Alloyed metals are typically stronger, more durable, and higher quality than their commercially pure counterparts. SendCutSend offers several steel and aluminum alloys with a spectrum of values and applications. This article will walk you through identifying alloyed metals, and the aluminum alloys that SendCutSend offers for laser cutting.
Alloyed metals are indicated using a 4-digit identification system. Each digit represents a different aspect of the alloy and is typically written in front of the original pure metal for clarity (e.g. 1095 High Carbon Steel, 5052 Aluminum). This article specifically covers the most common aluminum alloys, so we’ll only be showing how to read the 4-digit identification system for aluminum alloys. The digits denote different things if it’s a steel or other kind of alloy.
The first digit represents the main alloying element.
We also use these numbers to identify whole series of aluminum alloys. For example, knowing that “2” indicates copper, we would refer generally to aluminum-copper alloys as “2xxx series.”
The second digit indicates any special alloying conditions and whether or not the alloy has been modified from its original state. If the digit is “0,” no unique modifications or conditions are present. This is the case with most commonly used aluminum alloys.
The third and fourth digits are used to serialize and identify individual alloys. If it’s a 1xxx series (a pure aluminum alloy with at least 99% aluminum), the last two digits indicate the minimum aluminum percentage above 99%. For example, 1060 aluminum has to be made up of at least 99.60% pure aluminum.
Laser cut 2024 T3 Aluminum is the only aluminum alloy SendCutSend offers that is alloyed with copper. Copper is what gives this aluminum its high tensile strength, elasticity, and yield strength.
The tensile strength of 2024 Aluminum is unmatched thanks to the presence of copper, as well as the fatigue resistance. These advantages allow 2024 to withstand high stress and pressure environments better than other aluminum alloys, making it an ideal material choice for aircraft paneling, military vehicle applications, and structural construction parts.
While copper provides a number of advantages, it can compromise some aspects of the pure aluminum when they’re alloyed. Aluminum is known for its corrosion resistance, which typically lends itself to aluminum’s many marine environment applications. However, when alloyed with copper, much of that corrosion resistance is lost, making 2024 less suitable for use in highly corrosive environments.
Laser cut 5052 Aluminum is a staple material and the standard go-to metal for dozens of industries. Alloyed with magnesium, 5052 is highly corrosion resistant, easy to work with, and has one of the best strength-to-weight ratios for its affordable price.
5052 aluminum is favored for its affordability and workability. Due to the fact that it is not heat treated, 5052 is more suited than other aluminum alloys to forming, especially in sheet metal form. This means it’s easy to bend, roll, and tap sheet 5052 aluminum, allowing you to design an endless number of unique parts without worrying about forming difficulties. 5052 also contains another secondary element, which is chromium. The presence of chromium in the alloy further prevents 5052 aluminum from corroding, lending 5052 to even more marine environment applications than other corrosion-resistant materials.
5052 aluminum cannot be heat-treated to increase its strength. As a result, it is weaker than higher-strength aluminum alloys such as 6061 and 7075. Of the most commonly used aluminum alloys, 5052 also has one of the lowest levels of thermal conductivity, making it less suited for heat dissipation applications.
Laser cut 6061 T6 Aluminum is alloyed with both magnesium and silicon, strengthening the aluminum in ways that have helped make it one of the most widely used alloys in many industries. It’s heat-resistant, has high fatigue strength, and is favored for its weldability.
Magnesium and silicon together in 6061 Aluminum create magnesium-silicide, which allows 6061 to go through a heat-treatment process called precipitation hardening. This process strengthens the alloy while maintaining its weldability. The increased fatigue strength gives the 6061 impact resistance, making it ideal for high-impact and high vibratory environments, such as those found in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Because 6061 Aluminum is heat treated, it loses some of the formability that other aluminum alloys boast. 6061 has a tendency to crack and warp during the bending and tapping process, so it’s not the best candidate for more complicated designs that require additional forming.
Alloyed with zinc, laser cut 7075 aluminum has the highest tensile strength of any of the aluminum alloys SendCutSend offers. Its sturdiness, strength, and durability make 7075 one of the most impressive and high quality of the aluminum alloys.
The presence of zinc in 7075 increases the tensile strength exponentially. It also allows for precipitation hardening, increasing the shear strength of the material. 7075 is also light-weight and has a strength-to-weight ratio unparalleled by other alloys. This lends itself to applications where strength is of the utmost importance, and the weight budget is low. Everything from the cycling industry to military defense development utilizes 7075 aluminum in their projects.
Similar to 2024 T3 Aluminum, 7075 has low corrosion resistance when compared to other aluminum alloys. It’s less suited for corrosive environments or applications in which there will be extreme weathering. 7075 is also one of the most costly aluminum alloys, making it less suitable for a wider range of projects since it’s not cost effective. (Check out our blog post on maximizing your budget for laser cut sheet metal parts to learn what materials you should substitute for cost effectiveness.)
Alloying other metals with raw aluminum makes a stronger, better material with a variety of uses and strengths. Choosing the right alloy for your projects is one of the most important aspects of designing a successful part. Be sure to read each alloy’s individual information page to make sure you are selecting the material that best fits your needs.
Once you’re ready, upload your design and get an instant quote today! We ship most standard orders out the door within 2-4 business days.
How to check the quality of aluminum alloys?There are nine simple tips to ensure the quality of aluminum alloys like aluminum sheet, aluminium foil and aluminum circles. Read full text will give you a clear idea.
Aluminum alloys is an important raw material in construction,daily goods, decoration,automobile,aerospace and military fields, therefore the quality of aluminum alloys affect that of its downstream products.
How to tell the grades of aluminum alloys and purchase qualified ones? There are seven simple tips to help you have quick identification.
1. Check the material of aluminum alloy. If it is made of primary aluminum(smelted by raw ore), the cut is bright and shiny; if it is recycled aluminum or doped, the incision is dim and the color is not pure.
2. Look at the thickness. You can measure if the thickness of different aluminum plates are in accordance with its mark.
3. Try its strength. When purchasing, you can use the hand to bend the aluminum sheet or circle moderately to see if it can restore the shape after your hands leave.
4. Observe the color. The color of a same aluminum alloy circle should be consistent. If there is obvious color difference, do not buy easily.
5. Check the flatness. The surface of the aluminum sheet/circle should be no bumps or bulging.
6. Look over the gloss. The surface should be not spots, cracks, burrs and peeling those obvious shortcomings.
7. Choose suitable aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloys have 8 big series. Each has different compositions and physical properties. Their prices also have big differences. For example , 1050 aluminum sheet is of cheap price, good electrical conductivity and high corrosion resistance, but it has a relatively poor strength compared with other aluminum alloys like 5052 aluminum sheet. If you like to use in aerospace, 1050 aluminum sheet will not be a suitable choice.
8. Have a knowledge of brand. Since the standards of aluminum alloy has been matured, brand can be the last factor. In recent years, the quality of aluminum alloys in china has greatly improved, so it is a highly cost-effective choice. For example, Haomei's aluminum products are becoming more and more reputable.
9. Check the certificates if necessary. For some kinds of aluminum alloy product or for some regions, the certificates are necessary. Take food grade aluminum foil for example. FDA certificate is necessary in USA and recognized worldwide. Haomei food aluminum foil is completely in accordance with FDA standards.