heat treat lot. See lot, heat treat.
heat treat stain. A discoloration due to nonuniform oxidation of the
metal surface during solution heat treatment.
herringbone. See streak, herringbone.
high-pressure molding. A term applied to certain types of high-production sand molding machines in which high-pressure air is instantly
released from a large pressure vessel to produce extremely hard,
high-density molds from green sand.
holding temperature. The temperature at which the liquid casting alloy
is held during casting. Usually set as the lowest temperature that lls
the mold (no misruns). The higher the temperature is, the higher the
equilibrium gas content in the metal will be.
hole. Void in rolled product. Typical cause is a nonmetallic inclusion
during rolling.
holiday. Region in which lm is absent due to nonwetting of the metal
surface by the coating.
homogenizing. A process whereby ingots are raised to temperatures near
the solidus temperature and held at that temperature for varying lengths
of time. The purposes of this process are to (1) reduce microsegrega-

Terminology / 203

tion by promoting diffusion of solute atoms within the grains of


aluminum and (2) improve workability.
hook. An abrupt deviation from straightness. Hook can be caused by
nonuniform metal ow during breakthrough. See also bow.
hot cracking. A crack in a casting caused by thermal contraction of the
part combined with thermal expansion of the surrounding steel die.
Sometimes confused with hot tearing, the crack surface looks quite
different under low-power magnication.
hot isostatic pressing (HIP). A process that uses high pressures at
elevated temperatures to close interior voids in castings or consolidate P/M products.
hot line pickup. See pickup, roll.
hot shortness. A condition of the metal at excessively high working
temperatures characterized by low mechanical strength and a tendency
for the metal to crack rather than deform.
hot spot. Dark gray or black surface patches appearing after anodizing.
These areas usually are associated with lower hardness and coarse
magnesium silicide precipitate caused by nonuniform cooling after
extrusion.
hot tear. See tear, speed.
hot working. Plastic deformation of metal at such temperature and rate
that strain hardening does not occur.

I
impact. A part formed in a conning die from a metal slug, usually cold,
by rapid single-stroke application of force through a punch, causing the
metal to ow around the punch and/or through an opening in the punch
or die.
impregnation. A process for making castings uid tight by pressure
injecting them with liquid synthetic resins or other sealers. The injected
liquid is solidied in place by heating or baking. Media used include
silicate of soda, drying oils with or without styrenes, plastics, and
proprietary compounds.
inclusion. Foreign material in the metal or impressed into the surface.
inclusion, stringer. An impurity, metallic or nonmetallic, that is trapped
in the ingot and elongated subsequently in the direction of working. It
may be revealed during working or nishing as a narrow streak parallel
to the direction of working.
incomplete seam. See weld, incomplete.
ingot. A cast form suitable for remelting or fabricating. See also ingot,
extrusion; ingot, fabricating; ingot, forging; ingot, remelt; and ingot,
rolling.
ingot, extrusion. A cast form that is solid or hollow, usually cylindrical,
suitable for extruding. See also ingot, fabricating.

204 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

ingot, fabricating. A cast form suitable for subsequent working by such


methods as rolling, forging, extruding, and so on (rolling ingot, forging
ingot, extrusion ingot). See also ingot, extrusion; ingot, forging; and
ingot, rolling.
ingot, forging. A cast form intended and suitable for subsequent working
by the forging process.
ingot, remelt. A cast form intended and suitable for remelting, usually
for producing castings.
ingot, rolling. A cast form suitable for rolling. See also ingot, fabricating.
injection. The process of forcing molten metal or plastic into a die cavity.
inoculant. Material which, when added to molten metal, modies the
structure, and thereby changes the physical and mechanical properties
to a degree not explained on the basis of the change in composition
resulting from its use.
insert. A metal component (plug or stud) that is placed in a die casting
die or sand mold allowing molten metal to be cast around it. The
component becomes an integral part of the casting.
inspection lot. See lot, inspection.
interleaving. The insertion of paper or application of suitable strippable
coatings between layers of metal to protect from damage.
investment casting. A process in which a wax pattern is invested (dipped
in a slurry then sprinkled with loose sand). This process is repeated
several times, making a thick, green pottery mold. After the mold dries,
the wax pattern is melted out, and the mold is baked, producing a
ceramic shell or mold. Molten metal is poured into the mold to make
a casting.
investment molding. The process also is known as the lost wax process.
Molds are produced by dipping wax or thermoplastic patterns in a ne
slurry to produce as smooth a surface as possible. The slurry is air dried
and redipped several times using cheaper and coarser, more permeable
refractory until the shell is of sufficient thickness for the strength
required to contain molten metal. Investment molds also are produced
as solid molds by putting the pattern assembly in a ask, which is then
lled with a refractory slurry and air dried. The molds then are put into
a furnace where the wax or plastic is melted and burned out of the mold
cavity. Molten metal is poured into the molds while the molds are still
superheated, thus making it possible to pour very thin wall sections. A
metal pattern die is used to produce the wax or plastic expendable
patterns. Investment molding produces casting of superior surface
nish, dimensional accuracy, and without parting ns or seams. This
process is expensive and is used to produce parts that would be very
difficult or impossible to machine, such as turbine engine parts,
particularly high-temperature, heat-resistant alloy applications such as
turbine blades.

Terminology / 205

K
kink. (1) For rolled products, an abrupt bend or deviation from at that
is caused by localized bending during handling. (2) For extrusions, an
abrupt deviation from straightness. A kink can be caused by handling.
knife mark. See mark, knife.
knock-out mark. See mark, knock-out.

L
lacquer. Occasionally used to describe oil stain. See also stain, oil.
lamination. An internal crack or separation aligned parallel to the
direction of major metal ow and, in the case of plate, sheet, or foil,
parallel to the rolled surfaces. In extrusions, it can be caused by
contaminants that feed into the metal ow before it reaches the die
opening or cracked billets. See also back-end condition.
lap. See fold.
lateral bow. See bow, lateral.
layout sample. A prototype forging or a cast used to determine conformance to designed dimensions.
leveler chatter. See mark, chatter (roll or leveler).
leveler mark. See dent, repeating.
leveler streak. See streak, leveler.
leveling. The mechanical attening of plate, sheet, or foil.
leveling, roller. Leveling carried out by bending.
leveling, stretcher. Leveling carried out by uniaxial tension.
leveling, tension. Leveling continuously carried out by uniaxial stretching, usually with the assistance of bending.
leveling, thermal. Leveling carried out at an elevated temperature under
an applied load normal to the surface to be attened.
line, ow. The line pattern that shows the direction of ow on the
surface.
line, looper. Closely spaced symmetrical lines on the surface of metal
that has undergone nonuniform deformation, usually in a drawing
operation.
line, Lueders. Elongated surface markings or depressions appearing in
patterns caused by localized plastic deformation that results from
nonuniform yielding.
liner. The slab of coating metal that is placed on the core alloy and is
subsequently rolled down to clad sheet as composite.
line, weld. See seam, extrusion.
liquated edge. See edge, liquated.
liquation. The bleeding of the low-melting constituents through the
solidied ingot surface.

206 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

lock. A condition in which the parting line of a forging is not all in one
plane.
log. See extrusion log.
longitudinal bow. See bow, longitudinal.
longitudinal direction. The direction of major metal ow in a working
operation.
long transverse direction. For plate, sheet, and forgings, the direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction that is also at right angles to
the thickness of the product. See also longitudinal direction.
looper line. See line, looper.
loose wrap. See wrap, loose.
lost foam casting. The casting process, also known as full-mold,
polycast, cavitys molding, evaporative-pattern, or expendable-pattern
casting, is one in which a polystyrene pattern is vaporized by molten
metal during the metal pour and is thereby lost.
lot, heat treat. Material of the same mill form, alloy, temper, section, and
size traceable to one heat treat furnace load (or extrusion charge or
billet in the case of press heat treated extrusions) or, if heat treated in
a continuous furnace, charged consecutively during an 8 h period.
lot, inspection. (1) For non-heat-treated tempers, an identiable quantity
of material of the same mill form, alloy, temper, section, and size
submitted for inspection at one time. (2) For heat treated tempers, an
identiable quantity of material of the same mill form, alloy, temper,
section, and size traceable to a heat treat lot or lots and submitted for
inspection at one time. (For sheet and plate, all material of the same
thickness is considered to be of the same size.)
low-pressure casting process. The term low-pressure permanent molding (LPPM) is a casting process in which air pressure is introduced into
a molten metal holding furnace to force molten metal (usually
aluminum alloys) up a central tube into the metal mold cavity. Pressure
is maintained on the heat until the metal in the mold solidies as a
casting. In a low-pressure (sand mold) casting process, the same basic
approach is used to force molten metal up a tube into the cavity of a
sand mold. Once lled, an automatic mechanism seals the mold
immediately, and the mold is quickly removed from the lling tube
connection and turned over before the metal solidies. See also
vacuum casting process.
lube, high. Lubricant limit exceeds the maximum agreed-upon limit
measured in weight per unit area.
lube, low. Failure of the lubricant to meet the agreed-upon minimum
limit measured in weight per unit area.
Lueders line. See line, Lueders.

Terminology / 207

M
mark. Damage in the surface of the product whose name is often
described by source.
mark, arbor. Surface damage in the vicinity of a coil inside diameter
caused by contact with a roughened, damaged, or noncircular arbor.
mark, bearing. A depression in the extruded surface caused by a change
in bearing length in the extrusion die.
mark, bite. A line that is generally perpendicular to the rolling direction.
mark, bristle. Raised surface approximately 25 mm (1 in.) long,
crimped wire shaped, and oriented in any direction.
mark, carbon. Gray or black surface marking caused by contact with
carbon run-out blocks.
mark, chatter (roll or leveler). Numerous intermittent lines or grooves
that are usually full width and perpendicular to the rolling or extrusion
direction.
mark, drag. See rub, tool.
mark, edge follower. Faint intermittent marks at the edge of a coldrolled product, which are usually perpendicular to the rolling direction.
This mark is caused by action of devices designed to rewind coils
without weave.
mark, handling. (1) For rolled products, an area of broken surface that
is introduced after processing. The mark usually has no relationship to
the rolling direction. (2) For extrusions, damage that can be imparted
to the surface during handling operations.
mark, heat treat contact. Brownish, iridescent, irregularly shaped stain
with a slight abrasion located somewhere within the boundary of the
stain. It is a result of metal-to-metal contact during the quenching of
solution heat treated at sheet or plate.
mark, inclusion. Appearance of surface where actual inclusion or the
void it left is observed. See also inclusion, stringer.
mark, knife. A continuous scratch (which also may be creased) near a
slit edge, caused by sheet contacting the slitter knife.
mark, knock-out. A small solid protrusion or circular n on a forging or
a casting, resulting from the depression of a knock-out pin under
pressure or inow of metal between the knock-out pin and the die or
mold.
mark, leveler chatter. See mark, chatter (roll or leveler).
mark, metal-on-roll. See dent, repeating.
mark, mike. Narrow continuous line near the rolled edge caused by a
contacting micrometer.
mark, pinch. See crease.
mark, roll. (1) For rolled products, a small repeating raised or depressed
area caused by the opposite condition on a roll. The repeat distance is
a function of the offending roll diameter. (2) For extrusions, a

208 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

longitudinal groove or indentation caused by pressure from contour


rolls as a prole (shape) passes through them for dimensional correction.
mark, roll bruise. A greatly enlarged roll mark with a very shallow
height or depth. See also mark, roll.
mark, roll skid. A full-width line perpendicular to the rolling direction
and repeating as a function of a work roll diameter.
mark, rub. A large number of very ne scratches or abrasions. A rub
mark can occur by metal-to-metal contact, movement in handling, and
movement in transit.
mark, snap. A bandlike pattern around the full perimeter of an extruded
section and perpendicular to its length. A snap mark can occur
whenever there is an abrupt change in the extrusion process. See also
mark, stop.
mark, stop. A bandlike pattern around the full perimeter of an extruded
section and perpendicular to its length. A stop mark occurs whenever
the extrusion process is suspended. See also mark, snap.
mark, stretcher jaw. A cross-hatched appearance left by jaws at the
end(s) of metal that has been stretched. These marks are seen if
insufficient metal has been removed after the stretching operation.
mark, tab. See buckle, arbor.
mark, tail. See mark, roll bruise.
mark, take-up. See scratch, tension.
mark, traffic. Abrasion that results from relative movement between
contacting metal surfaces during handling and transit. A dark color
from the abrasively produced aluminum oxide is usually observed. A
mirror image of a traffic mark is observed on the adjacent contacting
surface.
mark, whip. A surface abrasion that is generally diagonal to the rolling
direction. It is caused by a uttering action of the metal as it enters the
rolling mill.
master alloy. See hardener.
mean diameter. The average of two measurements of the diameter at
right angles to each other.
mechanical properties. Those properties of a material that are associated with elastic and inelastic reaction when force is applied, or that
involve the relationship between stress and strain; for example,
modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, endurance limit. These properties often are incorrectly referred to as physical properties.
microporosity. Extremely ne porosity in castings caused by shrinkage
or gas evolution, apparent on radiographic lm as mottling.
mike mark. See mark, mike.
minimum residual stress (MRS). The term applied to products, usually
at rolled, that have been processed to minimize internal stress of the
kind that causes distortion when material is disproportionately re-

Terminology / 209

moved from one of the two surfaces through mechanical or chemical


means.
mismatch. Error in register between two halves of a forging by opposing
die halves not being in perfect alignment.
modulus of elasticity. The ratio of stress to corresponding strain
throughout the range where they are proportional. As there are three
kinds of stresses, so there are three kinds of moduli of elasticity for any
material modulus in tension, in compression, and in shear.
mold. A refractory container into which molten metal is poured to
produce a specic cast shape.
mold cavity. The space in a mold that is lled with liquid metal to form
the casting upon solidication. The channels through which liquid
metal enters the mold cavity and reservoirs for liquid metal are not
considered part of the mold cavity proper.
mottling, pressure. Nonuniform surface appearance resulting from uneven pressure distribution between adjacent layers of the product.
mullen test. Measurement of bursting strength of foil in pounds per
square inch. Testing machine applies increasing pressure to 645 mm2
(1 in.2) of the sample until it ruptures.

