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Analyzing aluminum sheet metal grades-CONTINENTAL STEEL CO.,LTD
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Analyzing aluminum sheet metal grades

Sep 20, 2024

Most aluminum alloys combine iron, silicon, copper and manganese to adjust the metal’s strength or enhance other properties. Aluminum sheet metal grades identify alloy families and the metal’s composition. These grades include four numbers followed by a letter. 

When you look at an aluminum sheet metal grade, the first digit refers to the metal family or series. The letters that follow tell how the aluminum was processed. Here is an overview ofaluminum sheet metal grades.

 

Series of Aluminum Alloys: The First Digit

Use the following sheet metal grade chart to understand the series of aluminum.

Series

Alloys

Properties

1XXX

Pure Aluminum 

High conductivity, workability and corrosion resistance  

2XXX

Aluminum-Copper

Heat-treatable, high strength, and high toughness

3XXX

Aluminum-Manganese

Moderate strength and workability 

4XXX

Aluminum-Silicon

Lowers melting point without brittleness

5XXX

Aluminum-Magnesium 

Moderate to high strength, good weldability and good resistance to corrosion

6XXX

Aluminum-Silicon-Magnesium 

Heat-treatable, versatile, highly formable and weldable 

7XXX

Aluminum-Zinc (May include Magnesium, Copper or Chromium)

Heat-treatable and high strength

 

What’s Behind the Letter?

Aluminum grades are followed by a letter, and that letter refers to the temper, or hardness, of the alloy. Each letter shares how the alloy was treated to achieve its properties. 

Here are a few letters you will see in aluminum grades: 

O = Aluminum was annealed at the mill. 

T = Aluminum was thermally treated.

H = Aluminum was work-hardened (or strain-hardened). 

 

T-Tempers

“T” Number

How the Alloy was Tempered

T1

Naturally aged after cooling

T2

Cooled, cold worked and then naturally aged

T3

Solution heat treated, cold worked and then naturally aged

T4

Naturally aged after solution heat treatment

T5

Cooled and then artificially aged 

T6

Artificially aged after solution heat treatment

T7

Solution heat treated and overaged

T8

Solution heat treated, cold worked and then artificially aged

T9

Solution heat treated, artificially aged and cold worked

T10

Cooled, cold worked and then artificially aged

 

H-Tempers 

H-Tempers include two or more digits. The first digit indicates how the aluminum was work-hardened. 

“H” Numbers

How the Alloy was Tempered

H1

Work-hardened only 

H2

Work-hardened then partially annealed

H3

Work-hardened then stabilized

H-tempers often include a second digit to show that the aluminum was work-hardened to a certain degree. 

2 = ¼ hard

4 = ½ hard

6 = ¾ hard

8 = fall hard

9 = extra hard 

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