The use of the correct alloy can mean your project is a success or failure when you are working on something that needs aluminum extrusions. Aluminum alloys are used for a reason, they have that versatile combination of strength with durability in corrosive environments. Yet, not all aluminum alloys are equal, and choosing the right one for you depends entirely on your needs. For starters, 7075 is renowned as one of the strongest aluminum alloys available and is therefore a popular choice for high-performance applications. But how does it stack up against other alloys, and is it the right choice for your project? So, what makes 7075 aluminum extrusions so great (and how do they compare to most of the popular alloys)?
What is 7075 Aluminum?
The 7075 is an aluminum alloy with zinc as the most important – it fuses to turn out a well-used material structure. It is one of the strongest aluminum alloys, as well as having an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Although initially designed for the aerospace industry, 7075 has become an essential material in mission-critical applications like automotive parts where strength and durability are a requirement.
Characteristics of 7075 Aluminum
Strength: 7075 aluminum, an aircraft grade alloy that is one of the most productive and widely-used options in the entire category giving less high tensile strength compared to many kinds of steel. It is therefore suitable for applications requiring high strength but with light weight.
Fatigue Resistance: 7075 boasts of great fatigue resistance, which means your components can undergo stress back and forth without failing- very essential for parts that flex or are loaded-unloaded cyclically.
Corrosion Resistance: 7075 aluminum gets better marks for corrosion resistance than other similarly high-strength alloys, but not as much protection is offered by it compared to some of the lower alloy content variants. Additional precautions, like anodizing or coating for places having severe corrosion conditions.
Workability: Because of its high strength, 7075 aluminum is harder to work with than other alloys. It is not as malleable and can be difficult to work with in terms of machining or welding.
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7075 Aluminum vs. Other Alloys
When deciding on whether 7075 aluminum is best for the application, it should be compared to other popularly used aluminum alloys such as 6061, and 2024 and even to more formable ones like alloy 5083. Different aluminum alloys have their individual properties which are useful to different applications as per the suitability of that particular property required in those application requirements available for aluminum.
7075 Aluminum vs. 6061 Aluminum
6061 aluminum is amongst the most widely utilized aluminum alloys. A frequently selected alloy for its balance of strength, corrosion resistance, and workability.
6061 vs 7075 Workability Differences
Both are relatively easy to work with, but if someone is going to be doing some heavy machining or welding, we think you will find that the 6061 has a clear advantage. In addition, 6061 aluminum provides much better corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use within marine-grade or moisture-exposed applications.
6061 vs 7075 Strength Differences
7075 aluminum is stronger than the more common alloy of choice in other machined parts: 6061. For the highest strength and durability, you want 7075 aluminum for your project. Conversely, for ease of fabrication and excellent corrosion resistance, you may wish to choose 6061 instead.
RELATED REFERENCE: 7075 VS 6061
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7075 Aluminum vs. 2024 Aluminum
Another high-strength alloy, 2024 aluminum is often used in aerospace applications for its outstanding fatigue resistance and strength-to-weight ratio. Just as strong and durable as 7075, but with better exhaustion resistance than the former. However, the 2024 aluminum has virtually no corrosion resistance, limiting its application in environments where it will be exposed to moisture or corrosive elements.
7075 is slightly higher in ultimate tensile strength but 2024 is recommended for fatigue-sensitive applications. Neither is particularly high in terms of corrosion resistance, so if the material will be used out where it can corrode you may need to take a few extra precautions.
REFERENCE: 7075 VS 2024
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7075 Aluminum vs. 5083 Aluminum
One of the most common uses for 5083 aluminum is in marine environments, given its excellent resistance to water and salt air. It is also a softer/more malleable alloy type than 7075, even easier to form and bend making it excellent for projects that may need extensive forming.
7075 aluminum is the stronger of the two and therefore a more suitable choice if your project requires high strength. 5083 aluminum is best applied in manufacturing elements for marine components due to great corrosion resistance.
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Find Out Which Aluminum Alloy is Best for Your Next Project
When should you use 7075 aluminum instead of other alloys like 6061,2024 or even 5083? Let us now discuss a few of the most important aspects that can help make your decision better.
Strength Access:
7075 is far and away the strongest of any commercially available aluminum alloy, consequently, it is used anywhere strength must be higher than that possible with other materials. It is especially good for aerospace, automotive, and military applications where high performance is needed.
High Corrosion Resistance:
For projects where corrosion resistance is paramount, 5052 aluminum is more suitable. It also gives 6061 good corrosion resistance in surroundings where the corrosion level is high.
Can be machined well, welded well, and bent easily?
You may not want to consider 7075 if your project involves a lot of machining or welding work. 6061 or even the more formable and weldable nature of aluminum such as 5083 could be better choices.
2024 aluminum has a slightly lower fatigue resistance than 7075, but it still performs well in applications where this is important. This makes it excellent for an aerospace application like others requiring high stresses.
Conclusion
The choice of aluminum alloy can mean the difference between optimum performance, durability, and more cost on your next project. The greatest strength remains aluminum 7075, but it isn’t always the best choice for your needs. To determine whether this is true for you, it pays to have a comparison of the 7075 Aluminum Extrusion which we manufacture against your application requirements. By comparing them with other popular alloys like these above. Also if specific information is needed then please send an enquiry to learn further. If you are still not sure which alloy is best for your application, talk to the aluminum extrusion professionals at Fonnov Aluminium.
To find out more details on our Aluminum Extrusion service and the way we can help you with your one-of-a-kind requirements, check out our Fonnov Aluminum website.
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