Aluminum Grades

Aluminum is available in many different shapes and grades. The type of aluminum grade you choose essentially depends on how you plan to use the metal. Your planned use allows you to rank the qualities of each grade from biggest to least important. This will assist you limit the list of well-suited grades. Such as, if weldability is most important to your project, but strength is not, it may make sense to decide on Alloy 1100, as this aluminum grade has superb Weldability, but is not ordinarily used for high-strength or high-pressure uses.

Retain these 7 points in your mind next time you pick an aluminum grade. Use the simple reference chart at the end of the post to efficiently and easily find the aluminum grade that is suitable for you.

Is Formability or Workability (the fashioning parts through mechanical deformation) an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Excellent Formability/ Workability
Alloy 2011 Good Formability/ Workability
Alloy 2024 Good Formability/ Workability
Alloy 3003 Excellent Formability/ Workability
Alloy 5052 Good Formability/ Workability
Alloy 6061 Good Formability/ Workability
Alloy 6063 Good Formability/ Workability
Alloy 7075 Poor Formability/ Workability

Is the Weldability of the Aluminum an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Excellent Weldability
Alloy 2011 Poor Weldability
Alloy 2024 Poor Weldability
Alloy 3003 Excellent Weldability
Alloy 5052 Good Weldability
Alloy 6061 Good Weldability
Alloy 6063 Good Weldability
Alloy 7075 Poor Weldability

Is the Machining of the Aluminum an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Good Machinability (Best if Hard Temper).
Alloy 2011 Excellent Machinability.
Alloy 2024 Fair Machinability (Best in Annealed Condition).
Alloy 3003 Good Machinability.
Alloy 5052 Fair Machinability (Better if Hard Temper).
Alloy 6061 Good Machinability (T4 and T6 Tempers only).
Alloy 6063 Fair Machinability.
Alloy 7075 Fair Machinability (Best in Annealed Condition).

Is Corrosion Resistance of the Aluminum an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Excellent Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 2011 Poor Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 2024 Poor Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 3003 Good Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 5052 Excellent Corrosion Resistance (Preferred in marine applications).
Alloy 6061 Excellent Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 6063 Good Corrosion Resistance.
Alloy 7075 Average Corrosion Resistance.

Is Heat Treating of the Aluminum an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Does not respond to Heat Treatment.
Alloy 2011 Can be Heat Treated.
Alloy 2024 Can be Heat Treated.
Alloy 3003 Does not respond to Heat Treatment.
Alloy 5052 Does not respond to Heat Treatment.
Alloy 6061 Can be Heat Treated.
Alloy 6063 Can be Heat Treated.
Alloy 7075 Can be Heat Treated.

Is the Strength of the Aluminum an important factor?

Alloy 1100 Not used for high-strength or high-pressure applications.
Alloy 2011 A high mechanical strength alloy.
Alloy 2024 A high strength aluminum alloy.
Alloy 3003 Medium strength.
Alloy 5052 Medium to high strength alloy.
Alloy 6061 Medium to high strength alloy.
Alloy 6063 Medium strength.
Alloy 7075 A high strength aluminum alloy.
Typical end use applications of Aluminum Grades:.
Alloy 1100 Metal Spinning and General Fabrication.
Alloy 2011 General Machining.
Alloy 2024 Aerospace Applications.
Alloy 3003 Food & Chemical Equipment General Fabrication.
Alloy 5052 Marine Applications General Fabrication.
Alloy 6061 Structural Applications General Fabrication.
Alloy 6063 Architectural Applications.
Alloy 7075 Aerospace Applications.

You can find some affordable metal supplies for Aluminium in South East Asia.