Aluminum and aluminum alloys are becoming more and more widely used in industry and daily life due to their various properties. Different usages require different grade of aluminum, and the grades of aluminum alloy are represented in different numerical codes.
In this article, we will discuss commonly used aluminum and aluminum alloy grade codes in both domestic and foreign countries.
Domestic aluminum grades are mainly published by the non-ferrous metals standardization tech committee of China. The grades for aluminum and aluminum alloys are divided into: ordinary aluminum, aluminum-magnesium alloy, aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy, aluminum-manganese alloy, aluminum-zinc alloy, aluminum-copper alloy and other aluminum alloys. The ordinary aluminum grades include 1000 series aluminum (1060, 1070 and 1050) pure aluminum and 2000 series aluminum-copper alloy (2017. 2024, 2A11 and 2A12). The aluminum-magnesium alloy grades include 3000 series aluminum-manganese alloy (3003, 3103 and 3105), 5000 series aluminum-magnesium alloy (5056, 5052, 5083 and 5086), and 6000 series aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy (6063 and 6061). The aluminum-zinc alloy grades include 7000 series aluminum-zinc alloy (7075 and 7046).
In foreign countries, aluminum and aluminum alloy grades are usually indicated by four digits number or five digits number. The four digits number such as 7xxx, 6xxx like 7075 represent the grade of aluminum and aluminum alloy while the five digits number such as 5xxx like 5456 represent the specification of aluminum and aluminum alloy.
The four digit number is the main grade code of aluminum and aluminum alloy, which divides the aluminum and aluminum alloy into ten systems. The four digits number first of all indicates which class of alloy the aluminum and aluminum alloy belong to, such as system 7xxx refers to aluminum-zinc alloy and system 6xxx refers to aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy. In terms of specific grades, the four number can make a further distinction, such as 7001 means aluminum-zinc alloy and 6061 stands for aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy.
The five digits number indicates the specification of the aluminum and aluminum alloy. For different applications, the requirements for appearance, mechanical properties, chemical composition and other performance parameters for aluminum and its alloys may be different. The 5 digits number is used in this aspect. For example, the mechanical properties of 5454 aluminum alloy are different from that of 5457 aluminum alloy.
From the above introduction, it is easy to understand the numerical codes commonly used for aluminum and aluminum alloy. In the actual application, attention should be paid to the right choice of aluminum and aluminum alloy grades to meet the different requirements. For example, the medical industry, aerospace industry, and automobile industry all have their own specific grades, other grades are not suitable for these industries. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand the grade codes of aluminum and aluminum alloys in order to purchase the right materials.
