Aluminum alloys, as indispensable materials in modern industry, are widely used across numerous fields due to their lightweight, high strength, ease of processing, excellent corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity. By alloying, aluminum alloys can achieve diverse properties to meet a wide range of application needs. This article will introduce in detail the grades of aluminum alloys and their application ranges, along with a conceptual illustration (note: an actual image cannot be provided here, but the following text outlines what the illustration might depict).

Classification and Nomenclature of Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum alloys are mainly classified into cast aluminum alloys and wrought aluminum alloys. Cast aluminum alloys are suitable for filling molds in the molten state to obtain castings of a certain shape and size, while wrought aluminum alloys exhibit high strength, high specific strength, and are suitable for plastic deformation.

The nomenclature of aluminum alloy grades is relatively standardized. Pure aluminum grades are denoted by the 1XXX series, where the last two digits represent the minimum aluminum percentage content. Aluminum alloy grades are denoted by the 2XXX to 8XXX series, where the last two digits do not have specific significance but are used to distinguish different aluminum alloys within the same group. The second digit of the grade indicates modifications to the original alloy, with A representing the original alloy and B to Y representing modified alloys.

Common Aluminum Alloy Grades and Their Characteristics

  1. 1XXX Series (Pure Aluminum)
    • 1060: It is a common industrial pure aluminum with an aluminum content of not less than 99.60%. It has low strength, and work hardening is the only way to strengthen it. It has good hot and cold processing properties, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and excellent corrosion resistance. It is widely used in industrial equipment requiring good formability, corrosion resistance, and weldability, and can also be used as an electrical conductor material.
  2. 2XXX Series (Al-Cu Alloys)
    • 2024: Its composition and structure are the same as 2A12 alloy, with lower limits on impurity contents of Fe and Si. 2024 alloy sheets, plates, and profiles have been successfully used in manufacturing aircraft and rocket skins, compartments, integral fuel tank wall panels, wing spars, etc.
    • 2A12: It is a high-strength duralumin that can be strengthened through heat treatment. It has good spot welding properties but a tendency to form intergranular cracks when gas welding and argon arc welding are used. It is mainly used for manufacturing various high-load parts and components, such as aircraft frames, skins, bulkheads, wing ribs, and wing beams.
  3. 3XXX Series (Al-Mn Alloys)
    • 3003: Its strength is about 10% higher than 1100. It has good formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance. It is used for general utensils, radiator fins, cosmetic plates, printer drums, shipbuilding materials, etc.
  4. 4XXX Series (Al-Si Alloys)
    • 4032: It has good heat resistance and abrasion resistance, and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is used for pistons, cylinder heads, etc.
  5. 5XXX Series (Al-Mg Alloys)
    • 5052: It contains 2.5% magnesium, which is relatively low among Al-Mg series rust-resistant aluminum alloys. It has good corrosion resistance, excellent welding properties, fair cold working properties, and medium strength. It is used for manufacturing aircraft fuel tanks, fuel pipes, and other components, as well as automotive, shipbuilding, streetlight supports, rivets, hardware products, electrical enclosures, etc.
    • 5086: It is used where high corrosion resistance, good weldability, and medium strength are required, such as in naval vessels, automobiles, aircraft, and cryogenic equipment.
    • 5154: It is used for welded structures, storage tanks, pressure vessels, ship structures, and offshore facilities, as well as transportation tanks.
    • 5652: It is used for storage containers for hydrogen peroxide and other chemical products.
  6. 6XXX Series (Al-Mg-Si Alloys)
    • 6061: It is a high-quality aluminum alloy product produced through a heat-treated pre-stretching process. It has excellent processing properties, good welding characteristics and electroplating properties, excellent corrosion resistance, high toughness, and no deformation after processing. It is widely used in decoration, packaging, construction, transportation, electronics, aerospace, weaponry, and other industries.
    • 6063: It is widely used for the frames of architectural aluminum doors, windows, and curtain walls, and the comprehensive performance requirements for aluminum alloy profiles are far higher than those for industrial profiles.
    • 6070: It is used for heavy-duty welded structures and extruded materials and pipes for the automotive industry.
  7. 7XXX Series (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys)
    • 7075: It is a cold-worked wrought alloy with strength far superior to soft steel. It is one of the most powerful commercial alloys. It is widely used in aerospace, blow molding mold, ultrasonic plastic welding mold, golf head, shoe mold, paper-plastic mold, foam molding mold, dewaxing mold, template, fixture, machinery and equipment, mold processing, etc.
    • 7050: It is used for thick and medium plates, extruded parts, free-forged parts, and die-forged parts of aircraft structural parts, requiring high resistance to exfoliation corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, fracture toughness, and fatigue resistance.

Application Ranges of Aluminum Alloys

  1. Aerospace
    Aluminum alloys are the preferred materials for manufacturing aircraft fuselages, engine components, and spacecraft structures. For example, 7075 alloy is widely used in aerospace due to its high strength, excellent mechanical properties, and anode reaction characteristics.

  2. Automobile Manufacturing
    Aluminum alloys are used to manufacture car bodies, engine components, wheel hubs, etc., reducing the weight of vehicles and improving fuel efficiency. For example, 5052 alloy is used for manufacturing automotive fuel tanks, fuel pipes, and other components, while 6061 alloy is used for manufacturing truck, ship, and railway vehicle structural parts.

  3. Shipbuilding
    Aluminum alloys are used in shipbuilding for manufacturing hull structures, decks, and other components to reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance. For example, 5086 alloy is used in naval vessels and other applications requiring high corrosion resistance and good weldability.

  4. Machinery Manufacturing
    Aluminum alloys have good processing properties and are used to manufacture various parts and components of machinery and equipment. For example, 2024 alloy is used for manufacturing gears, hydraulic components, etc.

  5. Chemical Industry
    Due to their corrosion resistance, aluminum alloys are commonly used in the manufacture of chemical equipment. For example, 5052 alloy is widely used in the manufacture of chemical equipment due to its good corrosion resistance and weldability.

  6. Construction
    Aluminum alloys are widely used in the construction industry due to their lightweight, high strength, ease of processing, excellent corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity. For example, 6063 alloy is widely used for the frames of architectural aluminum doors, windows, and curtain walls.

  7. Other Fields
    Aluminum alloys are also widely used in electronics, weaponry, sports equipment, and other fields. For example, 7075 alloy is used for manufacturing high-end aluminum alloy bicycle frames.

Illustration Concept (Textual Description)

The accompanying illustration (if provided) would depict various aluminum alloy grades organized into their respective series (1XXX to 7XXX). Each series would be represented by a distinct color or shape, with labels indicating the grade number and some key applications. For example, the 1XXX series might be depicted as a light gray block with the label “1060 – Pure Aluminum – Industrial Equipment, Electrical Conductor,” while the 2XXX series might be a darker gray block labeled “2024 – Al-Cu Alloy – Aircraft Structures, Engine Components.” The illustration would visually represent the diverse range of aluminum alloy grades and their specific applications, providing a clear and concise overview of the material’s versatility and importance in modern industry.