ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

The range of aluminium alloys is extensive and the choice of alloy used in any single application depends greatly on the properties derived from the trace metallic elements present within the alloy.

Care should be taken when considering which alloy to use for your application will depend on the properties that will be need in the end product.

Here are just a few examples of the more commonly specified aluminium alloys.

EN AW5083 / ISO: AL MG4,5MN0,7

COMPOSITION
Al 4.5Mg 0.7Mn Cr

APPLICATIONS
Structures and equipment: shipbuilding (welded components), masts, platforms. Chemical apparatus and storage tanks, cryogenics. Pressure vessels, piping and tubing. Automotive: welded tank trailers and welded dump bodies. Railway: welded tanks and structural components. Military vehicle bodies and equipment: armour plates, collapsible bridges. Machinery: structures, appliances, tools. Building and road construction, poles, pylons, towers, scaffolding

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good weldability. Very good corrosion resistance to seawater and marine atmosphere. One of the highest strength aluminium alloys with a strength slightly higher than 5086. High fatigue strength. Good cold and stretch formability in soft temper in relation to strength. Difficult to extrude in thin or complex sections. Can be produced in thick plates without internal stress.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, extruded profile, plate, sheet

EN AW1050A / ISO: AL99,5

COMPOSITION
Al99.5

APPLICATIONS
Packaging: containers, foils, collapsible tubes, radiator tubes, wide jar closures, printing plates (offset). Strip for heat exchanger, boilermaking. Insulation foils. Kitchenware. Chemical and food industry equipment, containers. Automotive trim, light reflectors. Architecture. Vessels, piping.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good atmospheric corrosion resistance. Very good workability. High thermal and electrical conductivity (preferred alloy 1350). Attractive appearance, high reflectivity. Suitable for decorative anodising. Very good weldability. Low mechanical properties.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, extruded profile, sheet

EN 5251 / ISO: AL MG2

COMPOSITION
Al 2.0Mg 0.3Mn

APPLICATIONS
Aircraft and military highly stressed structural components. Rolling stock for machine parts and tools (for rubber and plastics). Ski poles, tennis rackets, screws and bolts, nuts. Rivets. Nuclear applications.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good corrosion resistance to seawater and marine and industrial atmosphere. Very good weldability. Medium high strength alloy for sheet products slightly lower than 5086. Medium high fatigue strength. Good cold formability.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, extruded profile, plate, sheet, tube

EN AW7020 / ISO: AL ZN4,5MG1

COMPOSITION
Al 4.5Zn 1.2Mg Mn Cr Zr

APPLICATIONS
Welded engineering structural components. Military application, bridges. Railway coach bodies, floor assembly, access ramps. Structural truck components. Containers. Building construction, pylons.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Heat treatable high strength weldable alloy. High fatigue strength. High strength in welded structures.

PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS
Unsuitable to extrude in complex sections. Limitations for cold bending. Suitable precautions (aging after welding) must be taken against stress corrosion cracking and exfoliation.

PRODUCT FORMS
Extruded profile, plate, rod, sheet, tube

EN AW6063 / ISO: AL MG0,7SI

COMPOSITION
Al 0.7Mg 0.4Si

APPLICATIONS
Architectural sections for windows, doors, curtain walls. Interior fittings, frame systems, lighting, ladders, railings etc. Heat sink sections, electronic modules, electro motor housings. Flexible assembly systems, special machinery elements; Truck and trailer flooring, pneumatic installation, railway, inside applications. Irrigation pipes. Furniture, office equipment. Radiator and other heat exchanger applications;

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good corrosion resistance. Very good weldability. Medium strength heat treatable. Medium fatigue strength. Good cold formability especially in temper T4. Suitable for very complex cross sections. Standard decorative anodizing quality.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, extruded profile, rod, slug impacts, sheet, tube, wire

