Principal Design Features		An age hardening, high strength aluminum alloy. Useful for optimum strength to weight ratio structures.

Applications		Commonly used in the manufacture of truck wheels, aircraft structures, and screw machine products, scientific instruments, veterinary and orthopedic braces and equipment, and in rivets.

Machinability		The machining characteristics of AL 2024 are fair in the heat treated condition, which is the condition in which most machining is done. Machinability in the annealed condition is good. Use of oil lubricants is recommended for all machining operations.

Forming		The alloy may be formed by conventional methods, except that hot forming should be avoided - see "Hot Working".

Welding		Welding may be done by use of resistance welding or inert gas consumable electrode arc method. However it must be noted that, in general, welding by any means is NOT recommended for this alloy because of the degradation of corrosion resistance that occurs as a result of weld heat. A repeat heat treatment should be done if welded.

Heat Treatment		This is an age-hardening alloy and responds to heat treatment to accomplish the strengthening (aging). See "Annealing" and " Aging". The T4 condition is attained by a 920 F heating followed by cold water quench and aging at room temperature. T6 by the same 920 F and quench followed by 375 F for 10 hours and air cooling

Forging		The alloy may be forged. However subsequent heat treatment is necessary in order to retain reasonable corrosion resistance.

Hot Working		Hot forming should be avoided if possible because of the harmful effect of heating upon corrosion resistance. If, for example, T4 condition is hot worked it is the necessary to age the part to the T6 condition to restore corrosion resistance.

Cold Working		Cold working of this alloy is readily done by conventional methods. Ductility In the annealed condition is best and bend radii of 1/2 to 1 times thickness are possible for sheet 1/4 " thick, or thinner. For T3 or T4 conditions bend radii of 5 to 6 times thickness are required.

Annealing		Annealing is done at 750 to 800 F for at least 2 hours at temperature, followed by slow cooling in the furnace. This will anneal the alloy from a heat treated condition. Annealing between cold work operations may be done at 650 F for 2 hours, followed by air cooling.

Aging		The T4 condition is attained by a 920 F heating and cold water quench. Aging then occurs at room temperature. For T6 condition use the same 920 F and water quench procedure then reheat to 375 F for 10 hours and air cool. Other conditions are a result of the T4 condition followed by controlled amounts of cold working.

Tempering		Not applicable to this alloy.

Hardening		Hardening, or strengthening, occurs from a solution anneal and aging at room temperature or varying amounts of cold working,

Other Physical Props		Electrical conductivity is 35% that of copper.

Other Mechanical Props		Shear strength in the annealed condition is 18 ksi. For T3 and T4 condition it is much stronger, 41 ksi.

Physical Data : [top]

Density (lb / cu. in.)	0.1
Specific Gravity	2.78
Melting Point (Deg F)	950
Modulus of Elasticity Tension	10.6
Modulus of Elasticity Torsion	4

Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		-320
Tensile Strength		84
Yield Strength		61
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		-112
Tensile Strength		71
Yield Strength		49
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		-18
Tensile Strength		69
Yield Strength		47
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		75
Tensile Strength		68
Yield Strength		47
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		212
Tensile Strength		63
Yield Strength		45
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		300
Tensile Strength		45
Yield Strength		36
Elongation		17
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		400
Tensile Strength		26
Yield Strength		19
Elongation		27
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		500
Tensile Strength		11
Yield Strength		9
Elongation		55
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		600
Tensile Strength		7.5
Yield Strength		6
Elongation		75
Form		Plate
Condition		T351
Temper		700
Tensile Strength		5
Yield Strength		4
Elongation		100
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		-320
Tensile Strength		84
Yield Strength		61
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		-112
Tensile Strength		71
Yield Strength		49
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		-18
Tensile Strength		69
Yield Strength		47
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		75
Tensile Strength		68
Yield Strength		47
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		212
Tensile Strength		63
Yield Strength		45
Elongation		19
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		300
Tensile Strength		45
Yield Strength		36
Elongation		17
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		400
Tensile Strength		26
Yield Strength		19
Elongation		27
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		500
Tensile Strength		11
Yield Strength		9
Elongation		55
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		600
Tensile Strength		7.5
Yield Strength		6
Elongation		75
Form		Plate
Condition		T4
Temper		700
Tensile Strength		5
Yield Strength		4
Elongation		100
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		-320
Tensile Strength		85
Yield Strength		62
Elongation		18
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		-112
Tensile Strength		73
Yield Strength		52
Elongation		17
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		-18
Tensile Strength		72
Yield Strength		51
Elongation		17
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		75
Tensile Strength		70
Yield Strength		50
Elongation		17
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		212
Tensile Strength		66
Yield Strength		48
Elongation		16
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		300
Tensile Strength		55
Yield Strength		45
Elongation		11
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		400
Tensile Strength		27
Yield Strength		20
Elongation		23
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		500
Tensile Strength		11
Yield Strength		9
Elongation		55
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		600
Tensile Strength		7.5
Yield Strength		6
Elongation		75
Form		Sheet
Condition		T3
Temper		700
Tensile Strength		5
Yield Strength		4
Elongation		100