Aluminum knowledge

The physical properties and main characteristics of aluminum profiles are silver white and shiny metal, with a light weight and a density of 2.6989g/cm at 20 ℃ ³； No toxicity or magnetism, no sparks generated during impact; Good ductility, ranking sixth among metals in terms of ductility and second in terms of ductility; Pure aluminum is very soft, with a Mohs hardness of only 2.9, but it can form high-strength and lightweight aluminum based alloys with various metals such as copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon, zinc, etc;
Aluminum has high conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity; The reflectivity of aluminum profiles to visible and ultraviolet light is the highest among ordinary profiles; Aluminum can be used as a substance similar to blackbody, and in infrared, its reflectivity is second only to gold and silver;
Aluminum profiles have high stability in the air and strong corrosion resistance even without any protection; This is due to the high activity of aluminum. When exposed to the atmosphere, the surface of aluminum will immediately naturally form a thin, transparent, and tough oxide film; This natural oxide film will automatically stop growing when it reaches a certain thickness, and its thickness depends on the environment and exposure time; Approximately 50A (1A=0.1nm) in dry air and at room temperature, with a maximum thickness of up to 100A;
Aluminum is an amphoteric metal that quickly corrodes in alkaline environments, passivates in concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid without further corrosion, and is also inert to most organic acids; Therefore, aluminum profile containers can be used to store concentrated nitric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid, organic acids, and many other chemical reagents; However, halogen has a strong corrosive effect on aluminum products, so aluminum profile containers cannot be used for the storage, packaging, transportation, etc. of such substances;
The grades and uses of aluminum materials
According to the processing methods of aluminum alloys, they are divided into deformed aluminum alloys and cast aluminum alloys, as well as 8 series based on the numbering of aluminum and aluminum alloys.
1XXX represents over 99% pure aluminum series, such as 1050 and 1100
2XXX represents the aluminum copper alloy series, as in 2014
3XXX indicates an aluminum manganese alloy series, such as 3003
4XXX indicates an aluminum silicon alloy series, such as 4032
5XXX indicates an aluminum magnesium alloy series, such as 5052
6XXX refers to the aluminum magnesium silicon alloy series, such as 6061 and 6063 (mainly used for door and window processing)
7XXX indicates an aluminum zinc alloy series such as 7001
8XXX indicates an alloy system other than the above
A series
Among all series, Series 1 has the highest aluminum content, with a purity of over 99%. Its aluminum molding is relatively good, and it is also very conducive to surface treatment. Among aluminum alloys, it has the best corrosion resistance. The aluminum materials of the 1 series are relatively soft (the higher the purity, the lower the strength), mainly used for decorative and interior parts. At the same time, the basic last two digits of series 1 represent the minimum aluminum content of this series, with higher values indicating higher purity.
1050 and 1100 are mainly used for chemical sanding, smooth surface, fog surface, normal effect, with obvious material patterns, and good coloring effect;
1080 and 1085 are mainly used for mirror aluminum, which is mainly used for bright characters, matte effects, and no obvious material patterns;
1100: Processing requires good formability and high corrosion resistance, but does not require high-strength component parts. For example, storage containers, sheet metal parts, deep drawn concave vessels, heat exchangers, printed plates, nameplates, reflective devices, etc
Secondary system
The basic use of the 2 series is aviation aluminum for construction, which is not commonly used in general industry. His hardness is relatively high, with the highest copper content, with a basic copper content of around 3-5%. The representatives of the 2 series are 2024, 2A16, 2A02, etc.
2011: Fast cutting alloy, with good cutting performance and high strength, but poor corrosion resistance, suitable for volume shafts, optical components, screw heads, screws, and mechanical processing products that require good cutting performance.
Tertiary system
The third system has good molding, good fusion, and good corrosion resistance. Usually used for tanks and tanks of liquid products, construction processing parts and tools, various lighting components, various pressure vessels and pipelines for sheet metal processing.
