How to Choose the Alloy and Temper of Aluminum Extrusion?

Pure aluminum has less use for the applications of temper of aluminum extrusion because of its low softness and strength. Aluminum can be alloyed with other elements so it gains mechanical properties that are suitable for various applications.

The common alloy substances include silicon, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese. However, as an aluminum profiles Xingyu extruder, you must understand the concept of metallurgy to ensure that you are using the required alloy as per the production needs.

Apart from selecting alloys, the designation of temper for the metal is important that affects the aluminum extrusion’s performance. Let’s find out what is meant by temper and how to choose the right alloy and temper for aluminum extrusion.

What Is a Temper?

Temper describes the strength or hardness toughness aluminum profiles mechanical that a metal receives from heat or mechanical processing.  With the right temper, manufacturers may refine the physical characteristics of an aluminum alloy even further.

Some of the characteristics could include resistance to corrosion and ductility. Moreover, there are numerous aluminum alloys to choose from, with over 600 different tempers. A thorough guidance on choosing the appropriate alloy and temper of aluminum extrusion may be found below.

Different Aluminum Alloy Types and Their Uses

A thorough grasp of the many aluminum alloys on the market enables producers to select the best one for a given set of uses. The alloys are categorized on the basis of grades, each of which has a four-digit identification number.

Moreover, based on the main alloying elements, the first digit designates the alloy series. Keep in mind that alloys made of aluminum may or may not be heat-treatable. Precipitation hardening is possible with alloys that can be heated. The strength characteristics of non-heat-treatable materials are derived from cold working and strain hardening.

Series 1xxx: All-Pure Aluminum

Commercially pure aluminum with a minimum of 99% aluminum content is represented by this family of alloys. Alloys in the 1xxx range have excellent formability and can withstand strain. They resist corrosion and have excellent electrical conductivity.

The alloys that create these products can be easily joined by manufacturers using welding, brazing, and soldering. However, alloys from the 1xxx family are not the best choice if strength is a top priority. These aluminum alloys are primarily used in applications where excellent corrosion resistance and workability are crucial.

They are excellent substitutes for extrusions found in food packaging, car bodies, and chemical equipment. Electrical applications are also a good fit for the alloys. This is due to the fact that some of the series’ alloys, including 1350, have small amounts of impurities. This can affect electrical conductivity as well.

Aluminum 2xxx Series: Copper Alloys

The aluminum 2xxx Series alloys have the advantageous combination of high strength, durability, and machinability. They can also be heat treated. Alloys in the 2xxx family have particularly high strength at high temperatures.

Because of this, extruded items can be used in truck bodies and aeronautical applications where strong and durable materials are essential. Aluminum alloys from the 2xxx range are used in the following applications:

• Both interior and external structures of aircraft.
• Truck and trailer structural beams.
• Aerospace fuel tanks and booster rockets.
• The structural components found in railroad cars.

Aluminum Manganese Alloys: 3xxx Series

This alloy series’ primary characteristics include outstanding corrosion resistance, great workability, and medium strength. They can easily link using standard manufacturing techniques and are not heat-treatable.

The main applications for alloys in the 3xxx class are in construction hardware, cooking utensils, and chemical equipment. These alloys are also used in automobile and power plant heat exchangers because of their formability.

Aluminum Silicon Alloys: 4xxx Series

These alloys have excellent flow properties and can be heat treated. They are easily bonded by brazing and soldering and have a medium strength.

The silicon component of the 4xxx series aluminum alloys provides its flow characteristics, which are the major application for these alloys. The alloys are perfect for structural and automobile body applications, as well as forgings.

Aluminum Magnesium Alloys: 5xxx Series

These series are strain-hard enable and have a low to moderate strength. Additional features include outstanding durability, weldability, and resistance to corrosion.

Because of these alloys’ durability, extruded goods can be used in the creation and construction of pressure vessels, storage tanks, bridges, and other road structures, as well as marine applications.

Aluminum Silicon Magnesium Alloys: 6xxx Series

The most often used aluminum alloy for extrusion is the 6xxx series. These heat-treatable alloys with moderate strength offer good extrusion and corrosion resistance. Manufacturers are able to create intricate architectural forms in single shapes because of the metals.

Additionally, they enable manufacturers to create custom extrusion aluminum profile with high tensile and compressive stresses.

Things to Take into Account When Choosing Alloys for Temper of  Aluminum Extrusion

When selecting an aluminum alloy, manufacturers take into account a number of parameters to make sure extrusions can meet their application requirements. Particularly important are the standards for weight and strength.

Manufacturers choose the temper of aluminum extrusions based on the stress that the alloys can bear when using them as structural components.

Heat-treated alloys from the 7xxx and 2xxx family of aluminum are the strongest. The alloys of the pure 1xxx class have the lowest strength ratings. But alloy 6061 is the most often used alloy for structural applications.

It may be heat-treated to further increase its strength. The density of aluminum alloys varies as well. The total weight of extruded goods can be ascertained using this.

Selecting Appropriate Aluminum Alloy Temper

An aluminum alloy’s temper designation confers additional features and attributes upon it in addition to its kind. Aluminum alloy’s mechanical qualities are improved with tempering. Performance characteristics including toughness, hardness, and yield strength may be impacted by this.

It also establishes how the alloy will respond to welding, punching, and shaping operations during fabrication. The qualities of aluminum alloys are achieved through various thermal or mechanical treatments, denoted by alphanumeric temper designations.

Five general classes are represented by the following characters:

• T: Heat-treatable alloys that have undergone ageing, quenching, and thermal treatment.
• O: Low strength tempers are produced by annealing in order to improve workability and ductility.
• H: Strain causes tempers to harden. After work hardening, these alloys have more strength. The products might go through one or more heat treatments.
• F: Free-machining or manufactured temper. semi-finished alloys that producers shape, polish, and heat treat to create various tempers or final goods.
• W: Solution heat-treated alloys that have aged naturally.

Additional categories for these aluminum alloy tempers are indicated by single, double, or triple numbers following the corresponding characters. The numbers represent a variety of information, including heat treatment techniques, work hardening techniques, and hardness degree. Because alloy tempers give metals more strength, aluminum can be a competitive substitute.

Conclusion:

For extrusion, the proper choice of aluminum alloy and temper is crucial to the end product’s functionality. This important step in the extrusion process helps save time and dollars by reducing the possibility of design and functionality problems.

Reputable manufacturers have in-depth understanding of metallurgy, which guarantees that their products work as needed for particular applications. For purchasing Temper of Aluminum Extrusion at the best price from HK Aluminum.

For more information about our products, visit our webpage right away!

FAQs