Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum Throttle Control

Some of the most popular aluminum alloys are listed below with their properties:

Aluminum 7075 is strong, with good fatigue strength and average machinability, but is not weldable and has less resistance to corrosion. Cost is relatively high. 7075 is often used in aircraft including wings and fuselages, rock climbing equipment and bicycle components.

Aluminum 6061 has good mechanical properties and good weldability. It is one of the most common aluminums for general purpose use. 6061 is widely used for construction of aircraft structures, such as wings and fuselages, yacht construction, utility boats and bicycle frames and components. 6061 is highly weldable. Areas near welds have a loss of strength of around 80% without subsequent heat treating. 6061 is often used in extrusions and hot forging of automotive and industrial parts.

Aluminum 6063 has generally good mechanical properties and is heat treatable and weldable. 6063 is mostly used in extruded shapes for architecture, particularly window frames, door frames, roofs, pipe, tubing and furniture. 6063 is highly weldable although strength near the weld can loose strength up to 30% without subsequent heat treating. 6063 is widely extruded.

Aluminum 2024 is used in applications requiring high strength to weight ratio, as well as good fatigue resistance. It is not weldable, and has average machinability. 2024 has poor corrosion resistance. Due to its high strength and fatigue resistance, 2024 is widely used in aircraft structures, especially wing and fuselage structures under tension.

Aluminum 5052 is one of the most common alloys of aluminum in sheet metal fabrication. It is readily bent, punched and sheared.