8xxx: The 8xxx series is reserved for alloying elements other than those

used for series 2xxx through 7xxx. Iron and nickel are used to increase
strength without significant loss in electrical conductivity, and so are useful
in such conductor alloys as 8017. Aluminum-lithium alloy 8090, which has
exceptionally high strength and stiffness, was developed for aerospace applications
(see Section 9.3.3).
9xxx: This series is not currently used.
Experimental alloys are designated in accordance with the above system,
but with the prefix ��X�� until they are no longer experimental. Producers may
also offer proprietary alloys to which they assign their own designation
numbers.
This wrought alloy designation system had 357 registered alloys by 2001
(19), but only 81 appear in the Aluminum Association�s Aluminum Standards
and Data 2000 (11) and 22 in the Association�s Specification for Aluminum
Structures (4), an indication that only a small percentage are commonly used.
The signatories to the international accord on the designation system include
organizations in the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Germany,
Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Spain, China, Austria, France, Argentina,
Mexico, Poland, Japan, Peru, Romania, Norway, Netherlands, and Switzerland,
and the European Aluminum Association, so the system enjoys
nearly global recognition. While the international accord has done much to
standardize designations, given the number of signatories, it is perhaps not
surprising the registration of so-called ��national variations�� has compromised
uniformity. (There were 55 of these at last count in 2001.) Such variations
are assigned a capital letter following the numerical designation (for example,
6005A, is used in Europe and is a variation on 6005). The chemical composition
limits for national variations are similar to the Aluminum Association
limits but vary slightly. Also, old habits die hard, and often the previous
designations used in various European countries are used informally there.
Don�t be alarmed if you see yet other designations for aluminum alloys
that use the system described above but with a prefix. The Unified Numbering
System (UNS), which the Society of Automotive Engineers and ASTM in
conjunction with other technical societies, U.S. government agencies, and