N
natural aging. See aging.
nick. Rolled products, see scratch; extrusions, see mark, handling.
nondestructive testing. Testing or inspection procedure that does not
destroy the product being inspected.
nonll. Failure of metal to ll a forging die impression.
non-heat-treatable alloy. An alloy that can be strengthened only by cold
work.
notch, double shear. An abrupt deviation from straight on a sheared
edge. This offset may occur if the at sheet or plate product is longer
than the blade for the nal shearing operation.

O
off gage. Deviation of thickness or diameter of a solid product, or wall
thickness of a tubular product, from the standard or specied dimensional tolerances.
offset. Yield strength by the offset method is computed from a load-strain
curve obtained by means of an extensometer. A straight line is drawn
parallel to the initial straight line portion of the load-strain curve and
at a distance to the right corresponding to 0.2% offset (0.002 mm per
mm, or 0.002 in. per in., of gage length). The load reached at the point

210 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

where this straight line intersects the curve divided by the original
cross-sectional area (mm2, or in.2) of the tension test specimen is the
yield strength.
oil stain. See stain, oil.
orange peel. Surface roughening on formed products that occurs when
large grains in the metal are present.
oscillation. Uneven wrap in coiling and lateral travel during winding.
Improper alignment of rolls over which the metal passes before
rewinding and insufficient rewind tension are typical causes. See also
telescoping.
out-of-register. An embossed pattern distortion due to misalignment of
the male and female embossing rolls.
ovalness. See quality.
oxide discoloration. See stain, heat treat.

P
pack rolling. The simultaneous rolling of two or more thicknesses of
foil.
parent coil. A coil that has been processed to nal temper as a single
unit. The parent coil may subsequently be cut into two or more smaller
coils or into individual sheets or plates to provide the required width
and length.
parent plate. A plate that has been processed to nal temper as a single
unit. The parent plate may subsequently be cut into two or more
smaller plates to provide the required width and length.
partial annealing. See annealing, partial.
parting line. A condition unique to stepped extrusions where more than
one cross section exists in the same extruded shape. A stepped shape
uses a split die for the minor, or small, cross section and, after its
removal, another die behind it for the major conguration. Slightly
raised ns can appear on that portion of the shape where the two dies
meet. See also prole, stepped extruded.
pattern. A wood, metal, plastic, or wax replica of a casting that is used
to form the cavity in a mold into which molten metal is poured to form
a cast part. A pattern has the same basic features as the part to be cast,
except that it is made proportionately larger to compensate for
shrinkage due to the contraction of the metal during cooling and
solidifying.
patterned sheet. See embossing.
permanent mold casting. A casting process that uses a long-life mold,
usually metal, into which molten metal is poured by gravity. Metals
cast are usually aluminum alloys, although a few producers pour iron
into water-cooled metal dies.

Terminology / 211

physical properties. The properties, other than mechanical properties,


that pertain to the physics of a material; for example, density, electrical
conductivity, heat conductivity, thermal expansion.
pickoff. The transfer of portions of the coating from one surface of the
sheet to an adjacent surface due to poor adhesion of the coating.
pickup. Small particles of oxide adhering to the surface of a product at
irregular intervals.
pickup, repeating. See dent, repeating.
pickup, roll. Small particles of aluminum and aluminum oxide generated
in the roll bite, which subsequently transfer to the rolled product. It
may be distributed uniformly and/ or in streaks. See also streak,
coating.
pinch mark. See crease.
pinhole. (1) Minute hole in foil. (2) A small-sized void in the coating of
a sheet or foil product. A typical cause is solvent popping.
pipe. Tube in standardized combinations of outside diameter and wall
thickness, commonly designated by nominal pipe sizes and American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) schedule numbers.
pipe, drawn. Pipe brought to the nal dimensions by drawing through a
die.
pipe, extruded. Pipe formed by hot extruding.
pipe, seamless. Extruded or drawn pipe that does not contain any line
junctures resulting from the method of manufacture.
pipe, structural. Pipe commonly used for structural purposes.
piping. See back-end condition.
pit. A depression in the rolled surface that usually is not visible from the
opposite side.
pitting. See corrosion.
plate. A rolled product that is rectangular in cross section and with
thickness over 6.3 mm (equal to or greater than 0.25 in.) with sheared
or sawed edges.
plate, alclad. Composite plate composed of an aluminum alloy core
having on both surfaces (if on one side only, alclad one-side plate) a
metallurgically bonded aluminum or aluminum alloy coating that is
anodic to the core, thus electrolytically protecting the core against
corrosion.
plate circle. Circle cut from plate.
pop, solvent. Blister and/or void in the coating resulting from trapped
solvents released during curing process.
porosity. Holes or nonspecic cavities in a casting from insufficient feed
metal during solidication, or numerous other causes.
precipitation hardening. See aging.
precipitation heat treating. See aging.
preheating. A high-temperature soaking treatment to provide a desired
metallurgical structure. Homogenizing is a form of preheating.

212 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

pressure mottling. See mottling, pressure.


prole. A wrought product that is long in relation to its cross-sectional
dimensions, which is of a form other than that of sheet, plate, rod,
bar, tube, wire, or foil.
prole, class 1 hollow extruded. A hollow extruded prole, the void of
which is round and 25 mm (1 in.) or more in diameter and whose
weight is equally distributed on opposite sides of two or more equally
spaced axes.
prole, class 2 hollow extruded. Any hollow extruded prole other than
class 1, which does not exceed a 125 mm (5 in.) diameter circumscribing circle and has a single void of not less than 10 mm (0.375 in.)
diameter or 70 mm2 (0.110 in.2) area.
prole, class 3 hollow extruded. Any hollow extruded prole other than
class 1 or class 2.
prole, cold-nished. A prole brought to nal dimensions by cold
working to obtain improved surface nish and dimensional tolerances.
prole, cold-nished extruded. A prole produced by cold nishing an
extruded prole.
prole, cold-nished rolled. A prole produced by cold nishing a
rolled prole.
prole, drawn. A prole brought to nal dimensions by drawing through
a die.
prole, extruded. A prole produced by hot extruding.
prole, ute hollow. A hollow prole having plain inside surfaces and
outside surfaces that comprise regular, longitudinal, concave corrugations with sharp cusps between corrugations.
prole, helical extruded. An extruded prole twisted along its length.
prole, hollow. A prole in which any part of its cross section completely encloses a void.
prole, lip hollow. A hollow prole of generally circular cross section
and nominally uniform wall thickness with one hollow or solid
protuberance or lip parallel to the longitudinal axis; used principally for
heat-exchange purposes.
prole, pinion hollow. A hollow prole with regularly spaced, longitudinal serrations outside, and round inside, used primarily for making
small gears.
prole, rolled. A prole produced by hot rolling.
prole, semihollow. A prole in which any part of its cross section is a
partially enclosed void the area of which is substantially greater than
the square of the width of the gap. The ratio of the area of the void to
the square of the gap is dependent on the class of semihollow prole,
the alloy, and the gap width.
prole, solid. A prole other than hollow or semihollow.
prole, stepped extruded. An extruded prole with a cross section that
changes abruptly in area at intervals along its length.

Terminology / 213

prole, streamline hollow. A hollow prole with a cross section of


tear-drop shape.
prole, structural. A prole in certain standard alloys, tempers, sizes,
and sections, such as angles, channels, H sections, I-beams, tees, and
zees, commonly used for structural purposes. For channels and
I-beams, there are two standards: (1) Aluminum Association Standard
and (2) American Standard.
prole, tapered extruded. An extruded prole with a cross section that
changes continuously in area along its length or a specied portion
thereof.

Q
quality. Deviation from a circular periphery, usually expressed as the
total difference found at any one cross section between the individual
maximum and minimum diameters, which usually occur at or about
90 to each other. Since quality is the difference between extreme
diameters, it is not expressed as plus or minus.
quarter buckle. See buckle, quarter.
quenching. Controlled rapid cooling of a metal from an elevated
temperature by contact with a liquid, a gas, or a solid.
quenching crack. Fracture caused by thermal stresses induced during
rapid cooling or quenching or by stresses caused by delayed transformation after the object has been fully quenched.

R
RCS. Rigid Container Sheet.
radiographic inspection. Examination of the soundness of a casting by
radiography.
radiography. The use of radiant energy in the form of x-rays or gamma
rays for nondestructive examination of opaque objects, such as
castings, to produce graphic records that indicate the comparative
soundness of the object being tested.
razor streak. See inclusion, stringer.
rear-end condition. See back- end condition.
redraw rod. This term is not recommended. The term drawing stock is
preferred.
rened aluminum. Aluminum of very high purity (99.950% or higher)
obtained by special metallurgical treatments.
reector sheet. Sheet suitable for the manufacture of reectors.
reheating. Heating metal again to hot-working temperature. In general,
no structural changes are intended.

214 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

reoil. Oil put on the sheet after cleaning and before coiling for shipment
to prevent water stain.
reroll stock. A seminished rolled product of rectangular cross section
in coiled form suitable for further rolling. Examples: foil stock and
sheet stock.
rib. An elongated projection on a shape, forging, or casting to provide
stiffening.
riser. Sometimes referred to as a head or feeder. (1) A chamber that forms
the reservoir for feed metal necessary to compensate for losses caused
by shrinkage as the casting solidies. (2) The pattern part that forms it
and the metal solidied in it.
riser gating. Gating system in which molten metal from the sprue enters
a riser close to the mold cavity and then ows into the mold cavity.
rivet. See wire, cold heading.
rod. A solid wrought product that is long in relation to its circular cross
section, which is not less than 10 mm (0.375 in.) diameter.
rod, alclad. Rod having on its surface a metallurgically bonded aluminum or aluminum alloy coating that is anodic to the core alloy to which
it is bonded, thus electrolytically protecting the core alloy against
corrosion.
rod, cold-nished. Rod brought to nal dimensions by cold working to
obtain improved surface nish and dimensional tolerances.
rod, cold-nished extruded. Rod produced by cold working extruded
rod.
rod, cold-nished rolled. Rod produced by cold working rolled rod.
rod, cold-heading. Rod of a quality suitable for use in the manufacture
of cold-headed products such as rivets and bolts.
rod, extruded. Rod produced by hot extruding.
rod, rivet. See rod, cold-heading.
rod, rolled. Rod produced by hot rolling.
roll chatter. See mark, chatter (roll or leveler).
roll coating. See streak, coating.
rolled-in metal. An extraneous chip or particle of metal rolled into the
surface of the product.
rolled-in scratch. See scratch, rolled-in.
rolled-over edge. See edge, liquated.
roll grind. The uniform ground nish on the work rolls that is imparted
to the sheet or plate during rolling.
rolling slab. A rectangular seminished product, produced by hot rolling
fabricating ingot and suitable for further rolling.
roll mark. See mark, roll.
roll pickup. See pickup, roll.
rolled ring. See forging, rolled ring.

Terminology / 215

roong sheet. Coiled or at sheet in specic tempers, widths, and


thicknesses suitable for the manufacture of corrugated or V-crimp
roong.
roping. A ropelike appearance in the rolling direction after the metal has
undergone severe deformation.
roundness. This term is not recommended. The term quality is preferred.
rub mark. See mark, rub.
rub, tool. A surface area showing a scratch or abrasion resulting from
contact of the hot extrusion with the press equipment or tooling or,
in the case of multihole dies, with other sections as they exit the
press.
runner. That portion of the gate assembly connecting the downgate or
sprue with the casting.
runner system. Also called gating; the set of channels in a mold through
which molten metal travels to the mold cavity; includes sprues,
runners, gates, and risers.

