Basic Knowledge of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

Overview of Aluminum:

Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery-white metallic element with an atomic number of 13. It possesses excellent ductility, conductivity, and thermal conductivity. In humid air, it forms a protective oxide film that prevents corrosion. Aluminum, the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust after oxygen and silicon, finds extensive applications in crucial industries such as aviation, construction, automotive, and power, thanks to its lightweight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and ease of processing.

Chemical Properties of Aluminum:

Aluminum exhibits reactivity, reacting with oxygen in the air to form a dense oxide film, preventing further oxidation. At high temperatures, it can react with certain metal elements to form intermetallic compounds, as observed in aluminum thermite reactions. In electrochemistry, aluminum is a moderately active metal, forming various types of alloys with widespread applications.

Classification of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys:

Based on composition and processing, aluminum alloys are classified into two main categories: deformable aluminum alloys and cast aluminum alloys. Deformable aluminum alloys can be processed into various shapes through rolling, extrusion, stretching, etc., while cast aluminum alloys can be molded into various castings through casting processes.

Aluminum alloys are further classified into pure aluminum and aluminum alloys based on composition. Pure aluminum is composed mostly of rolled aluminum, while aluminum alloys are materials composed of aluminum and auxiliary alloys. These auxiliary alloys typically include elements such as copper, manganese, silicon, magnesium, aiming to alter the physical and mechanical properties of aluminum to meet diverse application needs.

Types of Aluminum Alloys and Their Applications:

• 1000 Series: Represents 1050, 1060, 1070, etc., with the highest aluminum content. With a purity above 99.00%, it is cost-effective and widely used in conventional industries.

  
  

• 2000 Series: Represents 2A16(LY16), 2A06(LY6), mainly applied in aerospace aluminum materials.

  
  

• 3000 Series: Represents 3003, 3A21, primarily composed of manganese, offering good corrosion resistance. Commonly used in industrial equipment requiring good formability, corrosion resistance, and weldability.

  
  

• 4000 Series: Represents 4A01, characterized by higher silicon content, commonly used in construction materials, mechanical parts, forging materials, and welding materials.

  
  

• 5000 Series: Represents 5052, 5083, with a magnesium content of 2.5%, suitable for industrial equipment requiring good formability, corrosion resistance, and weldability in the aluminum-magnesium rustproof aluminum series.

  
  

• 6000 Series: Represents 6061, versatile for processing into plates, tubes, bars, shapes, wires, and forgings.

  
  

• 7000 Series: Represents 7075, a high-strength, lightweight aluminum alloy commonly used in aerospace, weapons manufacturing, and other fields.

  
  

• 8000 Series: Represents 8011, a high-strength, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy suitable for manufacturing high-performance products in aerospace, weapons manufacturing, and other fields.

  
  

• 9000 Series: Represents 9002, 9003, 9004, characterized by high strength, good corrosion resistance, and plasticity, suitable for various industrial applications.