Aluminium Alloy Grades — Series by Series
The first four digits of an aluminium grade tell you the alloying element, and that tells you almost everything about how it behaves. This guide goes by series; each series has its own page with the individual grades.
Series at a Glance
| Series | Alloying element | Heat treatable | Common grades | Best known for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xxx | Commercial Pure Aluminium | No | 1050 · 1060 · 1070 · 1100 · 1235 | Cookware · Foil · Signage · Chemical equipment | Detail → |
| 2xxx | Aluminium–Copper | Yes | 2014 · 2024 · 2A12 · 2219 | Aircraft structure · Truck wheel · Screw machine part · High-load fitting | Detail → |
| 3xxx | Aluminium–Manganese | No | 3003 · 3004 · 3005 · 3105 · 3A21 | Roofing · Siding · Beverage can body · Heat exchanger | Detail → |
| 5xxx | Aluminium–Magnesium | No | 5005 · 5052 · 5083 · 5086 · 5182 · 5251 · 5754 · 5A06 | Ship hull · Vehicle body · Pressure vessel · Offshore platform | Detail → |
| 6xxx | Aluminium–Magnesium–Silicon | Yes | 6060 · 6061 · 6063 · 6005 · 6082 · 6463 | Window & door frame · Solar frame · Heat sink · Structural section | Detail → |
| 7xxx | Aluminium–Zinc | Yes | 7005 · 7050 · 7075 · 7A09 | Aircraft structure · Aerospace tooling · Bicycle frame · High-stress mould | Detail → |
| 8xxx | Aluminium–Other (Foil & Special) | No | 8011 · 8021 · 8079 | Household foil · Pharma blister · Capacitor foil · Cable wrap | Detail → |
Temper designations
What H and T Actually Mean
The suffix after the grade is not decoration — it is the mechanical condition of the metal, and it changes strength more than the alloy does.
H tempers — strain hardened
H1x strain hardened only · H2x strain hardened then partially annealed · H3x strain hardened then stabilised. The second digit is the degree: H12 is quarter hard, H14 half hard, H18 full hard. Commonly seen on 1xxx, 3xxx and 5xxx sheet.
T tempers — heat treated
T4 solution treated and naturally aged · T5 cooled from extrusion and artificially aged · T6 solution treated and artificially aged · T651 T6 plus stress relief by stretching (the one to specify for machining stock). Only applies to 2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx.
O — annealed
Full soft condition. Maximum ductility, minimum strength. This is what you want for deep drawing, spinning and severe forming — 1050-O and 3003-O are the standard drawing blanks.
F — as fabricated
No mechanical property limit specified. Normal for castings and some extrusions where the shape, not the strength, governs the part.
Quick selection
Three-Question Shortcut
Does it get welded?
Yes → 5xxx (5052, 5083). 6xxx welds acceptably but loses strength in the heat-affected zone. Avoid 2xxx and most 7xxx.
Does it get anodised?
Yes → 6xxx for extrusions (best cosmetic response), 5xxx or 1xxx for sheet. 2xxx and 7xxx anodise poorly and unevenly.
Does it sit in salt water?
Yes → 5xxx with magnesium (5083, 5086, 5754). Never 2xxx below the waterline; 6xxx only with proper coating.