The 7075 aluminum and 2024 aluminum series compare and contrast in an interesting way. While the 7075 aluminum is mainly comprised of Zinc, the latter has aluminum constituting 90-95%. Both have good resistance to fatigue and differ when it comes to heat treatment. Below are more details about 7075 aluminum VS. 2024 aluminum.
The 7075 aluminum has a density of 2.810 g/cm3. The mechanical properties are heavily dependent on the tempering of the 7075 aluminum. This means that the different alloy possess different mechanical properties. Below are some of the series and their mechanical properties.
7075-0 Aluminum
This category of 7075-O aluminum has a tensile strength of 280 MPa. Besides, the yield strength stands at 140 MPa. The elongation plays at 9-10%. This is the ability for the alloy to stretch before failure. In addition, the 7075-O aluminum has a high corrosion resistant power and its strength profile is considered good and acceptable by most manufacturers.
When it comes to elongation, there are exemptions. 7075-0 aluminum with a 1.59mm thickness has an elongation of 17% while that with a 12.7mm diameter elongates by 16% maximum. Besides, shear modulus and strength are 26.9 GPA and 152 MPa respectively.
With and electrical resistance of 0.00000380 ohm-cm, the alloy has a specific heat capacity of 0.96 J/g-degrees Celsius. In addition, the 7075-0 aluminum has annealing temperature of 413-degrees Celsius while the solution temperature ranges between 466 and 482 degrees Celsius.
With a thermal conductivity property of 173W/M-K, the alloy 7075 has aluminum as its major component. In its constitution you also have the metals below in small quantities:
- Zinc
- Chromium
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Iron, and
- Manganese, among other metals
7075- T6 Aluminum
The 7075T6 aluminum has a Brinell hardness of 150 and elastic modulus of 70 GPa. Besides, the ultimate and yield tensile strengths stand at 560 MPa and 480 MPa respectively. To add to that, 7075 aluminum with T6 temper has an elongation at break of 7.9%. To supplement this property, the fatigue strength sits at 160 MPa.
The 7075T6 aluminum also exhibits generally accepted thermal properties. To start off, the 7075-T6 aluminum has a melting onset solidus of 480-degrees Celsius topped up with a thermal conductivity score of 130 W/M-K. The specific heat capacity stands at 870J/Kg-K. These features make this 7075 aluminum a desirable one.
Finally, the electrical conductivity properties are as below:
- Equal weight – 98% IACS
- Equal volume – 33% IACS
7075-T651 Aluminum
The 7075T651 aluminum has a yield and ultimate tensile strength at 500 and 570 MPa. The failure elongation is 3-9% and these properties change from time to time. The material used determines the properties that will follow. This means that material is a really important factor in influencing the properties of this 7075 aluminum. Besides, the plate thickness also alters the strength and elongation properties of the 7075-T651 aluminum.
7075-T7 Aluminum
The 7075T7 aluminum is a product of heat treatment. After that, artificial overaging is utilized to stabilize the alloy. It’s also important to note that the metal is ranked second in the list of 7075 aluminum as far as ductility is concerned. Not only that, it has an elastic modulus of 70 GPa.
Below are other properties of the 7075T7 aluminum that you must know about. They include:
- Shear strength – 320 MPa
- Shear modulus – 26 GPa
- Poisson’s ratio – 0.32
- Elongation at break – 9.3%: Fatigue strength – 160 MPa
In addition, the alloy has amazing thermal properties. Some of the outstanding properties include its latent heat of fusion at 380 J/g and mechanical maximum temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. The specific heat capacity stands at 870 J/Kg-K and has a melting point of 640 degrees Celsius.
Applications of 7075 Aluminum
- Aerospace/defense applications
- Top line bike components
- Gliders
- Meter gears
- Fuse parts
- Missile parts
- Worm gears
- Air craft fittings
- Regulating valve parts
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Properties of 2024 Aluminum
The 2024 aluminum has about five series that we’re going to consider. Despite variances in some properties, most of the features are just close. Let’s have a deep look into the properties.
2024-0 Aluminum
This series has aluminum as its major components. In addition, the 2024 aluminum has other components like Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese. There are other tiny metals that may be considered insignificant due to their low percentage composition.
The yield and ultimate tensile strength is 75.8 and 186 MPa respectively. Besides, the 2024-O aluminum gives a 20% elongation at break for 1.6 mm thickness. For alloys that are 12.7mm thick, the elongation at break extends to 22%. Besides, this type of 2024 aluminum has a machinability of 30% and fatigue strength of 89.6.
