Effect of Alloying Element

1000 series. 99 percent aluminum or higher, excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, low mechanical properties, excellent workability. Iron and silicon are major impurities.

2000 series. Copper is the principal alloying element. Solution heat treatment, optimum properties equal to mild steel, poor corrosion resistance unclad. It is usually clad with 6000 or high purity alloy. Its best known alloy is 2024.

3000 series. Manganese is the principal alloying element of this group which is generally non-heat treatable. The percentage of manganese which will be alloy effective is 1.5 percent. The most popular is 3003, which is of moderate strength and has good working characteristics.

4000 series. Silicon is the principal alloying element of this group, and lowers melting temperature. Its primary use is in welding and brazing. When used in welding heat-treatable alloys, this group will respond to a limited amount of heat treatment.

5000 series. Magnesium is the principal alloying element. It has good welding and corrosion resistant characteristics. High temperatures (over 150 °F) or excessive cold working will increase susceptibility to corrosion.

6000 series. Silicon and magnesium form magnesium silicide which makes alloys heat treatable. It is of medium strength, good forming qualities, and has corrosion resistant characteristics.

7000 series. Zinc is the principal alloying element. The most popular alloy of the series is 6061. When coupled with magnesium, it results in heat-treatable alloys of very high strength. It usually has copper and chromium added. The principal alloy of this group is 7075.