Aluminium sheet metal is not all the same, we can see the application of industrial aluminum sheet, construction aluminum sheet and decorative aluminum sheet. Have you ever heard of aluminum sheet metal grades that start with numbers? So what do these numbers represent? What are the characteristics of different series, and where are they commonly used? Let HC Aluminum explain.
1000 series aluminium sheet metal: Aluminum content is above 99.00%. It has good conductivity, corrosion resistance, and weldability. It has low strength and cannot be strengthened by heat treatment.
Application range: Mainly used in scientific experiments, chemical industry, and special applications.
2000 series sheet metal aluminium: Aluminum alloys primarily alloyed with copper and may also include manganese, magnesium, lead, and bismuth. It has good machinability but has a tendency for intergranular corrosion.
Application range: Aviation industry (2014 alloy), screws (2011 alloy), and industries with higher operating temperatures (2017 alloy).
3000 series aluminium metal sheets: Manganese is the primary alloying element. It has good corrosion resistance and weldability. The downside is low strength, but strength can be improved through cold working. Coarse grains may form during annealing.
Application range: Oil conduits used in aircraft (3003 alloy), beverage cans (3004 alloy).
4000 series aluminum sheet metal: Mainly consists of silicon, high wear resistance, low thermal expansion coefficient, easy to cast. Performance is affected by the silicon content, whether it is low or high.
Application range: Widely used in engine parts such as pistons and engine blocks, more commonly used abroad.
5000 series metal sheet aluminium: Mainly consists of magnesium, good resistance, good welding properties, good fatigue strength, cannot be heat treated for strengthening, strength can only be improved through cold working.
Application range: Handles of lawnmowers, aircraft fuel tank pipes, bulletproof vests.
6000 series metal aluminium sheet: Mainly consists of magnesium and silicon. Medium strength, good corrosion resistance, good welding properties, good processability, good oxidation coloring properties.
Application range: 6000 series aluminum sheet alloy is one of the most widely used alloy materials, mainly used for manufacturing transportation components (such as automobile luggage racks, doors, windows, car bodies, heat sinks, intercooler casings).
7000 series aluminum sheet metal: Mainly consists of zinc, but sometimes with a small amount of magnesium and copper. 7005 and 7075 are the highest grades in the 7 series, can be heat treated for strengthening.
Application range: Aviation (aircraft load-bearing components, landing gear), rockets, propellers, aerospace vehicles.
8000 series aluminium metal sheet: Mostly used for aluminum foil, not commonly used in aluminum bar production.
9000 series: Aluminum alloys are backup alloys.
In conclusion, it is clear that aluminium sheet metal materials of different models have different properties and applications. However, the quality of aluminium metal sheet primarily depends on their hardness, strength, corrosion resistance, processability, welding properties, etc., and more importantly, on the specific requirements of the industry it is applied in.