S
sample. A part, portion, or piece taken for purposes of inspection or test
as representative of the whole.
sand castings. Metal castings produced in sand molds.
sand mold. A mold is a form that contains the cavity into which molten
metal is poured. It usually consists of two mold halves, separately
made, and mated to form the mold cavity.
saw-plate bar. See bar, saw-plate.
scalping. Mechanical removal of the surface layer from a fabricating
ingot or seminished wrought product so that surface imperfections
will not be worked into the nished product.
scratch. (1) For rolled products, a sharp indentation in the surface
usually caused by a machine or during handling. (2) For extrusions, a
synonym for handling mark. See also mark, handling.
scratch, drawn-in. A scratch occurring during the fabricating process
and subsequently drawn over, making it relatively smooth to the touch.
scratch, friction. A scratch caused by relative motion between two
contacting surfaces.
scratch, handling. A more severe form of rub mark. See also mark, rub.
scratch, machine. An indentation that is straight, is in the rolling
direction, and is caused by contact with a sharp projection on
equipment.
scratch, oscillation. Minor indentations at an angle to the rolling
direction that result from coil oscillation during unwinding or rewinding.

216 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

scratch, oven. A scratch caused by moving contact of coating against a


nonmoving object in an oven.
scratch, rolled-in. A scratch that is subsequently rolled. It will then
appear as a grayish white ladder (distinct transverse lines within the
longitudinal indentation).
scratch, slippage. See scratch, tension.
scratch, tension. A short longitudinal indentation parallel to the rolling
direction.
seam defect. An unbonded fold or lap on the surface of the metal, which
appears as a crack, usually the result of a defect in working that has not
bonded shut.
seam, extrusion. The junction line of metal that has passed through a
hollow die, separated and rejoined at the exit point. Seams are present
in all extruded hollows produced from the direct extrusion process and
in many cases are not visible. See also weld, incomplete.
seamless. A hollow product that does not contain any line junctures
resulting from method of manufacture.
section number. The number assigned to an extruded or drawn prole
(shape) for identication and cataloging purposes, usually the same
number assigned for the same purpose to the die from which the prole
(shape) is made.
serpentine weave. See snaking.
shape. This term is no longer recommended. The term prole is
preferred.
shear strength. The maximum stress that a material is capable of
sustaining in shear. In practice, shear strength is considered to be the
maximum average stress computed by dividing the ultimate load in the
plane of shear by the original area subject to shear. Shear strength
usually is determined by inserting a cylindrical specimen through
round holes in three hardened steel blocks, the center of which is pulled
(or pushed) between the other two so as to shear the specimen on two
planes. The maximum load divided by the combined cross-sectional
area of the two planes is the shear strength.
sheet. A rolled product that is rectangular in cross section with thickness
over 0.15 through 6.3 mm (less than 0.250 in. but not less than 0.006
in.) and with slit, sheared, or sawed edges.
sheet, alclad. Composite sheet composed of an aluminum alloy core
having on both surfaces (if one side only, alclad one-side sheet) a
metallurgically bonded aluminum or aluminum alloy coating that is
anodic to the core, thus electrolytically protecting the core against
corrosion.
sheet, anodizing. Sheet with metallurgical characteristics and surface
quality suitable for the development of protective and decorative lms
by anodic oxidation processes.

Terminology / 217

sheet, clad. Composite sheet having on both surfaces (if on one side
only, clad one-side sheet) a metallurgically bonded metal coating, the
composition of which may or may not be the same as that of the core.
sheet, coiled. Sheet in coils with slit edges.
sheet, coiled circles. Circles cut from coiled sheet.
sheet, coiled cut to length. Sheet cut to specied length from coils and
which has a lesser degree of atness than at sheet.
sheet, at. Sheet with sheared, slit, or sawed edges, which has been
attened or leveled.
sheet, at circles. Circles cut from at sheet.
sheet, mill nish (MF). Sheet having a nonuniform nish that may vary
from sheet to sheet and within a sheet and may not be entirely free from
stains or oil.
sheet, one-side bright mill nish (1SBMF). Sheet having a moderate
degree of brightness on one side and a mill nish on the other.
sheet, painted. Sheet, one or both sides of which has a factory-applied
paint coating of controlled thickness.
sheet, standard one-side bright nish (S1SBF). Sheet having a uniform
bright nish on one side and a mill nish on the other.
sheet, standard two sides bright nish (S2SBF). Sheet having a
uniform bright nish on both sides.
sheet stock. See reroll stock.
shell molding. Shell molds are made from a mixture of sand and
thermosetting resin binder.
shell mold process. A process in which resin-coated sand is laid on a
heated pattern, bonding it together to form a hardened shell about 10 to
20 mm (0.40 to 0.80 in.) thick. Two mating shells are glued together to
make a precision mold to produce a casting with excellent dimensional
accuracy and a smooth surface texture.
short transverse direction. For plate, sheet, and forgings, the direction
through the thickness perpendicular to both longitudinal and long
transverse directions.
shrinkage. Contraction that occurs when metal cools from the casting or
hot-working temperature.
side crack. See edge, broken (cracked).
side set. A difference in thickness between the two edges of plate, sheet,
or foil.
skip. An area of uncoated sheet frequently caused by equipment malfunction.
slippage scratch. See scratch, tension.
slitter hair. See hair, slitter.
sliver. Thin fragment of aluminum that is part of the material but only
partially attached. Surface damage or residual liquation that is subsequently rolled are typical causes.
slug. A metal blank for forging or impacting.

218 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

smudge. A dark lm of debris, sometimes covering large areas, deposited on the sheet during rolling.
smut. See smudge.
snaking. A series of reversing lateral bows in coil products. This
condition is caused by a weaving action during an unwinding or
rewinding operation.
solution heat treating. Heating an alloy at a suitable temperature for
sufficient time to allow soluble constituents to enter into solid solution
where they are retained in a supersaturated state after quenching.
specimen. That portion of a sample taken for evaluation of some specic
characteristic or property.
speed crack. See tear, speed.
speed tear. See tear, speed.
splice. The end joint uniting two webs.
spot, lube. A nonuniform extraneous deposit of lube on the coated sheet.
sprue. The vertical portion of the gating system through which molten
metal rst enters the mold.
squareness. Characteristic of having adjacent sides or planes meeting at
90.
squeeze casting. Also known as liquid metal forging or forge casting, it
is a casting process by which molten metal (ferrous or nonferrous)
solidies under pressure within closed dies positioned between the
plates of a hydraulic press.
stabilizing. A low-temperature thermal treatment designed to prevent
age softening in certain strain-hardened alloys containing magnesium.
stain, heat treat. A discoloration due to nonuniform oxidation of the
metal surface during heat treatment.
stain, oil. Surface discoloration that may vary from dark brown to white
and is produced during thermal treatment by incomplete evaporation
and/or oxidation of lubricants on the surface.
stain, saw lubricant. A yellow to brown area of surface discoloration at
the ends of the extruded length. It is the residue of certain types of saw
lubricants if they are not removed from the metal prior to the thermal
treatment.
stain, water. See corrosion, water stain.
starvation. Nonuniform coating application that results in the absence of
coating in certain areas.
sticking. Adherence of foil surfaces sufficient to interfere with the
normal ease of unwinding.
straightness. The absence of divergence from a right (straight) line in the
direction of measurement.
strain. A measure of the change in size or shape of a body under stress,
referred to its original size or shape. Tensile or compressive strain is the
change, due to force, per unit of length in an original linear dimension
in the direction of the applied force.

Terminology / 219

strain hardening. Modication of a metal structure by cold working


resulting in an increase in strength and hardness with loss of ductility.
streak, bearing. A longitudinal discoloration that can occur where there
are large changes in wall thickness as a result of uneven cooling. These
streaks usually appear lighter than the surrounding metal.
streak, bright. A bright supercial band or elongated mark that produces
a nonuniform surface appearance.
streak, buff. A dull, continuous streak caused by smudge buildup on a
buff used at shearing or other operations.
streak burnish. A bright region on the sheet caused by excessive roll
surface wear.
streak, coating. A banded condition caused by nonuniform adherence of
roll coating to a work roll. It can be created during hot and/or cold
rolling. If generated in the hot rolling process, it also is called hot mill
pickup.
streak, cold. See streak, heat.
streak, diffusion. Surface discoloration that may vary from gray to
brown and found only on alclad products.
streak, dirt. Surface discoloration that may vary from gray to black, is
parallel to the direction of rolling, and contains rolled-in foreign debris.
It is usually extraneous material from an overhead location that drops
onto the rolling surface and is shallow enough to be removed by
etching or buffing.
streak, grease. A narrow discontinuous streak caused by rolling over an
area containing grossly excessive lubricant drippage.
streak, grinding. A streak with a helical pattern appearance transferred
to a rolled product from a work roll.
streak, heat. Milky colored band(s) parallel to the rolling direction that
vary in both width and exact location along the length.
streak, herringbone. Elongated alternately bright and dull chevron
markings.
streak, leveler. A streak on the sheet surface in the rolling direction
caused by transfer from the leveler rolls.
streak, mill buff. See streak, roll.
streak, pickup. See streak, coating.
streak, roll. A nonuniform surface appearance parallel to the rolling
direction.
streak (stripe). A supercial band or elongated mark that produces a
nonuniform surface appearance. A streak often is described by source.
streak, structural. A nonuniform appearance on an etched or anodized
surface caused by heterogeneities (variabilities) remaining in the metal
from the casting, thermal processes, or hot-working stages of fabrication.

220 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

stress. Force per unit of area. Stress is normally calculated on the basis
of the original cross-sectional dimensions. The three kinds of stresses
are tensile, compressive, and shear.
stress-corrosion cracking (SCC). See corrosion, stress-cracking.
stress relieving. The reduction of the effects of internal residual stresses
by thermal or mechanical means.
stretcher strain. See line, Lueders.
striation. Longitudinal nonuniform coating thickness caused by uneven
application of the liquid coating.
strip. This term is not recommended. The term sheet is preferred.
structural streak. See streak, structural.
suck-in. A defect caused when one face of a forging is sucked in to ll
a projection on the opposite side.
surface tear. Minute surface cracks on rolled products that can be caused
by insufficient ingot scalping.

T
tail mark. See mark, roll bruise.
tear, speed. A series of surface cracks perpendicular to the extruding
direction. Speed tearing normally occurs in corner radii or extremities
of a section and is caused by localized high temperature.
telescoping. Lateral stacking, primarily in one direction, of wraps in a
coil so that the edges of the coil are conical rather than at. Improper
alignment of rolls over which the metal passes before rewinding is a
typical cause. See also oscillation.
temper. The condition produced by either mechanical or thermal treatment, or both, and characterized by a certain structure and mechanical
properties.
tensile strength. In tensile testing, the ratio of maximum load to original
cross-sectional area. Also called ultimate strength.
tension scratch. See scratch, tension.
tolerance. Allowable deviation from a nominal or specied dimension.
tool. A term usually referring to the dies, mandrels, and so on used in the
production of extruded or drawn shapes or tube.
tooling pad. See chucking lug.
tooling plate. A cast or rolled product of rectangular cross section over
6.3 mm (0.250 in.) or greater in thickness and with edges either as-cast,
sheared, or sawed, with internal stress levels controlled to achieve
maximum stability for machining purposes in tool and jig applications.
torn surface. A deep longitudinal rub mark resulting from abrasion by
extrusion or drawing tools.
traffic mark. Abrasion that results from relative movement between
contacting metal surfaces during handling and transit. A dark color

Terminology / 221

from the abrasively produced aluminum oxide usually is observed. A


mirror image of a traffic mark is observed on the adjacent contacting
surface.
transverse bow. See bow, transverse.
transverse direction. A direction perpendicular to the direction of
working.
tread plate. Sheet or plate having a raised gured pattern on one surface
to provide improved traction.
trim inclusion. Edge trimming accidentally wound into a roll of foil.
tube. A hollow wrought product that is long in relation to its cross
section, which is symmetrical and is round, a regular hexagon or
octagon, elliptical, or square or rectangular with sharp or rounded
corners, and that has uniform wall thickness except as affected by
corner radii.
tube, alclad. Composite tube composed of an aluminum alloy core
having on either the inside or outside surface a metallurgically bonded
aluminum or aluminum alloy coating that is anodic to the core, thus
electrolytically protecting the core against corrosion.
tube, arc-welded. Tube made from sheet or plate butt welded by either
gas tungsten or gas metal arc welding method, with or without the use
of ller metal.
tube bloom. This term is not recommended. The term tube stock is
preferred.
tube, brazed. A tube produced by forming and seam brazing sheet.
tube, butt-welded. A welded tube, the seam of which is formed by
positioning one edge of the sheet against the other for welding.
tube, drawn. A tube brought to nal dimensions by cold drawing
through a die. (Note: This product may be produced from either
seamless or nonseamless extruded stock or from welded stock.)
tube, embossed. A tube, the outside surface of which has been roll
embossed with a design in relief regularly repeated in a longitudinal
direction.
tube, extruded. A tube formed by hot extruding. (Note: This product
may be either seamless or nonseamless.)
tube, nned. Tube that has integral ns or projections protruding from
its outside surface.
tube, uted. A tube of nominally uniform wall thickness having regular,
longitudinal, concave corrugations with sharp cusps between corrugations.
tube, heat-exchanger. A tube for use in apparatus in which uid inside
the tube will be heated or cooled by uid outside the tube. The term
usually is not applied to coiled tube or to tubes for use in refrigerators
or radiators.
tube, helical-welded. A welded tube produced by winding the sheet to
form a closed helix and joining the edges of the seam by welding.