EN AW6082 / ISO: AL SI1MGMN

COMPOSITION
Al 0.9Mg 1.0Si 0.7 Mn

APPLICATIONS
Heavy duty structures in rail coaches, truck frames, ship building, offshore, bridges, military bridges, bicycles, boilermaking. Machinery: platforms, flanges, hydraulic systems, mining equipment, pylons and towers, motorboats. Nuclear technology. Masts and beams for ship building (especially for sweet water). Tubes for scaffolding, framework for tents and halls, piping, tubing Screw machine products. Rivets.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good corrosion resistance. Very good weldability (lowered strength values in the zone of welding). Good machinability. Good cold formability in T4 temper after a stabilizing heat treatment. Heat treatable medium high strength construction. Alloy with a strength somewhat higher than 6061. Medium high fatigue strength. Not suitable for complex sections.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, forging, extruded profile, plate, slug impacts, sheet, tube, wire

EN AW3003 / ISO: AL MN1CU

COMPOSITION
Al 1.3Mn Cu

APPLICATIONS
Building industry: roofing and sidings, acoustic ceilings, corrugated sheets. Chemical and food industries: storage tanks, pipes, metal work. Equipment for heating and cooling: heat exchangers, air condition evaporators, motor vehicle radiators, freezer linings. Home appliances: cooking utensils, bakery moulds, office equipment. Tubing, piping. Packaging: containers, closures. Cladding alloy.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good resistance to atmospheric corrosion. Very good weldability. Good formability by pressing, drawing and roll forming. One of the medium strength aluminium alloys. Better mechanical properties (in particular at elevated temperatures) than 1000 series.

PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS
Actual performance requires careful design of tools, lubrication and metal surface condition.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, foil, extruded profile, rod, slug impacts, sheet, tube, wire

EN AW7075 / ISO: AL ZN5,5MGCU

COMPOSITION
Al 5.6Zn 2.5Mg 1.6Cu Cr

APPLICATIONS
Aircraft and military highly stressed structural components. Rolling stock for machine parts and tools (for rubber and plastics). Ski poles, tennis rackets, screws and bolts, nuts. Rivets. Nuclear applications.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Heat treatable very high strength alloy with a strength slightly lower than 7010. Very high fatigue strength. Joining preferably by rivets, adhesives or screws. Corrosion protection is recommended also in outdoor atmosphere.

PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS
Care to be taken when selecting temper (and other thermal treatment) for balance of properties. May be clad with 7072 for better protection against stress corrosion cracking.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, forging, extruded profile, plate, rod, slug impacts, sheet, tube, wire

EN AW-6060 / ISO: AL MGSI

COMPOSITION
Al 0.5Mg 0.5Si Fe

APPLICATIONS
Architectural sections for windows, doors, curtain walls. Interior fitting, frame system, lighting, ladders, railings, fences. Heat sink sections, electronic modules, electro motor housings. Flexible assembly systems, special machinery elements. Truck and trailer flooring, pneumatic installation, railway, inside applications. Irrigation, heating and cooling pipes. Furniture, office equipment.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good corrosion resistance. Very good weldability. Good cold formability especially in temper T4. Medium strength heat treatable alloy with a strength slightly lower than 6005A. Medium fatigue strength. Commonly used alloy for very complex cross sections. Standard decorative anodizing quality.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, extruded profile, rod, slugs impacts, tube, wire

EN AW6061 / ISO: AL MG1SICU

COMPOSITION
Al 1.0Mg 0.6Si Cu Cr

APPLICATIONS
Heavy duty structures in rail coaches, truck frames, ship building, bridges, military bridges, aircraft, piping, pylons and towers, transportation, boilermaking; Motorboats, aerospace applications, helicopter rotor skins; Rivets.

CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES
Very good corrosion resistance. Very good weldability; reduced strength values in the zone of welding. Heat treatable alloy. One of the medium high strength aluminium alloys with a strength higher than 6005A. Medium fatigue strength. Good cold formability in the temper T4. Not suitable for very complex cross sections.

PRODUCT FORMS
Bar, forging, extruded profile, slugs impact, sheet, tube

Aluminium alloys have a wide range of applications and are used in many different industries and markets. If you would like to learn more about Ateco’s extensive collection of aluminium alloys, please contact our team today.