At the same time, the aluminum rod of the three series is mainly made of manganese element, with a content between 1.0 and 1.5, making it a good rust prevention series. The main representatives include 3003, 3105, 3A21, etc.
Four Systems
The fourth series is commonly used in construction materials, mechanical parts, forging materials, welding materials, etc., because it has the characteristics of low melting point, good corrosion resistance, heat resistance and wear resistance. At the same time, it has good soup flow and less solidification shrinkage.
The silicon content of the fourth series is usually between 4.5 and 6.0%, and the corresponding strength increases with high silicon content. The aluminum rod of the fourth series represents me as 4A01.
Five Systems
5 series aluminum rods are a common series of aluminum alloys, mainly made of magnesium, with a magnesium content ranging from 3 to 5%. He has the characteristics of low density, high tensile strength, and high ductility. The weight of aluminum magnesium alloy under the same area is lower than that of other series. The main representatives of the 5 series include the 5052, 5005, 5083, and 5A05 series.
5052 is the most commonly used aluminum alloy on mobile phones, which is a representative medium strength aluminum alloy with good corrosion resistance, solubility, and formability. It has high fatigue strength and good seawater resistance, and is commonly used for products with high strength requirements. It is also suitable for casting and forming methods, but not suitable for extrusion forming methods. At the same time, due to its unsatisfactory coloring effect, it is not suitable for chemical sanding or fogging, but is suitable for sandblasting processes; 5052 is the most representative alloy of medium strength (5083 is the highest), with good corrosion resistance, dissolution and formability, especially high fatigue strength and good seawater resistance. It is used in the manufacturing of aircraft fuel tanks, oil pipes, as well as sheet metal parts for transportation vehicles and ships, instruments, street light brackets and rivets, hardware products, etc.
Six series - (commonly used series for doors and windows 6063 series)
The six series mainly contain magnesium and silicon elements, which combine the advantages of the four and five series. It has corrosion resistance, good oxidation resistance, and is easy to coat, with particularly good processing performance. The main representatives are the 6061 and 6063 series, with 6061 being more commonly used on mobile phones and 6063 being more commonly used on doors and windows. 6061 has higher strength than 6063 and is suitable for casting complex structures. It can be used as a snap component for battery covers on mobile phones.
6061: Heat treated corrosion-resistant alloy. T6 treatment can have a very high endurance value, but the strength of the fusion interface is low, making it suitable for screws, ships, vehicles, and onshore structures.
6N01: Medium strength extrusion alloy that can be used for complex shaped large thin meat profiles, with excellent corrosion resistance and solubility. Suitable for vehicles, onshore structures, and ships.
6063: Representative extrusion alloy with lower strength than 6061 and good extrusion performance. It can be used as profiles with complex cross-sectional shapes, with excellent corrosion resistance and surface treatment. It is suitable for building highway guardrails, vehicles, furniture, household appliances, and decorations.
Seven Systems
The seven series mainly contain zinc elements, as well as magnesium and copper elements. It is an aluminum magnesium zinc copper alloy that can be heat treated as a superhard aluminum alloy. It has wear resistance.
The main representative of the seven series is the 7075 series, which belongs to aviation materials and mold materials. But now we mainly rely on imports, and China's production technology is still not very good at the moment.
7072: Low electrode potential, mainly used for anti-corrosion covering materials, also suitable for heat exchanger fins, air conditioner aluminum foil, and ultra-thin strip materials.
7075: One of the alloys with the highest strength in aluminum alloys, but with poor corrosion resistance. The coating with 7072 can improve its corrosion resistance, but the cost increases. Suitable for aircraft and ski pole thick plate forgings.
Nowadays, many bridge sellers claim that their household is made of 7075 aviation aluminum material. This statement is worth discussing. The first point is that its high strength is not suitable for rolling insulation strips, which will cause fractures. The second point is that the pure 7075 series does not have high corrosion resistance. So be cautious when purchasing.
Eight Systems
The commonly used 8000 series aluminum alloy is 8011, which belongs to other series and is mostly used for aluminum foil. It is not commonly used in the production of aluminum rods.