222 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

tube, lap-welded. A welded tube, the seam of which is formed by


longitudinally lapping the edges of the sheet for welding.
tube, lock-seam. A tube produced by forming and mechanically lock
seaming sheet.
tube, open-seam. A shape normally produced from sheet of nominally
uniform wall thickness and approximately tubular form but having a
longitudinal unjointed seam or gap of width not greater than 25% of
the outside diameter or greatest overall dimension. Also referred to
as butt-seam tube.
tube, redraw. This term is not recommended. The term tube stock is
preferred.
tube, seamless. A tube that does not contain any ne junctures (metallurgical welds) resulting from the method of manufacture. (Note: This
product may be produced by die and mandrel or by hot piercer
processes.)
tube, sized. A tube that, after extrusion, has been cold drawn a slight
amount to minimize quality.
tube, stepped drawn. A drawn tube whose cross section changes
abruptly in area at intervals along its length.
tube stock. A seminished tube suitable for the production of drawn
tube.
tube, structural. Tube commonly used for structural purposes.
tube, welded. A tube produced by forming and seam welding sheet
longitudinally.
tubing. This term is not recommended. The term tube is preferred.
tubing, electrical metallic. A tube having certain standardized length
and combinations of outside diameter and wall thickness thinner than
that of rigid conduit, commonly designated by nominal electrical trade
sizes, for use with compression-type ttings as a protection for
electrical wiring.
tubular conductor. A tubular product suitable for use as an electric
conductor.
twist. (1) For rolled products, a winding departure from atness. (2) For
extrusions, a winding departure from straightness.
two-tone. A sharp color demarcation in the appearance of the metal due
to a difference in the work roll coating.

U
ultimate tensile strength. See tensile strength.

Terminology / 223

V
vacuum casting process. A process in which a special design sand mold
or a permanent (metal) mold with a bottom opening is used and a
vacuum is placed on the mold; the metal is drawn into the mold
through gates in the bottom of the mold. It is a foundry industry term
for any casting process in which metal is melted and poured under very
low atmospheric pressure.
vent mark. A small protrusion on a forging resulting from the entrance
of metal into a die vent hole.

W
water stain. See corrosion, water stain.
wavy edge. See buckle, edge.
weave. See oscillation.
web. (1) A single thickness of foil as it leaves the rolling mill. (2) A
connecting element between ribs, anges, or bosses on shapes and
forgings.
weld, incomplete. The junction line of metal that has passed through a
die forming a hollow prole (shape), separated and not completely
rejoined. Flare testing is a method of evaluating weld integrity.
welding. Joining two or more pieces of aluminum by applying heat or
pressure, or both, with or without ller metal, to produce a localized
union through fusion or recrystallization across the interface. (Cold
welding is a solid-state welding process in which pressure is used at
room temperature to produce coalescence of metals with substantial
deformation at the weld.)
welding rod. A rolled, extruded, or cast round ller metal for use in
joining by welding.
welding wire. Wire for use as ller metal in joining by welding.
weld line. See seam, extrusion.
wettability test. The degree to which a metal surface may be wet to
determine the absence of or the amount of residual rolling or added
lubricants or deposits on the surface.
whip marks. See mark, whip.
whisker. See hair, slitter.
wire. A solid wrought product that is long in relation to its cross section,
which is square or rectangular with sharp or rounded corners or edges,
or is round, hexagonal, or octagonal, and whose diameter or greatest
perpendicular distance between parallel faces is up through 10 mm
(less than 0.375 in.).
wire, alclad. A composite wire product composed of an aluminum-alloy
wire having on its surface a metallurgically bonded aluminum or

224 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

aluminum-alloy coating that is anodic to the alloy to which it is


bonded, thus electrolytically protecting the core alloy against corrosion.
wire, cold-heading. Wire of quality suitable for use in the manufacture
of cold-headed products such as rivets and bolts.
wire, drawn. Wire brought to nal dimensions by drawing through a die.
wire, extruded. Wire produced by hot extruding.
wire, attened. Wire having two parallel at surfaces and rounded edges
produced by roll attening round wire.
wire, attened and slit-attened. Wire that has been slit to obtain
square edges.
wire, rivet. See wire, cold-heading.
workability. The relative ease with which various alloys can be formed
by rolling, extruding, forging, and so on.
work hardening. See strain hardening.
wrap, loose. A condition in a coil due to insufficient tension that creates
a small void between adjacent wraps.
wrinkle. See crease.
wrought product. A product that has been subjected to mechanical
working by such processes as rolling, extruding, forging, and so on.

Y
yield strength. The stress at which a material exhibits a specied
permanent set. The offset used for aluminum and its alloys is 0.2% of
gage length. For aluminum alloys, the yield strengths in tension and
compression are approximately equal.

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


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Subject Index
A
Abrasion. See Mark, traffic.
Aerospace industry alloys used ...... 5, 3031,
69, 90, 92(F), 107, 110, 117
AFS. See American Foundrymens
Society.
Age hardening, definition ......................... 187
Age softening, definition ........................... 187
Aging. See also Artificial aging; Natural
aging.
definition ................................................. 188
microstructures of forgings ............... 130(F)
wrought alloys .......................................... 72
Airbus .................................................... 112(F)
Aircraft industry, alloys used . . . 4, 90, 91(F),
94, 103104, 105, 107, 109(F), 110(F),
112(F), 117
Alclad, definition ....................................... 188
Alligatoring. See Lamination.
Alloy, definition .......................................... 188
Alloy and Temper Registration
Records ............................................ 2, 39
Alloy registration process ............................ 9
Aluminum
advantages .................................................. 1
applications, industrial ............................... 1
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
welded to copper ............................... 184(F)
welded to steel ................................... 194(F)
Aluminum alloys
applications ................................................. 7
definition ..................................................... 6
experimental alloys ...................... 16, 2425
heat treatment ..................................... 8485
percent aluminum content .......................... 6
variations in compositions ....................... 25
Aluminum Association ................ 1, 23, 78
casting alloy designation system ............. 37
designation systems ................... 9-22(T), 37
H temper designation of wrought
alloys ........................................... 6162
Aluminum Association Alloy and
Temper Designation Systems (ANSI
H35.1) .......................................... 922(T)

Aluminum Association Technical


Committee on Product Standards
(TCPS) ................................... 23, 7273
address for .................................................. 3
alloy registration process controlled
by ........................................................ 9
Aluminum Casting Technology ............ 73, 80
Aluminum-copper alloys
aerospace industry applications .... 90, 92(F)
aircraft industry applications ........ 90, 91(F)
automotive industry applications .. 90, 91(F)
mechanical properties ......................... 8990
properties ............................................ 8990
railroad industry applications ....... 90, 93(F)
weldability .......................................... 89, 90
Aluminum-copper casting alloys
mechanical properties ................ 109111(F)
properties ................................... 109111(F)
special alloys for engine components .... 111
Aluminum-lithium alloys, aerospace
industry applications ................. 90, 92(F)
Aluminum-magnesium alloys
automotive industry alloys ..... 96(F), 101(F)
construction industry alloys ....... 96, 100(F),
102(F), 103(F)
container applications ................. 96, 101(F)
cryogenic applications .............................. 96
marine industry alloys ...... 96, 97(F), 98(F),
99(F), 100(F)
mechanical properties ............................... 96
packaging industry alloys ........... 96, 101(F)
properties ................................. 9597, 99(F)
stress-corrosion cracking .......................... 96
weldability ................................................ 96
Aluminum-magnesium casting alloys
castability ........................................ 114115
mechanical properties ............................. 113
properties ........................................ 112115
Aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys
construction industry alloys .................... 98,
100101(F), 102(F), 103(F),
104(F), 105(F), 106(F)
electrical industry alloys .......................... 99
mechanical properties ....................... 97102
properties ............................. 97102, 107(F)
weldability ................................................ 98

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


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226 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Aluminum-manganese alloys
as automotive alloys ..................... 93, 94(F)
beverage can application .............. 93, 95(F)
brazing ...................................................... 93
chemical industry alloys .......................... 93
construction industry alloys ..................... 93
culinary industry alloys ............................ 93
for heat exchangers ....................... 93, 94(F)
mechanical properties ........................ 90, 93
properties ............................................ 90, 93
soldering ................................................... 93
weldability ................................................ 93
Aluminum-silicon alloys
brazing ........................................... 93, 95(F)
mechanical properties ............................... 93
properties ............................................ 9395
soldering ................................................... 93
weldability .......................... 9395(F), 96(F)
Aluminum-silicon casting alloys
construction industry alloys ................... 112
for office machine housings ................... 112
marine alloys .......................................... 112
mechanical properties ............................. 112
properties ................................................ 112
Aluminum-silicon-copper casting alloys,
properties ..... 111112(F), 113(F), 114(F)
Aluminum-silicon-magnesium casting
alloys, properties ..... 111112(F), 113(F),
114(F)
Aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys
mechanical properties . . 111112(F), 113(F),
114(F)
weldability .............................................. 111
Aluminum Standards and Data ...... 12, 89,
1113(T), 22, 29, 39, 73
1998 metric standard units ......................... 8
Aluminum: Technology, Applications,
and Environment (D.G. Altenpohl) ..... 7,
77, 87
Aluminum-tin casting alloys
mechanical properties ............................. 115
properties ................................................ 115
Aluminum-zinc alloys
aircraft industry alloys .......... 103104, 105,
109(F)
mechanical properties ..................... 102105
properties .............. 102105, 109(F), 110(F)
weldability .............................................. 103
Aluminum-zinc casting alloys
mechanical properties ............................. 115
properties ................................................ 115
Alusuisse Alucoban .............................. 102(F)
American Foundrymens Society
(AFS) ...................................... 37, 73, 80

American National Standard Alloy and


Temper Designation Systems for
Aluminum .............................................. 1
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) ............................... 1, 2, 3, 22, 73
AMS, definition .......................................... 187
Angularity, definition ................................ 188
Angulation, definition ............................... 188
Annealing
cold rolled sheet ...... 123(F), 132(F), 137(F)
definition ................................................. 188
hot rolled sheet .................................. 135(F)
microstructure ....................... 140(F), 141(F)
partial ........................................................ 40
partial, definition .................................... 188
plate ...................................... 135(F), 136(F)
precipitates in microstructure ........... 124(F),
131(F), 138(F)
sheet ................................................... 143(F)
temper designation ................. 16-17, 18(T),
21(T), 22
Annual Book of ASTM Standards ............... 7
Anodizing ..................................................... 27
aluminum-magnesium alloys ......... 114, 115
definition ................................................. 188
Anodizing sheet. See Sheet, anodizing.
ANSI. See American National Standards
Institute.
Arbor break. See Buckle, arbor.
Arbor mark. See Mark, arbor.
Artificial aging. See also Aging. ................ 84
casting alloys ............................................ 74
of extrusion, microstructure affected
by ............................................... 139(F)
microstructure of castings ... 164(F), 166(F),
167(F), 169(F), 170(F)
microstructure of closed-die
forgings ........... 128(F), 129(F), 130(F)
microstructure of forgings ................. 152(F)
microstructure of plates ....... 127(F), 128(F)
temper designations ................ 1920, 21(T)
wrought alloys ..... 26, 27, 60, 6568, 7072
As-cast condition, definition ..................... 188
ASME, definition ....................................... 187
Automotive industry
alloys used .. 4, 90, 91(F), 9396(F), 9899,
101(F), 107(F), 108(F), 112114(F)
investment casting of engines .................. 83
AWS, definition .......................................... 187

B
Back-end condition (coring) .. 164(F), 180(F)
definition ................................................. 188
Backup roll, definition .............................. 188

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

Bar
cold-finished, definition .......................... 189
cold-finished extruded, definition .......... 189
cold-finished rolled, definition ............... 189
definition ................................................. 188
extruded ............................................. 151(F)
extruded, definition ................................ 189
rolled, definition ..................................... 189
saw-plate, definition ............................... 189
Base box, general, definition .................... 189
Bearing applications ..................................... 5
Belled edge. See Edge, belled.
Belly, definition .......................................... 189
Beryllium
as alloying element ............................. 15(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Billet, definition ......................................... 189
Billet casting .......................................... 7778
Binder, definition ....................................... 189
Bismuth
as alloying element .................. 12(T), 13(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Blank, definition ........................................ 189
Blast cleaning, definition .......................... 189
Bleed out. See Two-tone.
Blister
bond, definition ...................................... 189
coating, definition ................................... 189
core, definition ........................................ 189
definition ................................................. 189
Blistering ............................................... 124(F)
Block mark. See Scratch, tension.
Bloom, definition ....................................... 189
Blow hole. See also Blister.
definition ................................................. 189
Bolting, wrought alloys ................................. 4
Boron, as alloying element ......... 13(T), 15(T)
Boss, definition ........................................... 189
Bottom draft, definition ............................ 189
Bow
definition ......................................... 189190
lateral, definition .................................... 190
longitudinal, definition ........................... 190
transverse, definition .............................. 190
Brazing ......................................................... 27
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 93
aluminum-silicon alloys ................ 93, 95(F)
commercially pure aluminum .................. 87
definition ................................................. 190
dip ...................................................... 180(F)
of joints, microstructures .......... 162163(F)
microstructure of sheet ........ 162(F), 163(F)
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Brazing rod, definition .............................. 190

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Subject Index / 227

Brazing sheet ........................................ 163(F)


definition ................................................. 190
Brazing wire, definition ............................ 190
Bright sheet. See Sheet, (1SBMF),
(S1SBF), and (S2SBF).
Brinell hardness
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Bristle mark. See Mark, bristle.
Broken edge. See Edge, broken.
Broken eie, definition ................................ 190
Broken matte finish, definition ................ 190
Broken surface. See Crazing.
Bruise. See Mark, roll bruise.
Buckle
arbor, definition ...................................... 190
center, definition ..................................... 190
definition ................................................. 190
edge, definition ....................................... 190
oil can. See Buckle, trapped.
quarter, definition ................................... 190
trapped, definition .................................. 190
Buffing, definition ...................................... 190
Buff streak. See Streak.
Burnishing. See Two-tone.
Burnish streak. See Streak, burnish.
Burr, definition .......................................... 191
Bursting strength. See also Mullen test.
definition ................................................. 191
Bus bar ................................................... 88(F)
definition ................................................. 191
Butt-seam tube. See Tube, open-seam.