The shear modulus and strength are 28 GPa and 124 MPa respectively. In addition, this series melts at between 502 and 638 degrees Celsius. Even at that, its thermal conductivity is 193 W/M-K. Also, the 2024 aluminum with O temper has an annealing temperature of 413 degrees Celsius and solution temperature of 256 degrees Celsius.
2024-T3 Aluminum
The 2024-T3 aluminum has an annealing and solution temperatures of 413 and 256 Degrees Celsius. Besides, the 2024 aluminum has a majority composition of aluminum which can constitute up to 94.7% of the alloy. Other components that make a small composition of the alloy include Chromium, Copper, Iron, and Magnesium. These together gives the 2024 aluminum a density of about 2.78g/cc.
With a notched tensile strength of 379 MPa and ultimate 483 MPa, the 2024T3 aluminum’s yield TS is 345 MPa. With that it breaks at elongation of 18%+. This may be due to its modulus of elasticity which stands at 73.1 GPa and Ultimate bearing strength of 855 MPa. Besides, the 2024-t3 aluminum has a bearing yield strength of 524 MPa.
The above features make it easy for manufacturers of fastening devices, missile parts, and computer parts among others apply this 2024 aluminum in their development. The alloy has also been used to make couplings and fuse parts.
Additional features of this 2024 aluminum include machinability of 70%, thermal conductivity of 121 W/m-K, and fatigue strength of 138 MPa. Also, 2024-T3 aluminum has shear modulus and strength of 28 and 283 MPa respectively. Finally, the alloy has a specific heat capacity of 0.875J/g-degrees Celsius.
2024- T4 Aluminum
This is an interesting alloy with a varying ultimate tensile strength ranging between 395 and 579 MPa. This is dependent of a number of factors. Conversely, the 2024-T4 aluminum has a yield TS of 260-421 MPa again dependent of various factors.
Other properties include annealing and solution temperatures of 413 and 493 degrees Celsius. On top of that, the 2024-T3 aluminum has a specific heat capacity of 0.875J/g- Degrees Celsius. With its thermal conductivity at 121 W/m-K, the alloy’s melting point is between 502 and 638 Degrees Celsius.
The 2024-T4 aluminum has most of its properties identical to 2024-T351. And that’s why they’re mostly used interchangeably. Going on, the alloy has an electrical resistivity of 0.00000582 ohm-cm and machinability of 70%. To conclude, this 2024 aluminum has shear modulus and strength of 28 GPa and 283 MPa.
With all the above features, the 2024T4 aluminum is commonly used to make aircraft fittings, couplings, missile parts, pistons, and rectifier parts among others.
Applications of 2024 Aluminum
- Aerospace industry e.g. fuselage and wing structures
- Aircraft fittings
- Truck wheels
- Hardware of various types
- Hydraulic manifolds
- Other transportation vehicle components
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Differences in Aluminum Alloy Compositions
The 2024 aluminum and 7075 aluminum have almost identical compositions. Below are the alloys’ composition.
The 7075 Aluminum Composition
- Aluminum > 90%
- Zinc – 5.1 – 6.1%
- Copper – 1.2 – 2%
- Iron – 0.5%
- Silicon – 0.4%
- Manganese – 0.3%
- Titanium – 0.2%
- Others – 0.15%
The 2024 Aluminum Composition
- Aluminum – 90.7-94.7%
- Copper – 3.8-4.9%
- Magnesium – 1.2-1.8%
- Manganese – 0.3-0.9%
- Iron – 0.5%
- Silicon – 0.5%
- Zinc – 0.25%
- Titanium – 0.15%
- Chromium – 0.1%
2024 Aluminum & 7075 Aluminum in the Aircraft Industry
The 7075 aluminum and 2024 aluminum have always been given priority in the aerospace industry. This is because of the aluminum’ strength to weight ratio which is at admirable levels. In most cases, precipitation hardening is used to enhance the strength of the alloys even further. When it’s done, the tensile and yield strengths are greatly increased. The tensile and yield strengths can rise to 83000 and 73000 respectively.
It’s also important to remember that these two alloys have arguably the best stress/strain resistance. Their fatigue resistance score is also desirable. These are some of the main reasons why they’re preferred in the aerospace industry.
The two alloys also have slight differences. Depending on the manufacturers’ intentions, one alloy of the two will be preferred over the other.
Alloy composition plays an important factor in determining its properties. The qualities then determine the application of the alloy. The 2024 aluminum and 7075 aluminum have a majority composition of aluminum but constitutes other metals that advances their properties into desirable ones. The aerospace and marine industries have really benefited from these two alloy. In the case where these two fall short, other processes have been done to enhance their properties.