In this article in our materials science category, we’ll cover the applications of aluminum alloys. So, where are aluminum alloys used?
Aluminum alloys are preferred in many fields where the material needs to be light, sturdy, and rust-free. For example, trekking (hiking) poles.
Wrought Aluminum Alloys and Their Applications
Mg-Si-Al: Has good formability and polishing capability, medium strength, and is resistant to corrosion. Used in aircraft construction, decoration work, and manufacturing electrical conductors. These alloys are sold on the market under trade names such as Aludur 533, Anticorodal, Duralumin, K.. Legal, Polital, and Silal V.
Cu-Mn-Al
Has a high tensile strength. Used in constructions requiring high strength, in the manufacture of machine parts, vehicles, lifting equipment, and railway cars. In the hardened state, its strength reaches that of St. 52 steel.
Aluminum alloy car wheel rim
A view from Audi A2 manufacturing. Because of their light and sturdy structure, aluminum alloys also have a wide place in automobile manufacturing.
Cu-Ni-Al: Hardens at room temperature as a result of heat treatment. Doesn’t lose its strength when hot. Used in the manufacture of internal combustion engine cylinder heads and pistons.
Cu-Al: Since it has good strength, it’s used for producing highly stressed parts. This alloy is also called Lautal Qualitaet 55 Allautal.
Al-Cu aluminum-copper alloy welding wire
The image above shows Al-Cu aluminum-copper alloy welding wire.
Zn-Mg-Al: Has a higher strength than all other aluminum alloys. For this reason it’s also widely used in aircraft construction.
Mg-Al: Is resistant to seawater and has very high strength.
If we were to manufacture a beverage can, the requirements we’d look for would be: Rust resistance, high tensile strength (for forming in a die), light weight, pressure resistance, and being unaffected by chemicals.
Aluminum-magnesium alloys are used in the manufacture of pressurized vessels and in shipbuilding. They’re resistant to corrosion.
Al Mg 3 and Al Mg 5 alloys are widely used in shipbuilding.
An Al-Mg alloy eyeglass frame
Mg-Mn-Al: Resistant to seawater. For this reason it’s widely used in shipbuilding, the chemical industry, and the food industry. This alloy is also sold on the market under the trade names Ks-Seewasser, Peraluman, and Duralumin Mg 25.
Si-Al: Its strength is higher than pure aluminum and it’s resistant to corrosion. This alloy is also called SILUMIN.
Formability of Wrought Alloys
Wrought aluminum alloys can be easily formed through processes like rolling and extrusion.
Complex Shapes of Cast Alloys
Cast aluminum alloys, poured into a mold in liquid form, make it possible to produce parts with complex geometries.
Series Number Classification
Aluminum alloys are classified with a standard 4-digit series number according to their main alloying element.
Cast Aluminum Alloys and Their Applications
Cu-Al: Has good castability.
Zn-Cu-Al: Its strength is higher than pure aluminum
Cu-Ni-Al: Al-Cu-Ni alloys are used in the manufacture of heat-resistant parts such as cylinder heads.
Si-Al: Has excellent casting properties. This alloy is also called silumin.
Si-Cu-Al Has quite good casting properties.
Si-Mg-Al Used in the manufacture of parts subject to high mechanical stress, such as diesel engine blocks and gearbox housings. This alloy is also called “Silumin gamma.”
Al-Si-Mg alloy welding rods used for argon (TIG) welding
Mg-Al: Resistant to seawater.
AlMg3 Alloy: More resistant to seawater, chemicals, and mild alkaline solutions than aluminum and other alloys. It has good polishing capability. Used in the manufacture of certain parts of ships and marine machinery, aircraft construction, and cast parts in the chemical industry.
Al Mg 5 Alloy: Has quite good casting properties.
AlMg 7 Alloy: This is also an alloy with quite good casting properties. It has a high resistance limit against chemicals and seawater.
Mg-Mn-Al: Resistant to seawater.
Mg-Si-Al: Has good castability
Classification of Aluminum Alloys
1000 Series: These are materials that are pure or contain very few alloying elements, and can be easily formed into sheets, foil, and profiles. Also suitable for deep drawing. Used in manufacturing EC-grade conductors, and, for the others where high strength isn’t required, in curtain tracks, doors, window profiles, foil, kitchenware, and various other items.
2000 Series: The main alloying element in this series is copper. Requires heat treatment. The tensile strength of the hardened alloy increases, and it machines well. Tensile strength approaches 490 MPa (490 N/mm²). Has low corrosion resistance and may require galvanic isolation. Mainly used in the automotive, railcar, aircraft, and munitions industries, where high strength and light weight are required.
3000 Series: The main alloying element is manganese, at around 1-1.5%. Very small amounts of iron and silicon also characterize the alloy. These are medium-strength alloys with good machinability. Mostly used in manufacturing tanks, storage vessels, campers, and other sheet metal work.
4000 Series: The main alloying element is silicon. Low melting temperature, flexibility, and decorative appearance are the important properties of this series. Solder wire, architectural applications, and radiator fins are its main uses.
5000 Series: The effective alloying element is magnesium. High tensile strength, hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance against marine atmospheres, and good weldability are the important properties. Not well suited to cold forming. Used for special constructions requiring hardness and strength.
6000 Series: This series is characterized by silicon and magnesium together. Moderate mechanical strength, good formability, suitability for heat treatment, and corrosion resistance are the important properties, and these series alloys are used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries, in packaging, and in the manufacture of machine parts (such as automatic lathe parts).
7000 Series: Zinc, the main additive, is used at around 5% and gives the alloys very high tensile strength. Overhead cranes, truck beds, threaded machine parts, and aircraft, rocket, and munitions industry parts are its main uses.
8000 Series: Lithium, an alloying additive used at around 2%, gives the series light weight and high tensile and yield strength. Used in the aerospace industry. Has high fatigue strength.
Related Questions
These alloys are much lighter while offering a strength close to steel. This light weight reduces the vehicle’s total weight, increasing fuel efficiency and performance.
In its hardened state, this alloy can reach a tensile strength close to some structural steels. This high strength makes it suitable for heavy-load applications such as lifting equipment or vehicle parts.
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