Tempering name for aluminum

 　　Aluminum is known for its versatility; Although its excellent corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity are very useful in many applications, the flexibility and adaptability of aluminum's mechanical properties make it a widely used metal. The mechanical properties of aluminum can be changed in many ways (such as adding alloy elements or work hardening), but one of the most popular ways to change the mechanical properties of some grades of aluminum is through tempering. Due to the significant impact of tempering on aluminum alloys, it is important to understand the names and meanings of aluminum tempering, so that misunderstandings do not lead to cracking and failure.

　　What is the name for aluminum tempering?

　　The aluminum tempering name is a series of letters and numbers used to indicate the type of tempering treatment that aluminum alloys have undergone. The tempering name is preceded by a dash and placed after the aluminum alloy name (such as 6061-T6). Understanding the meaning of aluminum tempering names is crucial for selecting the correct material. This is important because one aluminum alloy may have exactly the same chemical composition as another, but if the two have different tempering names, the mechanical properties of the two alloys may be significantly different.

　　What is the name for aluminum tempering?

　　There are four main types of aluminum tempering names. The type is represented by a letter before a number. The four letter names are:

　　T: Heat treatment

　　H: Strain hardening

　　O: Annealing

　　F: Fabrication

　　The letter of the aluminum tempering name is followed by a number. These numbers accurately specify the execution method of the tempering method. For example, both T5 and T6 undergo heat treatment, but T5 indicates that the aluminum alloy is cooled and artificially aged during the high-temperature forming process, while T6 undergoes solution heat treatment and then artificially aged. The difference in numbers in the name of aluminum tempering can inform buyers of aluminum alloys of subtle differences that may have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the alloy.

　　Although many numerical variants can be used, the 'T' numerical variant may be the most commonly used and important understanding. The following are explanations for some variations of the "T" name number:

　　T1: Natural aging after cooling from high temperature during the forming process

　　T2: Cooling through high-temperature forming process, cold working, and then natural aging

　　T3: Solution heat treatment, cold processing, and then natural aging

　　T4: Natural aging after solution heat treatment

　　T5: Artificial aging after cooling from high temperature during the forming process

　　T6: Human induced aging after cooling from solution heat treatment

　　T7: Overage after solution heat treatment

　　T8: Solution heat treatment, cold processing, and then artificial aging

　　T9: Solution heat treatment, artificial aging, and then cold processing

　　T10: Cooling from high-temperature forming process, cold working, and then artificial aging

　　For the meaning of the numbers after the letter tempering names (such as "O", "H", and "F"), it is best to obtain the technical data sheet of the aluminum alloy to determine the exact meaning of the tempering name.