Introduction
Aluminium is the most widely used metal in engineering apart from iron. The reason the aluminium
is widely used is because the combination of properties makes it one of the most
versatile of engineering and construction materials. Aluminium is light in weight,
yet some of its alloys have strengths greater than that of structural steel. It has
good electrical and thermal conductivities and high reflectivity to both heat and light.
It is highly corrosion resistant under a great many service conditions and is nontoxic.
Aluminium can be cast,extruded forged, drawn, hot rolled and cold rolled.
CEN identification of Aluminium Alloys
The European numbering system (ref BS EN 573-1:1995 ) identifies the alloy using
an identification starting with AW :
A for Aluminium and W for Wrought alloys
...(AB/AC for Cast Alloys-ref BS EN 1706 /BS EN 1780 ).
This is followed by
number ranges for indicating groups of alloys.
Work Hardening Alloys
- En AW-1xxx Pure Aluminium (>99%)
- En AW-3xxx...Aluminium Manganese Alloys AlMn
- En AW-4xxx.. Aluminium Silicon Allosy AlSi
- En AW-5xxx..Aluminium-Magnesium alloys AlMg
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Heat Treatable Alloys
- En AW-2xxxx Aluminium Cu alloys AlCu
- En AW-6xxx...Aluminium Magesium Silicon alloys AlMg Si
- En AW-7xxx.. Aluminium Zinc Magnesioum alloys AlZnMg
The alloy condition, or temper as covered in BS EN 515, is denoted by a suffix to the alloy code:
- O for Anealed
- F as fabricated,
- T for heat treatments.
(The T is followed be a number of digits identifying in some detail
the heat treament i.e.
�The first digit is a precise sequence of events.
�Subsequent digits: indicate a variation in treatment
which significantly alters the characteristics of the
product with respect to the original temper.
- H for Strain Hardened material supply.
(The H is followed be a number of digits i.e.
� First digit: type of treatment.
� Second digit: the final degree of strain-hardening,
where 8 is normally the hardest (e.g. 4 = half hard).
� Third digit: (when used) a variation of a two-digit
temper.)
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Pure Aluminium
Commercially pure aluminium varies from about 99,3% to 99,7% Al. The higher purity
Aluminium is selected for use as electrical conductors and reflector sheets.
Lower-purity alloys with iron an copper added as necessary is relatively soft
and ductile with excellent workability and weldability
Aluminium is an important material in a large cross section of industries. It is suitable for forming, welding and machining and provides the following advantages;
- Non - Magnetic
- Good electrical conductivity; about 60% that of Copper but reduced by the presence of alloying elements
- Highly economic to recycle
- High specific strength
- High corrosion fatigue resistance
- Low specific gravity approximately 1/3 of steel
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Although available in a number of grades, Aluminium
can be divided into two major categories of wrought alloys
Work Hardening Alloys
These alloys ie., Non heat treatable, include commercially pure aluminium and
the alloys including manganese or magnesium. These alloys can be fully or partly softened
by annealing at 350 - 400 deg Celcius.
A small number of typical example aluminium allows are listed below. The links on
this page include much more comprehensive information..
| Grade. |
Cond'n |
Al |
Mg |
Mn |
Fe |
Si |
Cu |
Zn |
Cr |
Ti |
Rp.02 |
Rm |
E |
Notes |
| |
|
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
MPa |
>MPa |
GPa |
|
| AW-1200 |
0 |
> 99% |
|
< 0.05 |
|
|
<=0,05 |
<=0,1 |
- |
<= 0,05 |
25 |
90 |
69 |
Packaging, foils, Miscellaneous |
| AW-1200 |
Hx4 |
> 99% |
|
< 0.05 |
|
|
<=0,05 |
<= 0,1 |
- |
<= 0,05 |
100 |
120 |
69 |
|
| AW-3003 |
0 |
Remain |
|
1,0-1,5 |
<= 0,7 |
<=0,6 |
0,05 - 0,2 |
<= 0,10 |
- |
- |
50 |
110 |
69,5 |
Building Industry, Roofing etc |
| AW-3003 |
Hx6 |
Remain |
|
1,0 - 1,5 |
<= 0,7 |
<=0,6 |
0,05 - 0,2 |
<= 0,10 |
- |
- |
165 |
180 |
69,5 |
|
| AW-5005 |
0 |
Remain |
0,5-1,1 |
< = 0,2 |
<= 0,7 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,25 |
<= 0,10 |
- |
45 |
120 |
69,5 |
Building Industry, Roofing etc |
| AW-5005 |
Hx6 |
Remain |
0,5-1,1 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,7 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,25 |
<= 0,10 |
- |
165 |
180 |
69,5 |
|
| AW-5086 |
0 |
Remain |
3,45 - 4,5 |
0,2-0,7 |
<= 0,5 |
<= 0,4 |
<= 0,1 |
<= 0,25 |
0,05-0,25 |
<= 0,15 |
130 |
275 |
71 |
Structures and equipment, Piping, tanks |
| AW-5086 |
Hx6 |
Remain |
3,45-4,5 |
0,2-0,7 |
<= 0,5 |
<= 0,4 |
<= 0,1 |
<= 0,25 |
0,05 - 0,25 |
<= 0,15 |
280 |
345 |
71 |
|
Heat Treatable Alloys
Heat treatable alloys or precipitation hardening alloys include copper,
magnesium, zinc and silicon as important constituents.
A small number of typical example aluminium allows are listed below. The links on
this page include much more comprehensive information..
| Grade. |
Cond'n |
Al |
Mg |
Mn |
Fe |
Si |
Cu |
Zn |
Cr |
Ti |
Rp.02 |
Rm |
E |
Notes |
| |
|
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
wt% |
MPa |
>MPa |
GPa |
|
| AW-2011 |
T3 |
Remain |
|
- |
|
<=0,4 |
5,0 - 6,0 |
<= 0,3 |
- |
- |
290 |
365 |
72,5 |
Screws, Nuts, Machined components |
| AW-2011 |
T6 |
Remain |
|
- |
|
<=0,4 |
5,0 - 6,0 |
<= 0,3 |
- |
- |
300 |
395 |
72,5 |
|
| AW-6016 |
0 |
Remain |
0,25-0,6 |
<=0,2 |
<=0,5 |
1,0 - 1,5 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,20 |
<= 0,1 |
<= 1,15 |
50 |
100 |
69,5 |
Aluminium Car Body sheets |
| AW-6016 |
T5 |
Remain |
0,25-0,6 |
<=0,2 |
<=0,5 |
1,0 - 1,5 |
<= 0,2 |
<= 0,20 |
<= 0,1 |
<= 1,15 |
185 |
220 |
69,5 |
|
| AW-7020 |
0 |
Remain |
1,0-1,4 |
0,05 -0,5 |
<=0,4 |
<=0,35 |
<=0,2 |
4,0 - 5,0 |
0,1 - 0,35 |
**
0,08 - 0,2 |
80 |
180 |
70 |
Welded Structural Components,(**Zr + Ti) |
| AW-7020 |
T5 |
Remain |
1,0-1,4 |
0,05 -0,5 |
<= 0,4 |
<= 0,35 |
<= 0,2 |
4,0 - 5,0 |
0,1 - 0,35 |
**
0,08 - 0,2 |
315 |
375 |
70 |
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Specifications
A table of reference British Standards is located at
Aluminium Standards
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