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2xxx Series Airplane Aluminum Plates: Different Grades

The 2xxx series aluminum alloys are high-strength aluminum alloys with copper as the main alloying element, widely used in the aerospace field, particularly suited for high-stress and high-strength structures. Different grades of 2xxx series aluminum sheets have their own characteristics and applications.

The 2xxx series aerospace aluminum alloys are aluminum alloys with copper as the primary alloying element. Due to their excellent strength and good machinability, they are widely used in the aerospace field.

2024 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2024 aluminum sheet is known for its high strength and good fatigue resistance. It has good mechanical properties, especially in the T3 temper, where it exhibits excellent stress resistance and high tensile strength, making it suitable for structural components subjected to prolonged loads.
  • Processing: 2024 aluminum sheet is often processed by cold working and hot working, and can be manufactured through extrusion, rolling, and forging. It is suitable for welding and heat treatment, though it may require post-welding heat treatment to restore its strength.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2024 aluminum sheet include T3, T351, and T4.

Applications of 2024 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aircraft skin
  • Aircraft structural frames
  • Aircraft wing and fuselage components
  • Fasteners and rivets

2219 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2219 aluminum alloy is known for its excellent high-temperature performance, making it particularly suitable for structural applications that require resistance to high temperatures and long-term stress. The high copper content in this alloy allows it to achieve very high strength after heat treatment, maintaining good mechanical properties at temperatures up to 300°C.
  • Processing: 2219 aluminum sheet can be produced through both hot and cold working, and it can be heat treated to enhance its strength. It has good weldability, especially for aerospace applications where high weld quality is required.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2219 aluminum sheet include T81, T851, and O temper.

Applications of 2219 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Rocket fuel tanks
  • Aerospace structures for high-temperature applications
  • Aircraft engine components

2014 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2014 aluminum alloy has very high mechanical strength and fatigue resistance, making it suitable for high-load aerospace structural components. This alloy is also highly machinable, though its corrosion resistance is relatively poor and often requires surface treatment to improve corrosion resistance.
  • Processing: 2014 aluminum sheet can be heat-treated for optimal strength and has good forgeability and machinability. Although it has poor weldability, its high strength makes it a preferred material for aerospace structural applications.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2014 aluminum sheet include T4, T6, and T651.

Applications of 2014 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aircraft landing gear components
  • Aircraft fuselage structures
  • High-load bearing structures

2124 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2124 aluminum alloy is an upgraded version of 2024 aluminum alloy, with enhanced strength and toughness through special processing, making it particularly suitable for aerospace structures that require high strength and good fatigue resistance. Compared to 2024, 2124 has better performance in fatigue crack growth rate and fracture toughness.
  • Processing: 2124 aluminum sheet is primarily processed through hot working and heat treatment, achieving excellent material properties through precise temperature control and process design.
  • Temper: The common temper for 2124 aluminum sheet is T851.

Applications of 2124 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aircraft skin
  • Wing panels
  • Main load-bearing aircraft structural components

2618 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2618 aluminum alloy has good high-temperature strength and creep resistance, making it widely used in aerospace structures that operate in high-temperature environments. Its high fatigue resistance and excellent wear resistance make it outstanding in engine components and high-temperature structures.
  • Processing: 2618 aluminum sheet is suitable for heat treatment, with good machinability and workability, making it suitable for processing complex shapes.
  • Temper: The common temper for 2618 aluminum sheet is T6.

Applications of 2618 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aircraft engine components
  • Aerospace turbine components
  • High-temperature structural components

2011 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2011 aluminum alloy is known for its excellent machinability and cutting performance, making it one of the easiest aluminum alloys to machine. It is well-suited for high-precision, high-efficiency machining applications, capable of quickly producing complex parts and details. However, due to its high copper content, 2011 aluminum sheet has poor corrosion resistance, making it unsuitable for structures requiring high corrosion resistance.
  • Processing: 2011 aluminum sheet is particularly suited for manufacturing through machining, excelling in turning, drilling, and milling processes. It is typically used for parts that require fast manufacturing and high precision.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2011 aluminum sheet include T3 and O temper.

Applications of 2011 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aerospace electronic components
  • Precision mechanical parts
  • Small internal aircraft structures

2025 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2025 aluminum alloy is a relatively new alloy in the 2xxx series, striking a good balance between strength and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in harsh environments while maintaining excellent strength and fatigue resistance.
  • Processing: 2025 aluminum sheet is manufactured through heat treatment and cold working processes, providing high strength and good fatigue resistance.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2025 aluminum sheet include T3 and T351.

Applications of 2025 Airplane Aluminum Sheet

  • Aircraft skin
  • Fuselage frames
  • High-strength structures

2090 Airplane Aluminum-Lithium Alloy Sheet

  • Characteristics: 2090 is an aluminum-lithium alloy with very low density and high strength, making it widely used in the aerospace field where lightweighting is important. Compared to traditional 2xxx series aluminum alloys, it has higher stiffness and better fatigue resistance, while also offering weight reduction.
  • Processing: 2090 aluminum sheet can be strengthened through heat treatment, and after rolling and forging, it can achieve excellent mechanical properties. Although its weldability is average, its lightweight and high strength characteristics give it a significant role in the aerospace field.
  • Temper: Common tempers for 2090 aluminum sheet include T83 and T86.

Applications of 2090 Airplane Aluminum-Lithium Alloy Sheet

  • Aircraft fuselage
  • Lightweight structural components

The 2xxx series aluminum sheets are known for their high strength and good fatigue resistance, particularly suited for aerospace structures that need to bear high loads. Depending on the specific grade, these aluminum sheets may also differ in high-temperature performance, corrosion resistance, and weldability.