Aluminum Alloys

The main Aluminum alloy elements include Copper, Magnesium, Silica, Manganese, and Zinc.

Aluminum alloys are divided into two groups:

• According to the method of manufacture (whether formed or cast)
• According to thermal processing (whether thermally enhanced or thermally unenhanced)

Aluminum alloys, according to the chemical composition are divided into the certain groups:

1 *** – almost pure aluminum alloys (99%). This is particularly light alloys can be tempered. Typically they are used for products for internal purposes. The most common alloy is 1050.
2 *** – the alloying element is copper. It may be tempered at various levels.
3 *** – the alloying element is manganese. This alloy is easy to process. It has high protection against corrosion, also is suitable for anodizing and welding.
4*** – the alloying element is silicon. The material has a very high stiffness, but it is hard to form.
5 *** – the alloying element is magnesium. All of these alloys are easily welded and resistant to corrosion. Usually they are used for ship building. The most common are these alloys: 5754, 5083.
6 *** – aluminum, magnesium and silicon alloy. Easily processed material is suitable for anodizing and welding. Usually it is used for the manufacture of: profiles, pipes, strips, bars etc. The most common of these alloys are 6060, 6082.
7 *** – the alloying element is zinc. Zinc allows achieving maximum material strength during hardening, as compared with other materials. This alloy is widely used in air crafts construction.
8*** – aluminum alloys and other materials that have not been mentioned above. It can be an alloy of aluminum and lithium, which is used in the electronics industry or other metal alloys.

In Europe, Aluminum and its alloys must comply with standards: EN 1780-1, EN 1780-2, EN 1780-3. According to the standard LST EN 573, technically pure Aluminum is marked by the letters Al and numbers indicating the percentage of Aluminum .

In Russia, technically pure Aluminum is marked with the letter A and numbers indicating the percentage of Aluminum which is purer than 99 %; for instance, the inscription A99 means that there is 99 % of Al