C
Cadmium
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Camber. See Bow, lateral.
Carbon mark. See Mark, carbon.
Cast aluminum alloy, definition .................. 6
Casting alloys
advantages ........................................... 34(T)
alloy group ............................................... 14
alloying element in greatest mean
percentage ......................................... 14
alloying elements ............... 14(T), 1516(T)
applications for alloys and
tempers ............................... 108115(F)
artificial aging ........................................... 74
composition ........................ 14(T), 1516(T)
corrosion .............................................. 34(T)
cracking ............................................... 34(T)
designation system ................. 11, 1316(T),
3237(T)
elongations .................................................. 8

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228 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Casting alloys (continued)


family designated ............................... 3233
fatigue ............................................. 108, 110
finishing ............................................... 34(T)
fluidity ................................................. 34(T)
joining .................................................. 34(T)
limitations ............................................ 34(T)
mechanical properties ................... 4957(T)
microstructures .......................... 164180(F)
minimum aluminum percentage .............. 14
natural aging ............................................. 74
product form ............................................. 14
properties .................................................... 5
purity ......................................................... 14
solution heat treatment ..................... 34, 74
strengthening mechanisms ................. 3334
temper designations ............................ 7375
temper subdivisions ............................ 7475
tightness ............................................... 34(T)
unit conversion ........................................... 8
UNS alloy designation system ................. 37
variations in designations ......................... 35
weldments .......................................... 181(F)
Casting (noun), definition ......................... 191
Casting processes .................................. 8084
Casting strains, definition ........................ 191
Casting (verb). See also specific casting
processes.
casting alloys .............................................. 5
definition ................................................. 191
processes ................................ 7778, 8084
Casting yield, definition ............................ 191
Cast parts .............................................. 8084
Cavity halves or parts ............................... 83
Center, definition ....................................... 191
Center buckle. See Buckle.
Centrifugal casting ..................................... 81
definition ................................................. 191
Chafing. See Mark, traffic.
Chatter mark. See Mark, chatter.
Chemical industry, alloys used .......... 93, 118
Chill, definition .......................................... 191
Chip mark. See Dent, repeating.
Chop, definition ......................................... 191
Chromium
as alloying element ...... 1213(T), 1516(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Chucking lug, definition ........................... 191
Cinching. See Scratch, tension.
Circle, definition ........................................ 192
Cladding
aluminum-copper alloys ................ 89, 91(F)
aluminum-silicon alloys as material ........ 95
aluminum-zinc alloys ............................. 104

microstructure of sheet ....... 144(F), 151(F),


152(F), 153(F), 154(F)
microstructure of sheet, heat
treated ........................................ 126(F)
Clad sheet. See Sheet, clad.
Cleaning, definition ................................... 192
Coating
conversion, definition ............................. 192
definition ................................................. 192
high or low, definition ............................ 192
Coating blister. See Blister, coating.
Coating buildup, definition ...................... 192
Coating drip, definition ............................ 192
Coating oven trash. See Dirt.
Coating streak. See Streak, coating.
Cobalt
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Cobble, definition ...................................... 192
Coil curvature. See Coil set.
Coiled sheet. See Sheet, coiled.
Coil orientation
clockwise coil, definition ....................... 192
counterclockwise (anticlockwise) coil,
definition ......................................... 192
Coil set
definition ................................................. 192
reversed, definition ................................. 192
Coil set differential, definition ................. 192
Cold reduction, microstructure of
forgings .......................................... 152(F)
Cold rolling ............................... 26, 30, 7879
microstructures of plate ...... 127(F), 128(F),
132(F), 134(F), 136(F)
microstructures of sheet ...... 123(F), 132(F),
136(F), 137(F)
Cold-shut .............................................. 173(F)
definition ................................................. 193
Cold-shut void ...................................... 177(F)
Cold upsetting, microstructure of
rivet ............................................... 129(F)
Cold working .............................................. 40
compressive .............................................. 67
definition ................................................. 193
temper designation ............................. 19, 20
of wrought alloys ......................... 6162, 63
Collapse, definition .................................... 193
Coloring, definition ................................... 193
Combination die (multiple-cavity die),
definition ............................................. 192
Commercially pure (CP) aluminum
advantages ................................................ 26
aerospace alloy ....................................... 117
casting alloys ....................................... 14(T)
container and packaging
applications .................................. 88(F)
definition ................................................. 56

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

designation system ................................... 24


electrical applications .......................... 88(F)
electrical properties ............................ 87, 88
in wrought alloy designation
system .................................... 10(T), 11
limitations ................................................. 26
mechanical properties ......................... 8788
microstructure due to solidification . . 121(F)
microstructures ..................... 120(F), 121(F)
properties ....................................... 8788(F)
sheet metal work ...................................... 88
strengthening mechanisms ............ 2526(T)
as telescopic mirror material ........ 88, 90(F)
Compressive cold working, wrought
alloys ..................................................... 67
Concavity, definition ................................. 193
Concentricity, definition ........................... 193
Condensation stain. See Corrosion,
water stain.
Condenser tube, definition ....................... 193
Conduit
definition ................................................. 193
rigid, definition ....................................... 193
Coned-out coil. See Telescoping.
Construction industry, alloys used .... 93, 94,
96, 98, 100101(F), 102(F), 103(F), 104(F),
105(F), 106(F), 112, 114, 116
Container and packaging industry ............ 4
commercially pure aluminum ............ 88(F)
Continuous casting, microstructures ... 140(F)
Contour, definition .................................... 193
Controlled cooling, definition .................. 193
Conversion coating, can ends. See
Coating, conversion.
Conversion of units .................................. 78
Convexity, definition ................................. 193
Copper
as alloying element ..... 10(T), 11, 1213(T),
14(T), 1516(T)
as alloying element, casting alloy
applications .. 108, 109111(F), 112(F),
113(F), 114(F)
as alloying element, casting
alloys ..................................... 33(T), 34
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications ........ 8990, 91(F), 92(F),
93(F)
as alloying element, wrought
alloys ............ 23, 25(T), 2627, 28, 29
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
welded to aluminum .......................... 184(F)
CO2 process, definition ............................. 192
Core blister. See Blister, core.
Core (for casting), definition .................... 193
Core (for rolled products), definition ..... 193

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Subject Index / 229

Coring. See Back-end condition.


Corner turnup, definition ......................... 193
Corrosion
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
casting alloys ....................................... 34(T)
definition ................................................. 193
exfoliation ............ 104105, 150(F), 152(F)
exfoliation, definition ............................. 193
fretting ............................................... 151(F)
galvanic, definition ................................. 194
intergranular, definition .......................... 194
pitting .................................... 136(F), 149(F)
pitting, definition .................................... 194
stress-cracking, definition ...................... 194
water stain, definition ............................. 194
Corrosion resistance
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
aluminum-magnesium
alloys ..................... 96, 99(F), 113114
aluminum-magnesium-silicon
alloys ..................... 97, 98, 101, 107(F)
aluminum-manganese alloys .............. 90, 93
aluminum-silicon alloys ......................... 112
aluminum-zinc alloys ..................... 104105
commercially pure aluminum ............ 87, 88
temper designation ................................... 40
temper designations, wrought alloys ....... 71
wrought alloys ......................... 3, 27, 28, 66
Corrugating, definition ............................. 194
Coupon, definition ..................................... 194
Covering area, definition .......................... 194
Cracking, casting alloys ........................ 34(T)
Crazing, definition ..................................... 194
Crease, definition ....................................... 194
Cross hatching. See Crazing.
Crown. See Convexity.
Cryogenic toughness, wrought alloys .......... 4
Curl, definition .......................................... 194
Cutoff, definition ........................................ 194

D
Deep drawing, definition .......................... 194
Defect, definition ........................................ 194
Dendrite arm spacing (DAS), effect on
casting structure fineness .. 168(F), 169(F)
Dendrites ............................................... 157(F)
of brazed joint in sheet ........ 162(F), 163(F)
in castings ............... 166(F), 168(F), 169(F)
in sand casting ................................... 179(F)
Dendritic segregation, titanium in
ingot ................................ 136(F), 137(F)
Density, wrought alloys .................... 2829(F)
Dent. See also Mark, handling.
definition ................................................. 195

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Dent (continued)
expansion, definition .............................. 195
repeating, definition ................................ 195
Designation systems ................ 12, 31, 32(T)
capital letters used for alloys ............. 2425
casting alloys ................................. 3237(T)
casting alloys, cross reference
chart ....................................... 3637(T)
comparison of previous and current
systems ........................................ 32(T)
experimental alloys ............................ 2425
temper, for wrought alloys ................. 3940
UNS alloy ................................................. 31
variations .................................................. 25
wrought alloys ............................... 2332(T)
Die Casting Development Council ........... 37
Die casting (noun) ................................ 8384
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................. 113
aluminum-silicon alloys ......................... 112
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
compositions for commercial
uses ................................................... 35
definition ................................................. 195
mechanical properties .............. 53(T), 57(T)
microstructure ........ 171(F), 172(F), 173(F),
174(F), 176(F), 177(F), 178(F), 179(F)
Die casting (verb)
cold chamber, definition ......................... 195
definition ................................................. 195
gravity, definition ................................... 195
hot chamber, definition .......................... 195
pressure. See also Low-pressure casting
process; High-pressure molding.
pressure, definition ................................. 195
vs. permanent mold casting ..................... 81
Die forgings ................................................. 80
Die (in casting), definition ........................ 195
Die (in forging or extrusion), definition .. 195
Die line, definition ..................................... 195
Die number, definition .............................. 195
Diffusion processes .............................. 131(F)
Diffusion streak. See Streak, diffusion.
Dimensional stability, definition .............. 196
Dip brazing ........................................... 180(F)
Direct castings, microstructure ............ 131(F)
Dirt, definition ........................................... 196
Disc, definition ........................................... 196
Double shear notch. See Notch, double
shear.
Draft, definition ......................................... 196
Drag mark. See Rub, tool.
Draw and iron-can bodies, definition ..... 196
Drawing ................................................. 26, 30
definition ................................................. 196

Drawing stock, definition ......................... 196


Drawn-in scratch. See Scratch, drawn-in.
Drawn product, definition ........................ 196
Dropped edge. See Edge, dropped.
Dry sand molding, definition ................... 196
Dry sheet. See Lube, low.
Dry surface, definition .............................. 196
Ductility
definition ................................................. 196
wrought alloys .......................................... 27
Duct sheet, definition ................................ 196
Dynamic recrystallization ................... 134(F)

E
Earing, definition ....................................... 196
Ears, definition .......................................... 197
Eccentricity, definition .............................. 197
Edge
band. See Two-tone.
belled, definition ..................................... 197
broken (cracked), definition ................... 197
built-up. See Edge, belled.
damaged, definition ................................ 197
dropped, definition ................................. 197
liquated, definition .................................. 197
rippled. See Buckle, edge.
wavy. See Buckle, edge.
Elastic limit, definition .............................. 197
Electrical and electronic industry
alloys used ... 88(F), 99, 106, 107, 110, 112,
115116
commercially pure aluminum
applications .................................. 88(F)
Electrical beam welding
of investment casting ........................ 181(F)
of plate .................................. 158(F), 162(F)
of sheet .................... 155(F), 156(F), 159(F)
Electrical conductivity
commercially pure aluminum ............ 87, 88
definition ................................................. 197
8xxx series ..................................... 106, 107
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Electrical resistivity, definition ................ 197
Elevated temperatures
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
aluminum-copper casting alloys ............ 109
Elongation
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ......................................... 197198
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Embossing, definition ................................ 198
Endurance limit
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ................................................. 198

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)


Energy absorption capacity, wrought
alloys ....................................................... 4
English/engineering units ............................ 8
Equivalent round, definition .................... 198
Expendable pattern casting, definition ... 198
Experimental aluminum alloys .... 16, 2425
Explosive welding
aluminum to copper .......................... 184(F)
aluminum to steel .............................. 184(F)
Extrusion ............................................... 30, 79
aluminum-magnesium-silicon
alloys ............. 97102, 103(F), 104(F),
105(F), 106(F), 107(F), 108(F)
aluminum-zinc alloys ................ 105, 109(F)
conform ..................................................... 79
definition ................................................. 198
direct ......................................................... 79
gas tungsten arc welding ................... 161(F)
indirect ...................................................... 79
microstructures ....... 135(F), 138(F), 139(F),
141(F), 148(F), 149(F), 150(F),
161(F), 151(F)
reverse ....................................................... 79
Extrusion billet, definition ........................ 198
Extrusion butt end defect, definition ...... 198
Extrusion log, definition ........................... 198
Extrusion seam, definition ........................ 198
Eyehole. See Holiday.

