Discover the 8 Essential Aluminum and Alloy Types

The specific gravity of aluminum is lighter, resulting in less rebound during forming.

It has a relatively high strength, comparable or exceeding that of high-quality steel.

Aluminum has good plasticity, making it easier to form complex products.

It is easier to work with than stainless steel and has excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and resistance to corrosion.

At present, the surface treatment processes of aluminum, such as anodic oxidation and brushing, sandblasting, are well-developed, and aluminum is widely used in cell phones.

Aluminum alloy can be divided into two types based on processing method: deformed aluminum alloy and cast aluminum alloy. Additionally, the series of aluminum and aluminum alloys are mainly divided into eight series.

Representation of alloy grades

International brand (using four Arabic numerals, now commonly used):

• 1XXX indicates that it ispure aluminum series with more than 99% such as 1050 and 1100.
• 2XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-copper alloy series such as 2014.
• 3XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-manganese alloy series such as 3003.
• 4XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-silicon alloy series such as 4032.
• 5XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-magnesium alloy series such as 5052.
• 6XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy series such as 6061, 6063.
• 7XXX indicates that it is an aluminum-zinc alloy series such as 7001.
• 8XXX indicates that it is an alloy system other than that mentioned above.

8 Series Of Aluminum And Aluminum Alloy

1XXX Series

According to the processing method, aluminum alloy can be divided into deformed aluminum alloy and cast aluminum alloy, and the serial number of aluminum and aluminum alloy is mainly divided into eight series.

Among these series, the 1000 series has the highest aluminum content, with a purity of over 99.00%. The last two digits of the 1000 series aluminum plate determine the minimum aluminum content of the series. For example, the last two digits of the 1050 series are 50, which means the aluminum content must be at least 99.5% to meet international brand naming standards.

The primary aluminum has good formability and surface treatment properties, with excellent corrosion resistance. However, its strength decreases as its purity increases.

The ones commonly used on mobile phones are 1050, 1070, 1080, 1085, 1100, do simple extrusion molding (without bending), of which 1050 and 1100 can do chemical sand, glossy, fog, normal effect, with obvious material lines and good coloring effect; 1080 and 1085 specular aluminum are often used to do bright word, fog effect, no obvious material lines.

The first series of aluminum are relatively soft and are mainly used for decoration or interior decoration.

2XXX Series

It is characterized by high hardness but poor corrosion resistance, among which the content of copper is the highest.

2000 series aluminum alloy represents 2024, 2A16, 2A02.

The copper content of 2000 series aluminum sheet is about 3% to 5%.

2000 series aluminum bars belong to aviation aluminum materials, which are used as structural materials, but are not often used in conventional industries at present.

3XXX Series

3000 series aluminum bars are mainly composed of manganese.

3000 series aluminum alloy representatives are 3003, 3105, 3A21-based.

The manganese content is between 1.0% and 1.5%, which is a series with good anti-rust function.

It is often used as grooves and tanks for liquid products, building workpieces, construction tools, all kinds of lamp parts, and various pressure vessels and pipes for sheet processing.

Good formability, solubility and corrosion resistance.

4XXX Series

Usually the silicon content is between 4.5% and 6.0%, the higher the silicon content is, the higher the strength is.

The 4000 series aluminum bars represent 4A01, and the 4000 series aluminum plates belong to the series with high silicon content.

Less solidification shrinkage, belonging to building materials, mechanical parts, forging materials, welding materials;

Low melting point, good corrosion resistance, heat resistance and wear resistance.

5XXX Series

5000 series aluminum bar belongs to the more commonly used alloy aluminum plate series, the main element is magnesium, the magnesium content is between 3-5%.

5000 series aluminum alloy represents 5052, 5005, 5083, 5A05 series.

It can also be called aluminum-magnesium alloy.

The main characteristics are low density, high tensile strength and high elongation.

Under the same area, the weight of Al-mg alloy is lower than that of other series, so it is widely used in conventional industry.

The most commonly used on mobile phones is 5052, which is the most representative alloy with medium strength, good corrosion resistance, solubility and formability, especially high fatigue strength, good sea water resistance, and is often used to do products with high strength.

But its coloring effect is not ideal, so it is suitable for sandblasting process, not suitable for chemical sand blasting, fog surface, etc., mainly using casting molding, not suitable for extrusion molding.

6XXX Series

6000 series aluminum alloy represents 6061, which mainly contains magnesium and silicon, so it integrates the advantages of 4000 series and 5000 series.

6061 is a cold-treated aluminum forging product, which is suitable for applications requiring high corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance.

Good usability, easy coating and good processability.

6061 and 6063 are mostly used on mobile phones.

The strength of 6061 is higher than that of 6063.

Casting molding can cast more complex structures and can be used as snap parts, such as battery cover, etc.

7XXX Series

It mainly contains zinc, and 7000 series aluminum alloy represents 7075.

It also belongs to the Aviation series.

It is aluminum magnesium zinc copper alloy, heat treatable alloy, superhard aluminum alloy and has good wear resistance.

8XXX Series

8011 is commonly used in 8000 Series aluminum alloy, which belongs to other series.

Most applications are aluminum foil, which is not commonly used in the production of aluminum rods.