Aluminum is with 8% the third most common element on earth after oxygen and silicon. Due to its low density of 2.7g / cm³, it has only one third of the weight of steel and is almost half as heavy as titanium. The weight of the different metals depends primarily on the alloy used. For carbon, the weight is mainly dependent on the resin mixture used.
Aluminum Density / Specific Gravity:
Steel: 7,5g – 8,5g / cm³
Titanium: 4,5g – 4,8g / cm³
Aluminum: 2,7g / cm³
Carbon: 1,5g / cm³
An aluminum alloy united very many advantages. Compared to steel, aluminum is very light (aluminum density = 2.7g / cm³) and at the same time very strong. It can be hardened and many high-strength alloys with specific properties are available. For many applications the strength is sufficient and due to the advantages of an aluminum alloy it is often the best choice of material.
Further advantages are the insensitivity to temperature fluctuations, it is UV-resistant, corrosion-resistant, electrically conductive, hygienic and magnetically neutral. As a surface finish, aluminum can be powder coated or anodized in almost any color. Passivation is also possible, it has the advantage that the surface is electrically conductive. For many applications this is a very important property.
In der folgenden Tabelle stellen wir die Eigenschaften von Aluminium und Stahl gegenüber. Bei vielen Eigenschaften ist das Material Aluminium besser als Stahl. Wobei man auch klar sagen muss, dass bei einigen Anwendungen kein Weg an Stahl vorbeigeht.
Properties |
Aluminum Properties |
Steel Properties |
Weight | very low (2,7g / m³) | high (7,5g - 8,5g / m³) |
Durability | very high | very high |
Formability | very high | partly high, depending on steel grade |
Machining possibilities | practically everything possible | partly limited, depending on steel grade |
Corrosion | none | possible, even with stainless steel under certain circumstances |
Thermal conductivity | very good | moderate |
Stromleitfähigkeit | very good | moderate |
Hygiene and food safety | very good | with certain steel alloys also very good |
Weather resistance | very high | high with certain steel alloys, otherwise low |
Ecology |
100% recyclable, high energy input during extraction |
Extraction requires less energy therefore ecologically advantageous |
Aluminum alloys have various specific properties that combine advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the application, it is advisable to use the right alloy and thus take advantage of the benefits.
Aluminum alloys are mainly composed of the following elements:
The various elements change the properties of aluminum alloys as follows.
Element: | Property: |
Magnesium (Mg) | Greatly increases strength and corrosion resistance. |
Silicon (Si) | Improves flow properties and is therefore used in casting alloys. |
Manganese (Mn) | Causes good formability and inhibits recrystallization. |
Zinc (Zn) | Increases strength and hardness, the deteriorates. |
Copper (Ku) | Increases the strength and toughness, the corrosion corrosion resistance becomes worse. |
In the following table you will find an overview of the various common aluminum alloys and the aluminum properties, as far as machining is concerned. We have evaluated the topics of aluminum forming, aluminum machining, aluminum welding, aluminum corrosion and aluminum anodizing in a table.
Aluminum EN standard |
old standard |
Aluminum Forming |
Aluminum Metal cutting |
Aluminum Welding |
Aluminum Corrosion |
Aluminum Anodizing |
EN AW-1050A | AL99,5 | very good | not good | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-1350 | E-AL | very good | not good | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-2007 | AlCuMgPb | moderate | very good | moderate | moderate | not good |
EN AW-2011 | AlCUBiPb | moderate | very good | moderate | moderate | not good |
EN AW-2017 | AlCuMg1 | moderate | very good | not good | moderate | not good |
EN AW-2024 | AlCuMg2 | moderate | good | not good | moderate | not good |
EN AW-5005 | ALMg1 | very good | moderate | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-5056A | AlMg5 | moderate | very good | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-5083 | AlMg4,5Mn | moderate | very good | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-5754 | AlMg3 | good | very good | very good | very good | good |
EN AW-6012 | AlMgSiPb | good | very good | good | very good | not good |
EN AW-6060 | AlMgSi0,5 | good | moderate | good | very good | good |
EN AW-6061 | Mg1SiCu | good | moderate | good | very good | not good |
EN AW-6082 | ALMgSi1 | good | very good | moderate | very good | medium |
EN AW-7020 | AlZn4,5Mg1 | difficult | very good | good | moderate | medium |
EN AW-7022 | AlZnMgCu0,5 | difficult | very good | moderate | moderate | medium |
EN AW-7075 | AlZnMgCu1,5 | difficult | very good | good | very good | medium |
* All data without guarantee.
In the following table you will find the physical properties of aluminum alloys clearly listed.
Aluminum EN standard |
old standard |
Aluminum Hardness in ( Brinell ) |
Aluminum Tensile strength in ( N/mm² ) |
Aluminum Yield strength in ( N/mm² ) |
Aluminum Thermal conductivity in ( W/cm°C ) |
EN AW-1050A | AL99,5 | 22 - 35 | 75 - 110 | 20 - 60 | 2,1 - 2,2 |
EN AW-2007 | AlCuMgPb | 100 - 140 | 370 - 470 | 250 - 325 | 1,3 - 1,5 |
EN AW-2011 | AlCUBiPb | 110 - 130 | 370 - 410 | 270 - 315 | 1,4 - 1,6 |
EN AW-2017 | AlCuMg1 | 95 - 130 | 385 - 460 | 245 - 340 | 1,3 - 1,7 |
EN AW-5005 | ALMg1 | 29 - 58 | 145 - 185 | 110 - 120 | 1,6 - 2,2 |
EN AW-5083 | AlMg4,5Mn | 70 - 100 | 275 - 315 | 125 - 180 | 1,1 - 1,4 |
EN AW-5754 | AlMg3 | 50 - 80 | 190 - 250 | 80 - 140 | 1,4 - 1,6 |
EN AW-6012 | AlMgSiPb | 80 - 120 | 275 - 390 | 200 - 370 | 1,5 - 1,9 |
EN AW-6060 | AlMgSi0,5 | 70 - 80 | 215 - 260 | 160 - 230 | 2,0 - 2,2 |
EN AW-6061 | Mg1SiCu | 58 - 88 | 180 - 290 | 110 - 240 | 1,7 - 2,0 |
EN AW-6082 | ALMgSi1 | 95 - 105 | 300 - 350 | 240 - 320 | 1,5 - 1,9 |
EN AW-7020 | AlZn4,5Mg1 | 95 - 105 | 330 - 350 | 260 - 280 | 1,3 - 1,6 |
EN AW-7021 | ALZn5,5Mg1,5 | 110 - 120 | 320 - 380 | 290 - 340 | 1,25 - 1,55 |
EN AW-7022 | AlZnMgCu0,5 | 165 - 170 | 410 - 520 | 330 - 460 | 1,25 - 1,55 |
EN AW-7075 | AlZnMgCu1,5 | 130 - 160 | 480 - 540 | 390 - 470 | 1,25 - 1,55 |
* All data without guarantee.
7075 Alu stands out among the many alloys available. The area of application for 7075 Alu includes highly stressed structures in aerospace and military applications. It is also known as aircraft aluminum. AW-7075 combines properties such as: Strength, stiffness, elasticity and corrosion resistance almost perfectly, while also being very light.
From this exceptional material there are a variety of products, including aluminum screws.