The strong growth of Aluminum Industries, brought a significant aluminum products increase, which in an effort to maintain their selves in first line, they had developed a diversified quantity of alloys for each particular use, for that reason it was needed to create a familiar groups system that regulates and assigns the alloys.

Around 1954 "The Aluminum Association Alloy Designation System For Wrought Aluminum" published a proposal system brochure that was accepted by the alloy producers majority in the same year. This system was also approved by the American Standard Association 3 years later, and starts to be used by the American Society for Testing Materials in 1958.

The system consists in 4 digits that indicates the following:

The first digit corresponds to the alloy group; the second to modifications made to the original alloy regarding to impurity limit; the last 2 digits identifies the aluminum alloy of the group or the purity contents.

Aluminum Alloy designation by chemical element with major content.
Aluminum	99.00% minimum or maximum purity	1xxx
Cooper		2xxx
Manganese		3xxx
Silicon		4xxx
Magnesium		5xxx
Magnesium-Silicon		6xxx
Zinc		7xxx
Other elements		8xxx
N/A		9xxx

 

 

 

Aluminum alloy extrusion properties
*Alloy & temper	Ultimate tensile strength Kg cm 2	Yielding point Kg cm 2	Superficial hardness (1) Rockwell "F"	Superficial Hardness (2) Brinell
1100 O	915	360		23
F	1,200	1,050		28
6061 T-4	2,500	1,500	87	65
T-6	3,170	2,850	63	95
6063 - T5	1,900	1,480	75	60
T-6	2,500	2,200	85	74
T-8	2,960	2,750	73	90
*6105 T-5	2,300	1,600	78	70
T-6	2,500	2,750	78	80

 

PHYSICAL
*Alloy & Temper	Approximate fusion temperature °C	Electric conductivity IACS.	Thermal conductivity 25°C CGS Units Cm3 (3)	Specific weight GMS. Cm3
1100 O	640-660	59	0.53	2.71
F	640-660	59	0.53	2.71
6061 T-4	680-650	34	0.46	2.79
T-6	680-650	29	0.28	2.64
6063 - T5	600-650	29	0.28	2.64
T-6	600-650	40	0.37	2.70
T-8	600-650	43	0.40	2.70
**6105 T-5	580-650	53	0.48	2.70
T-6	580-650	50	0.46	2.70

* Alloys and temples most used by market.
** Alloy & Temper recommended by CUPRUM, S.A. for high mechanical resistance hollow products.
(1) Rockwell "F" 1/16 in ball diameter & 60 kgf load.
(2) Brinell: 10 mm ball diameter y 500 kgf load.
(3) CGS unit. One calorie gram per second, by square centimeter, by thickness centimeter by centigrade grade.

 

 

*Alloy	Apropiate Profiles	Characteristics	Recommended applications
1100	Round, hexagonal, square and hollow bars.	High corrosion resistance material, workability and ductility. Low structural resistance. Good coatings acceptance, anodize response.	Tubing for: chemical products, gases or liquids; food recipients; decorative elements.
6061	Several profiles, round, square and hexagonal bars.	High corrosion resistance material, high structural resistance and low ductility.	Structural members; transportation equipment, furniture fabrication, fences, ladders y bridges.
6063	Variety of Profiles	High corrosion resistance material, anodize response; excellent finish, average structural resistance.	Rails, windows, doors, furniture fabrication, tubing.
6105	Variety of hollow Profiles	High corrosion resistance material, high structural resistance acceptable formability	High resistance profiles, structural members, furniture.