Aluminum Alloy Tempers Available
When considering using extruded aluminum as the solution for a project, We should be very familiar with aluminum alloys and tempers. Considering it is not so easy to comprehensively and deeply understand the knowledge of all alloys and tempers. So rather than attempt to be an alloy expert yourself, maybe it is better that we work together to solve the problems. You can involve us at the early stage of your project to discuss the component or product's end use and your specific requirements, such as strength, environmental conditions, finish, and fabrication needs. Let the extruder's engineer and expert help you.
The 6000 series is the most widely use aluminum alloys. The 6 series doesn't work-harden quickly so it can be more easily extruded and profiles manufactured more cost-effectively. The 7000 series is the strongest alloy and popular for aviation, automotive and marine applications, but it need higher forces to extrude.
But basing on the composition alone for selecting an alloy is not enough because aluminum can be further strengthened and hardened by using quenching (cooling), heat treatment, and/or cold working techniques. For example, alloy 6063, as a typical good match for decorative purposes, offers an excellent surface finish and can be used to extrude thin walls or fine details. Un-heat-treated 6063 seems limited because it has low strength and yield strength. But when T6 tempered (6063-T6), its strength and yield strength will be greatly increased and this makes alloy 6063 suited to architectural applications, particularly window and door frames.
In the table, we list part of the most common temper status we provided for your reference.
| Temper | Description |
| O | Full soft (annealed) |
| F | As fabricated |
| T4 | Solution heat treated and naturally aged |
| T5 | Cooled from hot working and artificially aged (at elevated temperature) |
| T6 | Solution heat treated and artificially aged |
| H112 | Strain hardened (applies to 3003 only) |
The temper of each alloy can also create considerable variances in the characteristics and how they react to variances Fabrication Processes.
| Alloy Grade | Strength | Anodize Response | Machinability | Typical Applications |
| 1100 | Low | C | E | Multi-Hollows, Electrical Conductivity |
| 3003 | Low | C | D | Flexible Tubing, Heat Transfer |
| 6063 | Medium | A | C | LED Lighting Fixtures, Heat Sinks |
| 6061 | Medium | B | B | Paint Ball Gun Barrels, Telescoping Driveshafts |
| 7075 | High | D | A | Structural Aircraft Components, Firearms |
Scale: A through E, A = best
Other alloys available upon request.