F
Fabrication, temper designation ..... 16, 5758
Fatigue
aluminum-silicon alloys ......................... 112
casting alloys .................................. 108, 110
definition ................................................. 198
test, fayed sheet ................................. 151(F)
Fatigue limit
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Feeder. See Riser.
Feed in. See Back-end condition.
Feed line. See Streak, grinding.
Fillet, definition .......................................... 198
Fin, definition ............................................. 198
Finish
casting alloys .............................................. 5
definition ................................................. 199
Finishing, casting alloys ........................ 34(T)
Fin stock, definition .................................. 199
Fish mouthing, definition ......................... 199
Flag, definition ........................................... 199
Flaking, definition ..................................... 199

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Subject Index / 231

Flange. See Rib.


Flash, definition ......................................... 199
Flash line, definition .................................. 199
Flatness, definition .................................... 199
Flat-rolled products .............................. 7879
Flow lines ..... 145(F), 172(F), 173(F), 174(F),
177(F), 178(F)
definition ................................................. 199
Flow through, definition ........................... 199
Fluidity, casting alloys ........................... 34(T)
Foil
annealed, definition ................................ 199
bright two sides, definition .................... 199
chemically cleaned, definition ............... 199
definition ................................................. 199
embossed, definition ............................... 199
etched, definition .................................... 199
fabrication ........................................... 7879
for food products industry ..................... 188
hard, definition ....................................... 199
intermediate temper, definition .............. 199
matte one side (M1S), definition ........... 199
mechanically grained, definition ............ 199
mill finish (MF), definition .................... 200
packaging applications, for food
products ................................. 88, 89(F)
scratch brushed, definition ..................... 200
Foil stock. See Reroll stock.
Fold ....................................................... 145(F)
definition ................................................. 200
Food products industry, alloys used for
packaging and utensils .. 88(F), 89(F), 93,
95(F), 96, 101(F)
Foresmo Bridge ................................... 103(F)
Forgeability, definition .............................. 200
Forge casting ............................................... 84
Forging ................................................... 7980
blocker-type, definition .......................... 200
closed-die, grain structure ... 128(F), 129(F),
130(F), 141(F)
cold-coined, definition ............................ 200
definition ................................................. 200
die, definition .......................................... 200
draftless, definition ................................. 200
flashless, definition ................................. 200
hammer, definition ................................. 200
hand, definition ....................................... 200
microstructures ....... 123(F), 124(F), 130(F),
144(F), 145(F), 146(F), 147(F),
148(F), 152(F)
no-draft. See Forging, draftless.
precision, definition ................................ 200
press, definition ...................................... 200
rolled ring ................................................. 80
rolled ring, definition ............................. 200
upset, definition ...................................... 200

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Forging billet, definition ........................... 200


Forging plane, definition .......................... 200
Forging stock, definition ........................... 200
Formability
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 90
commercially pure aluminum .................. 88
definition ................................................. 200
Fracture
brittle .................................................. 151(F)
ductile ................................................ 151(F)
of extrusion .......................... 148(F), 149(F)
parting-plane fracture in forging ....... 144(F)
Fracture toughness
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................... 96
casting alloys .............................................. 5
definition ................................................. 200
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Fracture toughness testing ........................ 85
Fretting. See Mark, traffic.
Friction scratch. See Scratch, friction.
Full center. See Buckle, center.

G
Gage, definition .......................................... 201
Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 90
aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys ....... 98
aluminum-silicon alloys ..................... 94, 95
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Gas porosity .. 172(F), 174(F), 176(F), 177(F)
definition ................................................. 201
Gas tungsten arc repair welding, of
investment casting ............ 181(F), 182(F)
Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 90
aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys ....... 98
aluminum-silicon alloys ..................... 94, 95
of extruded tube ................................ 161(F)
of plate .................................. 160(F), 161(F)
of sheet ...... 155(F), 156(F), 157(F), 158(F),
159(F)
of wrought alloys ....................................... 4
of wrought-to-cast alloys .................. 182(F)
Gate .............................................................. 82
definition ................................................. 201
Gate area ................................. 176(F), 177(F)
Gated patterns, definition ........................ 201
Gated system, definition ........................... 201
Gating ................................................... 173(F)
Gating system, definition .......................... 201
Geodesic domes .......................... 100, 102(F),
104(F), 105(F)

Glaze. See Pickup, roll.


Gold
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Gouge. See also Scratch.
definition ................................................. 201
rolled in. See also Scratch, rolled-in.
rolled in, definition ................................. 201
Grain flow, definition ................................ 201
Grain refiners, effect on casting
structures ........................................ 168(F)
Grain size, definition ................................. 201
Grease streak. See Streak, grease.
Green sand ............................................ 81, 82
definition ................................................. 201
Green sand molding, definition ............... 201

H
Hair, slitter, definition ............................... 202
Hand forgings ............................................. 80
Handling mark. See Mark, handling.
Hard conversion ........................................... 8
Hardener, definition .................................. 202
Hardness
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ................................................. 202
8xxx series .............................................. 106
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Heat streak. See Streak, heat.
Heat treatable alloys .................................. 11
casting alloys ...................................... 3334
definition ................................................. 202
temper designations ............................ 6568
Heat treatable aluminum alloy,
definition ................................................. 6
Heat treating. See also Aging; Solution
heat treating.
aluminum alloys ................................. 8485
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
aluminum-copper permanent mold
castings ........................................... 109
aluminum-copper sand castings ............. 109
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................. 113
aluminum-magnesium-silicon
alloys .......................................... 97, 98
aluminum-silicon alloys ............ 93, 94, 112
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
aluminum-tin casting alloys ................... 115
aluminum-zinc alloys ..................... 102, 103
aluminum-zinc casting alloys ................ 115
by nonproducer ......................................... 40
definition ................................................. 202
8xxx aluminum series ............................ 106

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Subject Index / 233

Heat treat lot. See Lot, heat treat.


Heat treat stain, definition ....................... 202
Herringbone. See Streak, herringbone.
High-pressure casting ................................ 84
High-pressure molding, definition ........... 202
High-toughness alloys
aluminum-copper casting alloys .... 109, 110
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
Holding temperature, definition .............. 202
Hole, definition .......................................... 202
Holiday, definition ..................................... 202
Homogenizing ....................................... 142(F)
definition ......................................... 202203
Hook. See also Bow.
definition ................................................. 203
Hot cracking, definition ............................ 203
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP), definition . . 203
Hot line pickup. See Pickup, roll.
Hot rolling ....................................... 30, 7879
microstructure of ingot ........ 131(F), 134(F)
microstructure of plate ........ 128(F), 133(F),
134(F), 135(F), 137(F), 142(F), 143(F)
microstructure of sheet ...................... 138(F)
Hot shortness, definition ........................... 203
Hot spot, definition .................................... 203
Hot tear. See Tear, speed.
Hot working, definition ............................ 203

rolling, definition .................................... 204


Injection, definition ................................... 204
Inoculant, definition .................................. 204
Insert, definition ........................................ 204
Inspection lot. See Lot, inspection.
Intergranular corrosion, of plate ....... 149(F)
Interleaving, definition .............................. 204
International Accord on Alloy
Designations .................................... 9, 73
International Annealed Copper
Standard (IACS) ................................. 88
Investment casting . . 8283, 110, 112, 114(F)
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
definition ................................................. 204
microstructure ........ 166(F), 167(F), 180(F),
181(F), 182(F)
Investment molding, definition ................ 204
Iron
as alloying element ........... 10(T), 11, 12(T),
13(T), 1516(T)
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications ........................... 106107
as alloying element, wrought
alloys ..................................... 25(T), 29
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)

Impact, definition ...................................... 203


Impregnation, definition ........................... 203
Impurities ........................................ 10, 11, 24
in casting alloys ....................................... 14
Impurity limit ............................................ 14
Inclusion
definition ................................................. 203
stringer, definition .................................. 203
Incomplete seam. See Weld, incomplete.
Ingot. See also Ingot, extrusion; Ingot,
fabricating; Ingot, forging; Ingot, remelt;
Ingot, rolling.
casting ................................................. 7778
definition ................................................. 203
extrusion. See also Ingot, fabricating.
extrusion, definition ................................ 203
fabricating. See also Ingot, extrusion;
Ingot, forging; Ingot; rolling.
fabricating, definition ............................. 204
forging, definition ................................... 204
microstructure ........ 122(F), 131(F), 134(F),
136(F), 142(F), 149(F)
remelt, definition .................................... 204
rolling. See also Ingot, fabricating.

Joining
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 90
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 90
aluminum-silicon alloys ......... 93, 94, 95(F)
aluminum-zinc alloys ............................. 102
casting alloys ....................................... 34(T)
wrought alloys ............................................ 4

K
Kink, definition .......................................... 205
Knife mark. See Mark, knife.
Knock-out mark. See Mark, knock-out.

L
Lacquer. See also Stain, oil.
definition ................................................. 205
Lacquering, temper designation ................. 17
Lamination, definition .............................. 205

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Lap. See Fold.


Lateral bow. See Bow, lateral.
Layout sample, definition ......................... 205
Lead
as alloying element .................. 12(T), 13(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Leveler chatter. See Mark, chatter (roll
or leveler).
Leveler mark. See Dent, repeating.
Leveler streak. See Streak, leveler.
Leveling
definition ................................................. 205
roller, definition ...................................... 205
stretcher, definition ................................. 205
tension, definition ................................... 205
thermal, definition .................................. 205
Light poles .................................... 101, 107(F)
Line
flow, definition ........................................ 205
looper, definition .................................... 205
Lueders, definition .................................. 205
weld. See Seam, extrusion.
Liner, definition ......................................... 205
Liquated edge. See Edge, liquated.
Liquation, definition .................................. 205
Liquefied natural gas tankage .................... 4
Lithium
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications ................ 106107, 110(F)
as alloying element, wrought alloys ........ 29
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Lock, definition .......................................... 206
Log. See Extrusion log.
Longitudinal bow. See Bow,
longitudinal.
Longitudinal direction, definition ............ 206
Longitudinal orientation, definition ............ 6
Long transverse direction. See also
Longitudinal direction.
definition ................................................. 206
Long transverse orientation, definition . . 67
Looper line. See Line, looper.
Loose wrap. See Wrap, loose.
Lost foam casting, definition .................... 206
Lot
heat treat, definition ............................... 206
inspection, definition .............................. 206
Low-pressure casting process. See also
Vacuum casting process.
definition ................................................. 206
Lube
high, definition ....................................... 206
low, definition ......................................... 206
Lueders line. See Line, Lueders.
Lug ........................................... 146(F), 147(F)

M
Machinability
aluminum-tin alloys ................................ 115
aluminum-zinc alloys ............................. 115
Magnesium
as alloying element ..... 10(T), 11, 1213(T),
14(T), 1516(T)
as alloying element, casting alloy
applications .......... 111112(F), 113(F),
114(F), 115
as alloying element, casting
alloys ..................................... 33(T), 34
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications .......... 95101(F), 102(F),
103(F), 104(F), 105(F), 106(F),
107(G), 108(F)
as alloying element, wrought alloys ....... 23,
25(T), 26, 2728, 29
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Magnesium silicide ................. 152(F), 159(F)
in castings .......................................... 170(F)
in wrought alloys ....... 10(T), 11, 23, 26, 28
Magnetic levitation (Mag-Lev)
train .............................. 100101, 106(F)
Manganese
as alloying element ..... 10(T), 11, 1213(T),
1516(T)
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications ......... 90, 93, 94(F), 95(F)
as alloying element, wrought alloys ....... 23,
25(T), 26, 27
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Marine industry, alloys used ......... 96, 97(F),
98(F), 99(F), 100(F), 112, 113114, 117
Mark
arbor, definition ...................................... 207
bearing, definition .................................. 207
bite, definition ........................................ 207
bristle, definition .................................... 207
carbon, definition .................................... 207
chatter (roll or leveler), definition ......... 207
definition ................................................. 207
drag. See Rub, tool.
edge follower, definition ........................ 207
handling, definition ................................ 207
heat treat contact, definition .................. 207
inclusion. See also Inclusion, stringer.
inclusion, definition ................................ 207
knife, definition ...................................... 207
knockout ................................................... 83
knock-out, definition .............................. 207

