Al. Alloy Question

admin

From your personnel experience what Aluminum alloys do you guys find to have good formability and weldability?  I'm currently working with some Al. that exhibits both qualities yet I have no idea what it is.  The metal bends nice (90 deg. +) and doesn't work harden quickly. I've been referencing my materials books and online sources and have found some conflicting info on what alloys match what I currently have.....help me out   Thanks !As a side note I primarily work with thin gauge (22-13)-Graham-Mechanical EngineerAutosport Mechanic/Fabricator
Reply:Hey graham,Hope I can get you on a track to solve some questions. I do a lot of alum. in various grades, structure, and configuration. I know that any malleable alum will be a wrought/extruded type that will have an excellent to fair weldability. The most common of these varieties will be the 3000, 5000 & 6000 series and in the case of very thin sheetmetal, the A & F 214 series is used. A few years back, I lucked into an Alcoa, 6 Vol. set of their aluminum manufacturing processes and materials. Fantastic referencing for most any alum. applications. I do believe some of the volumes may still be available on Amazon's book site. Hope that helps you a bit....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Originally Posted by grahamtheengineerFrom your personnel experience what Aluminum alloys do you guys find to have good formability and weldability?  I'm currently working with some Al. that exhibits both qualities yet I have no idea what it is.  The metal bends nice (90 deg. +) and doesn't work harden quickly. I've been referencing my materials books and online sources and have found some conflicting info on what alloys match what I currently have.....help me out   Thanks !As a side note I primarily work with thin gauge (22-13)
Reply:5052 is used in boats because it has a good resistance to brackish waters as well as salt water if flushed after use. I did find that nobody I know uses 5052 for filler rod. As rojo indicated, he uses 4043. That just seems odd to me. I know it is an industry accepted practice, but just strikes me as odd. Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:Originally Posted by Joker115052 is used in boats because it has a good resistance to brackish waters as well as salt water if flushed after use. I did find that nobody I know uses 5052 for filler rod. As rojo indicated, he uses 4043. That just seems odd to me. I know it is an industry accepted practice, but just strikes me as odd.
Reply:Welding 5000 series aluminum with 4043 really won't hurt anything unless you run into cracking or you plan on annodizing later.  5000 series contains magnesium, which is why it seems to hold up better in corrosive environments.  5356 was made for 5000 series aluminum.
Reply:graham, i suspect you're probably working with 3003- almost as formable as pure Al but stronger, welds well and has pretty good corrosion resistance. 5052 would be the other common contender- as stated it's formable, welds well and has better corrosion properties. yield is about twice that of 3003to expand on what's been said about filler choice...Al is prone to solidification cracking when certain amounts of copper, magnesium and/or silicon are present. filler is used to vary the % of these alloying elements to keep the weld metal out of the crack sensitive range. magnesium in an Al weld between 0.5 - 3% gives a crack sensitive structure. less alloyed 5*** series (below 3% Mg- 5052 is around 2%Mg) can be welded with either 4*** or 5*** filler- to dilute or enrich the Mg beyond crack sensitive range. if more Mg is present 5*** filler is needed to prevent the formation of excessive amounts of magnesium silicide (the reason that 6*** series is crack sensitive).personally i use 5356 over 4043 where possible- better shear strength and less brittle