Expert Analysis: Comparing Aluminum Plate Properties

During the processing of aluminum plates, various alloy elements are added to endow the plates with specific mechanical properties.

There are seven series, numbered from 2 to 8. For instance, 2A21 belongs to the 2 series, 3003 to the 3 series, 5052 to the 5 series, and so on.

(1) The 1000 series, such as 1060, is pure aluminum, with aluminum being the main component, achieving over 99% purity.

(2) The 2000 series primarily contain copper as the alloy element. Copper content can reach 2%-5% or higher, depending on the application.

The hardness of the 2000 series is significantly higher than other grades, and due to its common use in aerospace, it’s also referred to as aviation aluminum.

Its limited domestic use and higher cost have resulted in fewer factories producing this series, with the 5052 series often replacing it.

(3) The 3000 series primarily contains manganese as the alloy element, with a manganese content between 2-5%.

Representative types of this series include the 3003 and 3A21 aluminum plates.

A key feature of the 3000 series is its rust-resistant properties, making it ideal for humid environments like air conditioning and refrigeration. It’s also more cost-effective compared to other alloy plates.

(4) The 4000 series, containing silicon as the alloy element, is not widely used.

(5) The 5000 series is the representative series of alloy aluminum plates, with popular types being 5052 and 5083. These are the most commonly used aluminum alloy plates domestically and internationally.

Focusing on the 5052 series, its advantages include lighter weight (density of 2.68), high tensile strength, good deformation resistance, and excellent extensibility (elongation rate of 15-30%).

This ensures good performance in applications requiring stamping and bending. Its primary alloy element is magnesium, offering excellent corrosion resistance and rust prevention capabilities, outperforming the 3003 series.

The 5052 series also has excellent anodizing properties, further enhancing its chemical advantages.

Hence, it’s often used in applications requiring high strength and good corrosion resistance, such as airplane fuel tanks, precision electronic components, building materials, security doors, etc.

(6) The 6000 series is a combination of the 4000 and 5000 series, with silicon and magnesium as the main alloy elements.

The representative grade is the 6061-T6 aluminum plate, which falls under the heat-treated category.

(7) The 7000 series, with 7075 as the representative grade, is similar to the 2000 series in hardness and performance. It’s not commonly used and is generally replaced by the 5000 series.

(8) The 8000 series, represented mainly by 8011, is typically used for bottle caps but is not very common.

Alloy aluminum plates can also be divided into cold-rolled and hot-rolled, with anodizing being the main distinguishing factor. Hot-rolled aluminum plates can undergo anodizing.

Classification of Certain Aluminum Plates and Corresponding Alloy Grades