2000 ASM International. All Rights Reserved.


Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

leveler chatter. See Mark, chatter (roll


or leveler).
metal-on-roll. See Dent, repeating.
mike, definition ...................................... 207
pinch. See Crease.
roll, definition ................................. 207208
roll bruise. See also Mark, roll.
roll bruise, definition .............................. 208
roll skid, definition ................................. 208
rub, definition ......................................... 208
snap. See also Mark, snap.
snap, definition ....................................... 208
stop, definition. See also Mark, snap. ....208
stretcher jaw, definition .......................... 208
tab. See Buckle, arbor.
tail. See Mark, roll bruise.
take-up. See Scratch, tension.
traffic, definition ..................................... 208
whip, definition ...................................... 208
Master alloy. See Hardener.
Mean diameter, definition ........................ 208
Mechanical properties, definition ............ 208
Melting temperature, wrought alloys ........ 3
Metallography and Microstructures ....... 119
Metric/International Standard units .......... 8
Microporosity, definition .......................... 208
Microscopy .................................................... 7
Microstructure, of alloys .................. 119184
Mike mark. See Mark, mike.
Minimum residual stress (MRS),
definition ..................................... 208209
Mismatch, definition ................................. 209
Modulus in tension, wrought
alloys ......................................... 4049(T)
Modulus of elasticity
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ................................................. 209
measurement method (ASTM E 111) ..... 30
wrought alloys ............. 2930(T), 4049(T)
Mold, definition ......................................... 209
Mold cavity, definition .............................. 209
Molybdenum
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Mottling, pressure, definition ................... 209
Mullen test, definition ............................... 209

N
Nailing, wrought alloys ................................. 4
Natural aging. See also Aging. .................. 84
casting alloys ............................................ 74
temper designations ...................... 19, 21(T)
wrought alloys ......... 26, 27, 28, 59, 60, 65,
66, 68

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Subject Index / 235

Necking ................................................. 151(F)


Nick
extrusions. See Mark, handling.
rolled products. See Scratch.
Nickel
as alloying element ................ 10, 1213(T),
1516(T)
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications ........................... 106107
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Nondestructive testing, definition ............ 209
Non-Ferrous Founders Society
(NFFS) ................................................. 37
Nonfill, definition ....................................... 209
Non-heat-treatable alloy
casting alloys ...................................... 3334
definition ................................................. 209
H temper subdivisions .................. 6064(T)
slab casting ............................................... 78
strip casting .............................................. 78
temper designations, wrought alloys ....... 58
wrought alloys ............................. 26, 27, 28
Notch, double shear, definition ................ 209

O
Off gage, definition .................................... 209
Offset, definition ................................ 209210
Oil and petroleum industry, alloys
used .......................................... 99, 100(F)
Oil stain. See Stain, oil.
Orange peel, definition ............................. 210
Oscillation. See also Telescoping.
definition ................................................. 210
Out-of-register, definition ......................... 210
Ovalness. See Quality.
Overaging
microstructure .................................... 124(F)
temper designation ................................... 20
wrought alloys .................................... 68, 71
Oxide discoloration. See Stain, heat
treat.
Oxide stringers ..................................... 134(F)

P
Packaging industry, alloys used .............. 118
Pack rolling, definition ............................. 210
Painting, temper designation ...................... 17
Parent coil, definition ................................ 210
Parent plate, definition ............................. 210

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236 / Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers

Partial annealing. See Annealing, partial.


Parting line. See also Profile, stepped
extruded.
definition ................................................. 210
Pattern, definition ...................................... 210
Patterned sheet. See Embossing.
Peening .................................................. 152(F)
Permanent mold casting alloys,
mechanical properties .............. 5153(T),
5556(T)
Permanent mold casting (noun)
microstructure ........ 165(F), 166(F), 167(F),
175(F), 179(F), 180(F)
heat treatable .......................................... 109
Permanent mold casting (verb) .......... 8081
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................. 113
aluminum-silicon alloys ......................... 112
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
aluminum-tin alloys ................................ 115
aluminum-zinc casting alloys ................ 115
definition ................................................. 210
Permanent solid castings,
microstructure ................... 166(F), 170(F)
Physical properties, definition .................. 211
Pickoff, definition ....................................... 211
Pickup
definition ................................................. 211
repeating. See Dent, repeating.
roll, definition. See also Streak,
coating. ........................................... 211
Pinch mark. See Crease.
Pinhole, definition ...................................... 211
Pipe
definition ................................................. 211
drawn, definition ..................................... 211
extruded, definition ................................. 211
seamless, definition ................................ 211
structural, definition ............................... 211
Piping. See Back-end condition.
Pit, definition .............................................. 211
Pitting. See Corrosion.
Plate
alclad, definition ..................................... 211
definition ................................................. 211
fabrication ........................................... 7879
microstructures ....... 124(F), 127(F), 129(F),
132(F), 133(F), 134(F), 135(F), 136(F),
137(F), 142(F), 143(F), 149(F), 158(F),
160(F), 161(F), 162(F)
Plate circle, definition .............................. 211
Polarized light
effect on annealed plate ....... 135(F), 136(F)
effect on cold rolled sheet . . . 136(F), 137(F)
effect on extruded tube ..................... 141(F)
effect on extrusion ............................. 135(F)

effect on ingot ................................... 142(F)


effect on plate microstructure ........... 142(F)
Polygonization ...................................... 124(F)
extruded tube ..................................... 141(F)
Pop (solvent), definition ............................ 211
Porosity, definition ..................................... 211
Precipitation hardening. See also
Aging. ................................................... 84
temper designation ................................... 20
wrought alloys ........... 26, 27, 28, 60, 6566
Precipitation heat treating. See Aging.
Precision casting ................................... 8283
Preheating, definition ................................ 211
Pressure mottling. See Mottling,
pressure.
Pressure welding .................................. 154(F)
Product forms, identified by temper
designation ............................................ 40
Profile
class 1 hollow extruded,
definition ......................................... 212
class 2 hollow extruded,
definition ......................................... 212
class 3 hollow extruded,
definition ......................................... 212
cold-finished, definition .......................... 212
cold-finished extruded, definition .......... 212
cold-finished rolled, definition ............... 212
definition ................................................. 212
drawn, definition .................................... 212
extruded, definition ................................ 212
flute hollow, definition ........................... 212
helical extruded, definition .................... 212
hollow, definition .................................... 212
lip hollow, definition .............................. 212
pinion hollow, definition ........................ 212
rolled, definition ..................................... 212
semihollow, definition ............................ 212
solid, definition ....................................... 212
stepped extruded, definition ................... 212
streamline hollow, definition .................. 213
structural, definition ............................... 213
tapered extruded, definition ................... 213
Pure aluminum. See Commercially pure
aluminum.

Q
Quality, definition ...................................... 213
Quarter buckle. See Buckle, quarter.
Quenching ....................................... 40, 84, 85
casting alloys ............................................ 74
definition ................................................. 213
of dies ....................................................... 85

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

modifications identified by temper


designations ...................................... 68
wrought alloys ............................. 70, 71, 72
Quenching crack, definition ..................... 213

R
Radiographic inspection, definition ........ 213
Radiography, definition ............................ 213
Rail transportation industry, alloys
used ............................................. 117118
Razor streak. See Inclusion, stringer.
RCS, definition .......................................... 213
Rear-end condition. See Back-end
condition.
Recommendation: International
Designation System for Wrought
Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum
Alloys ...................................................... 2
Recrystallization
dynamic ............................................. 134(F)
microstructure of closed-die
forgings ......................... 128(F), 130(F)
microstructure of extrusions ............ 138(F),
150(F)
microstructure of plate ...................... 134(F)
microstructure of sheet ....... 123(F), 131(F),
132(F), 136(F), 137(F)
Recycling
casting alloy 332.0 from scrap .............. 112
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Redraw rod, definition .............................. 213
References ......................................... 185186
Refined aluminum, definition .................. 213
Reflector sheet, definition ......................... 213
Registration process, of alloys .................... 9
Reheating, definition ................................. 213
Reoil, definition .......................................... 214
Reroll stock, definition .............................. 214
Residual stresses
minimized by quenching .......................... 68
temper designations ............................ 6768
Resistance spot welding ......... 153(F), 154(F)
Reynolds Wrap ................................ 88, 89(F)
Rib, definition ............................................ 214
Riser ............................................................. 82
definition ................................................. 214
Riser gating, definition ............................. 214
Rivet. See Wire, cold heading.
Rod
alclad, definition ..................................... 214
cold-finished, definition .......................... 214
cold-finished extruded, definition .......... 214
cold-finished rolled, definition .............. 214
cold-heading, definition .......................... 214
definition ................................................. 214

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Subject Index / 237

extruded, definition ................................ 214


rivet. See Rod, cold-heading.
rolled, definition ..................................... 214
Roll chatter. See Mark, chatter (roll or
leveler).
Rolled-in metal, definition ........................ 214
Rolled-in scratch. See Scratch, rolled-in.
Rolled-over edge. See Edge, liquated.
Rolled ring. See Forging, rolled ring.
Roll grind, definition ................................. 214
Rolling coating. See Streak, coating.
Rolling slab, definition .............................. 214
Roll mark. See Mark, roll.
Roll pickup. See Pickup, roll.
Roofing sheet, definition ........................... 215
Roping, definition ...................................... 215
Roundness, definition ................................ 215
Rub mark. See Mark, rub.
Rub (tool), definition ................................. 215
Runner, definition ...................................... 215
Runner system, definition ........................ 215

S
Sample, definition ...................................... 215
Sand casting .......................................... 8182
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................. 113
aluminum-silicon alloys ......................... 112
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
aluminum-tin casting alloys ................... 115
aluminum-zinc casting alloys ................ 115
vs. permanent mold casting ............... 81, 82
Sand casting alloys, mechanical
properties .................. 4951(T), 5355(T)
Sand castings
definition ................................................. 215
heat treatable .......................................... 109
microstructure ........ 164(F), 167(F), 168(F),
179(F), 180(F)
Sand mold, definition ................................ 215
Saw-plate bar. See Bar, saw-plate.
Scalping, definition .................................... 215
Scratch. See also Mark, handling.
definition ................................................. 215
drawn-in, definition ................................ 215
friction, definition ................................... 215
handling, definition. See also Mark,
rub. .................................................. 215
machine, definition ................................. 215
oscillation, definition .............................. 215
oven, definition ....................................... 216
rolled-in, definition ................................. 216
slippage. See Scratch, tension.
tension, definition ................................... 216

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Seam defect, definition .............................. 216


Seam (extrusion). See also Weld,
incomplete.
definition ................................................. 216
Seamless, definition ................................... 216
Section number, definition ....................... 216
Sensitization ................................................ 28
to stress-corrosion cracking ..................... 64
Serpentine weave. See Snaking.
Shape, definition ........................................ 216
Shear strength
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ................................................. 216
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Sheet
alclad, definition ..................................... 216
aluminum welded to copper ............. 184(F)
aluminum welded to steel ................. 184(F)
anodizing, definition ............................... 216
clad, definition ........................................ 217
coiled circles, definition ......................... 217
coiled cut to length, definition ............... 217
coiled, definition ..................................... 217
definition ................................................. 216
embossed, temper designation ................. 64
fabrication ........................................... 7879
flat circles, definition .............................. 217
flat, definition ......................................... 217
microstructures ....... 123(F), 124(F), 125(F),
126(F), 129(F), 131(F), 132(F), 136(F),
138(F), 143(F), 144(F), 151(F), 152(F),
154(F), 155(F), 157(F), 158(F), 159(F),
162(F), 163(F)
mill finish (MF), definition .................... 217
one-sided bright mill finish (1SBMF),
definition ......................................... 217
painted, definition ................................... 217
pattern, temper designations ............... 64(T)
standard one-side bright finish
(S1SBF), definition ........................ 217
standard two sides bright finish
(S2SBF), definition ........................ 217
temper designation .............................. 20(T)
Sheet stock. See Reroll stock.
Shell molding, definition ........................... 217
Shell mold process, definition .................. 217
Short transverse direction, definition ..... 217
Short transverse orientation, definition ...... 7
Shrinkage .............................................. 146(F)
definition ................................................. 217
Side crack. See Edge, broken (cracked).
Side set, definition ..................................... 217
Silicon
as alloying element ..... 10(T), 11, 1213(T),
14(T), 1516(T)

as alloying element, casting alloy


applications .. 108, 111112(F), 113(F),
114(F)
as alloying element, casting
alloys ..................................... 33(T), 34
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications . . 93-95(F), 96(F), 97102,
103(F), 104(F), 105(F),
106(F), 107(F), 108(F)
as alloying element, wrought alloys ....... 23,
25(T), 26, 27, 28, 29
content effect on castability ....................... 5
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Silver
as alloying element ............................. 15(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Skip, definition ........................................... 217
Slab casting ................................................. 78
Slippage scratch. See Scratch, tension.
Slitter hair. See Hair, slitter.
Sliver, definition ......................................... 217
Sludge ............ 171(F), 172(F), 173(F), 174(F)
Slug, definition ........................................... 217
Smudge, definition ..................................... 218
Smut. See Smudge.
Snaking, definition .................................... 218
Soft conversion ............................................. 8
Soldering ...................................................... 27
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 93
aluminum-silicon alloys ........................... 93
commercially pure aluminum .................. 87
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Solid-solution melting ......................... 151(F)
Solution heat treating ................................ 84
casting alloys ...................................... 34, 74
definition ................................................. 218
microstructure of castings ... 164(F), 165(F),
166(F), 167(F), 169(F), 170(F),
180(F), 181(F)
microstructure of closed-die
forgings ........... 128(F), 129(F), 130(F)
microstructure of forgings . . . 130(F), 152(F)
microstructure of plates ..................... 127(F)
microstructure of rivets ..................... 129(F)
microstructure of sheet ....... 123(F), 125(F),
126(F)
temper designations .... 17, 1920, 21(T), 59
wrought alloys ... 11, 26, 27, 28, 60, 66, 68,
70, 71, 72
Solution strengthening ............................... 26
Specification limits, definition ...................... 6
Specimen, definition .................................. 218

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

Speed crack. See Tear, speed.


