Strength Comparison of Sheets of Aluminum
Aluminum is the second-most popular metal used and commercially available. It is lightweight and offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it an excellent choice for a variety of uses. Pure aluminum does not have much strength, so it has been developed into many alloys that still offer high electrical conductivity, reflectivity and the ability to resist corrosion. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
2011 Alloy
-
2011 aluminum alloy has ultimate tensile strength of 55,000 psi and yield strength of 43,000 psi. This alloy is one of the most machinable, which produces an excellent surface finish. 2011 does not offer much in corrosion resistance but does have average weldability, strength and anodizing response.
2024 Alloy
-
The ultimate tensile strength for 2024 aluminum alloy is 70,000 psi with yield strength of 50,000 psi. Copper is its main alloying ingredient which makes it stronger than most but also makes it susceptible to corrosion. 2024 has average machinability and cannot be welded. It is often used in aerospace applications and holds up well under stress for long periods of time due to its good fatigue resistance.
-
5052 Alloy
-
5052 alloy offers 33,000 psi in ultimate tensile strength and 28,000 psi in yield strength, which makes it the best alloy in forming fabrication applications. It offers good corrosion resistance, and has good workability and weldability, although it is not good for extensive machining applications and is not heat treatable.
6061 Alloy
-
6061 aluminum alloy, composed of mostly magnesium and silicon, is the most commonly used alloy with ultimate tensile strength of 45,000 psi and yield strength of 40,000 psi. Its strength, heat treatability, easy machinability and weldability make it a good choice for many applications.
6063 Alloy
-
With ultimate tensile strength of 27,000 psi and yield strength of 21,000 psi, 6063 aluminum alloy is considered "good" for forming and cold working operations, "excellent" for anodizing , and "fair" for machining. Many refer to 6063 as architectural aluminum because it has a surface finish that is smoother than most other alloys and its strength is less than others which makes it good for architectural projects. It should not be used in applications where strength is important.
6262 Alloy
-
6262 alloy has ultimate tensile strength of 31,900 psi and yield strength of 27,600 psi. It was developed to be used in applications where a lot of machining is needed and is considered to have good strength and corrosion resistance.
7075 Alloy
-
7075 aluminum alloy is one of the highest strength aluminum alloys available due to the main ingredients of zinc and copper, with an ultimate tensile strength of 83,000 psi and yield strength of 73,000 psi. It is considered aircraft grade aluminum, along with 2024 alloy, and is not considered weldable, but has average to good ratings for machinability, corrosion resistance and anodizing response.
-
References
- Photo Credit poinconeuse industrielle image by Clément Billet from Fotolia.com