Speed tear. See Tear, speed.
Spheroidization .................................... 131(F)
Splice, definition ........................................ 218
Spot (lube), definition ............................... 218
Spruce Goose ................................ 100, 105(F)
Sprue, definition ........................................ 218
Squareness, definition ............................... 218
Squeeze casting ................... 84, 108109, 111
definition ................................................. 218
Squeeze/forge casting ............................... 111
Stabilizing .................................................... 40
definition ................................................. 218
microstructure of castings .... 165(F), 167(F)
temper designations ........................... 17, 20
wrought alloys .................................... 66, 68
Stain
heat treat, definition ............................... 218
oil, definition .......................................... 218
saw lubricant, definition ......................... 218
water. See Corrosion, water stain.
Starvation, definition ................................ 218
Steel, welded to aluminum ................... 184(F)
Sticking, definition .................................... 218
Straightness, definition ............................. 218
Strain, definition ........................................ 218
Strain-hardenable aluminum alloy,
definition ................................................. 6
Strain hardening
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................... 96
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 93
commercially pure aluminum ............ 11, 87
definition ................................................. 219
H temper subdivisions for
non-heat-treatable alloys ....... 6064(T)
temper designations ......... 17, 18, 22, 5859
wrought alloys .......................................... 11
Streak
bearing, definition .................................. 219
bright, definition ..................................... 219
buff, definition ........................................ 219
coating, definition ................................... 219
cold. See Streak, heat.
diffusion, definition ................................ 219
dirt, definition ......................................... 219
grease, definition .................................... 219
grinding, definition ................................. 219
heat, definition ........................................ 219
herringbone, definition ........................... 219
leveler, definition .................................... 219
mill buff. See Streak, roll.
pickup. See Streak, coating.
roll, definition ......................................... 219
(stripe), definition ................................... 219
structural, definition ............................... 219
Streak burnish, definition ........................ 219

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Subject Index / 239

Strength, casting alloys ................................. 5


Strength/weight ratio, wrought alloys ......... 4
Stress, definition. See also Residual
stress. .................................................. 220
Stress-corrosion cracking (SCC).
See also Corrosion,
stress-cracking ............... 104105, 147(F)
wrought alloys .......................................... 28
Stress relieving ............................................ 40
definition ................................................. 220
microstructure of cold rolled
plate ........................................... 134(F)
microstructure of cold rolled
sheet ........................................... 136(F)
temper designation .............................. 21(T)
wrought alloys .......................................... 65
wrought alloys, temper
designations ................................ 6768
Stretcher strain. See Line, Lueders.
Stretching ........................................ 26, 71, 72
microstructures of plates ...... 127(F), 128(F)
microstructures of sheets ................... 126(F)
wrought alloys .......................................... 67
Striation, definition ................................... 220
Strip, definition .......................................... 220
Strip casting ................................................ 78
Structural streak. See Streak, structural.
Suck-in, definition ..................................... 220
Surface tear, definition ............................. 220

T
Tail mark. See Mark, roll bruise.
Tear, speed ............................................ 180(F)
definition ................................................. 220
Tear testing .................................................. 85
Telescopic mirrors, of commercially
pure aluminum .......................... 88, 90(F)
Telescoping, See also Oscillation.
definition ................................................. 220
Temper
annealed ................. 1617, 18(T), 21(T), 22
annealed, casting alloys ..................... 7374
annealing treatments ................................. 58
artificially aged ....................... 1920, 21(T)
cold worked ........................................ 19, 20
corrosion resistant designations ............... 71
definition ................................................. 220
designating residual stress relief of heat
treated products .......................... 6768
designation identifying additional cold
work between quenching and
aging ................................................. 70
designations, for wrought alloys ........ 3940
designations identifying modifications
in quenching ..................................... 68

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

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Temper (continued)
designations indicating heat treatment
by user ........................................ 6870
designation systems ............. 1, 2, 1622(T),
5773(T)
fabricated ...................................... 16, 5758
fabricated, casting alloys .......................... 73
for aluminum pattern sheet ................. 20(T)
for casting alloys ................................ 7375
for wrought alloys ......................... 5773(T)
heat treatable alloys subdivisions of T
temper ......................................... 6568
identifying cold work following aging .... 70
lacquered ................................................... 17
natural aging ................................. 19, 21(T)
overaged ................................................... 20
painted ...................................................... 17
precipitation hardened .............................. 20
solution heat treated ... 17, 1920, 21(T), 59
special or premium properties
designated ................................... 7173
stabilized ............................................ 17, 20
strain hardening ............... 17, 18, 22, 5859
stress relieved ...................................... 21(T)
subdivisions of designation
system .................................... 1722(T)
subdivisions of H temper for
non-heat-treatable alloys ....... 6064(T)
tensile strength ......................... 18(T), 19(T)
thermal treatment ............................... 5960
thermal treatment, casting alloys ............. 74
thermal treatment for stability ..... 17, 1920
understanding importance of
designations ...................................... 76
Temper designation system .............. 922(T)
Tempers for Aluminum and Aluminum
Alloy Products (Registration Records
Series) ............................................ 73, 75
Tensile strength
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
definition ................................................. 220
temper designations ................. 18(T), 19(T)
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Tension scratch. See Scratch, tension.
Test directions, definition ............................. 6
Thermal conductivity, wrought alloys ........ 3
Thermal treatment, temper
designations ................. 17, 1920, 5960
Thixocasting ........................... 84, 111, 112(F)
microstructure of parts ..................... 170(F)
Tightness, of casting alloys ................... 34(T)
Tin
as alloying element ........... 10(T), 11, 14(T),
15(T), 16(T)

as alloying element, casting alloy


applications ..................................... 115
as alloying element, casting
alloys ..................................... 33(T), 34
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Titanium
as alloying element ...... 1213(T), 1516(T)
dendritic segregation in
ingot .............................. 136(F), 137(F)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Tolerance, definition .................................. 220
Tool, definition ........................................... 220
Tooling pad. See Chucking lug.
Tooling plate, definition ............................ 220
Torn surface, definition ............................ 220
Traffic mark, definition .................... 220221
Transportation industry. See
Automotive industry.
Transverse bow. See Bow, transverse.
Transverse direction, definition ............... 221
Tread plate, definition ............................... 221
Trim inclusion, definition ......................... 221
Tube
alclad, definition ..................................... 221
arc-welded, definition ............................. 221
brazed, definition .................................... 221
butt-welded, definition ........................... 221
definition ................................................. 221
drawn, definition .................................... 221
embossed, definition ............................... 221
extruded, definition ................................ 221
extruded, weldment ........................... 161(F)
finned, definition .................................... 221
fluted, definition ..................................... 221
heat-exchanger, 93, 94(F)
heat-exchanger, definition ...................... 221
helical-welded, definition ....................... 221
lap-welded, definition ............................. 222
lock-seam, definition .............................. 222
microstructure of extrusion ............... 141(F)
open-seam, definition ............................. 222
redraw. See Tube stock.
seamless, definition ................................ 222
sized, definition ...................................... 222
stepped drawn, definition ....................... 222
structural, definition ............................... 222
welded, definition ................................... 222
Tube bloom. See Tube stock.
Tube stock, definition ................................ 222
Tubing. See also Tube.
electrical metallic, definition .................. 222
Tubular conductor, definition .................. 222
Twist, definition ......................................... 222
Two-tone, definition .................................. 222

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Introduction to Aluminum Alloys and Tempers (#06180G)

U
Ultimate shearing strength
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)
Ultimate tensile strength. See also
Tensile strength.
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
aluminum-copper casting alloys ............ 110
aluminum-magnesium alloys ........... 96, 113
aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys ....... 98
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 90
aluminum-silicon alloys ................... 93, 112
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111
aluminum-tin alloys ................................ 115
aluminum-zinc alloys ..................... 102, 115
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)
commercially pure aluminum .................. 87
8xxx aluminum series ............................ 106
wrought alloys ...................... 4049(T), 106
Unified Numbering System (UNS) alloy
designation system .............................. 31
for casting alloys ...................................... 37
Unit conversion ......................................... 7-8
Units ............................................................ 7-8
UNS number ............................................... 31

V
Vacuum casting process, definition ......... 223
Vanadium, as alloying element .. 12(T), 15(T)
Variations
castings alloys .......................................... 35
in alloy compositions ............................... 25
Vent mark, definition ................................ 223
Voids .............. 152(F), 174(F), 177(F), 180(F)

W
Water stain. See Corrosion, water stain.
Wavy edge. See Buckle edge.
Weave. See Oscillation.
Web, definition ........................................... 223
Weld, incomplete, definition ..................... 223
Weldability
aluminum-copper alloys ........................... 89
aluminum-magnesium alloys ................... 96
aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys ....... 98
aluminum-manganese alloys .................... 93
aluminum-silicon alloys ..... 9395(F), 96(F)
aluminum-silicon plus copper or
magnesium alloys ........................... 111

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Subject Index / 241

aluminum-zinc alloys ............................. 103


wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Welding, definition .................................... 223
Welding rod, definition ............................. 223
Welding wire, definition ........................... 223
Weld line. See Seam, extrusion.
Weldments
aluminum-copper, explosive
welding ...................................... 184(F)
aluminum-steel, explosive
welding ...................................... 184(F)
casting alloys ..................................... 181(F)
of wrought alloys ...................... 153162(F)
Wettability test, definition ........................ 223
Whip marks. See Mark, whip.
Whisker. See Hair, slitter.
Wire
alclad, definition ............................. 223224
definition ................................................. 223
cold-heading, definition .......................... 224
cold-heading, microstructure ............. 129(F)
cold-heading, wrought alloys ..................... 4
drawn, definition .................................... 224
extruded, definition ................................ 224
flattened, definition ................................. 224
flattened and slit-flattened, definition .... 224
rivet. See Wire, cold-heading.
Workability
definition ................................................. 224
wrought alloys ............................................ 4
Work hardening. See Strain hardening.
Wrap (loose), definition ............................ 224
Wrinkle. See Crease.
Wrought alloys. See also Wrought alloys
index.
advantages .......................................... 2628
aging .................... 2628, 60, 6568, 7072
alloying elements ......... 1011(T), 2526(T)
artificial aging ..... 26, 27, 60, 6568, 7072
brazeability ............................................... 87
composition ................................... 1213(T)
corrosion resistance ............................ 27, 28
density ........................................... 2829(T)
designation system ........................ 2332(T)
designation system of Aluminum
Association ........... 1011(T), 1213(T)
ductibility .................................................. 27
elongations .................................................. 8
limitations ........................................... 2628
mechanical properties .................. 2930(T),
4049(T), 87
microstructures .......................... 120163(F)
modulus of elasticity ..................... 2930(T)
natural aging ....... 2628, 59, 60, 65, 66, 68
non-heat-treatable ........................ 26, 27, 28

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Wrought alloys (continued)


non-heat-treatable alloys, H temper
subdivisions ........................... 6064(T)
overaging ............................................ 68, 71
physical properties ........................ 2830(T)
precipitation hardening ... 2628, 60, 6566
product forms ........................................... 30
product units ............................................... 8
properties ................................................ 34
solderability .............................................. 87
solution heat treatment .. 11, 2628, 60, 66,
68, 7072
stabilization treatment ........................ 66, 68
stress relieving .......................................... 65
stress relieving, temper
designations ................................ 6768
unit conversion ........................................... 8
variations ............................................ 3031
weldability ............................................ 4, 87
weldments ................................... 153-162(F)
Wrought aluminum alloy, definition ........... 6
Wrought product, definition .................... 224

Y
Yield strength
casting alloys ................................. 4957(T)

definition ................................................. 224


wrought alloys ............................... 4049(T)

Z
Zinc
as alloying element ..... 10(T), 11, 1213(T),
14(T), 1516(T)
as alloying element, casting alloy
applications ..................................... 115
as alloying element, casting
alloys ..................................... 33(T), 34
as alloying element, wrought alloy
applications .......................... 102105,
109(F), 110(F)
as alloying element, wrought alloys ....... 23,
25(T), 26, 28, 29
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)
Zirconium
as alloying element ...... 12(T), 13(T), 15(T)
mechanical properties ......................... 30(T)
physical properties .............................. 29(T)

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