2014 T4 vs 2014-T6: Understanding the Key Differences for Aerospace Use

2014-T6 is generally stronger and harder, while 2014-T4 has better ductility and fatigue strength. These differences make each temper more suitable for specific applications.

In the aerospace field, 2014 aluminum alloy is widely used for manufacturing high-strength structural components due to its excellent mechanical properties, good workability, and outstanding corrosion resistance. 2014 aluminum comes in different heat treatment conditions, with T4 and T6 being the most common, representing the natural aging (T4) and artificial aging (T6) states, respectively.

• 2014-T4 aluminum alloy is suitable for applications requiring good ductility, higher fatigue strength, and lower hardness, especially for parts subjected to long-term cyclic loads or complex forming processes.
• 2014-T6 aluminum alloy, on the other hand, is more suitable for parts subjected to high strength, larger tensile and shear loads. Although it has lower ductility, it performs better in high-stress environments and is commonly used in aircraft structures and high-strength fasteners.

The choice between T4 or T6 aluminum alloy depends on the specific application requirements. For parts subjected to high stress and heavy loads, T6 aluminum is undoubtedly the best choice, while for parts requiring high fatigue strength and excellent workability, T4 aluminum should be selected.

Applications of 2014-T4 and 2014-T6 Aluminum Alloys in Aerospace

Applications of 2014-T4 Aluminum Alloy

• Fatigue load-bearing parts: Due to its better ductility and fatigue strength, 2014-T4 aluminum is suitable for parts subjected to cyclic loads, such as aircraft structural frames, fuselage support components, and long-load-bearing brackets and rods.
• Forming parts: Its better ductility makes T4 aluminum suitable for parts that require complex forming processes, such as complex curved aircraft panels and wing skins.

Applications of 2014-T6 Aluminum Alloy

• High-strength load-bearing parts: Due to the higher tensile strength and hardness of T6 aluminum, it is commonly used for parts subjected to large loads and high stress, such as wing spars, fuselage frames, landing gear components, and engine parts.
• Fasteners and brackets: Its higher shear strength makes T6 aluminum suitable for manufacturing fasteners and brackets in aerospace components, especially those areas that need to bear large shear forces.

Main Differences Between 2014-T4 and 2014-T6 Aluminum Alloys

• 2014-T4 aluminum alloy is suitable for applications requiring higher plasticity and better fatigue strength, especially in parts subjected to cyclic loads and complex processing.
• 2014-T6 aluminum alloy is suitable for high-strength, high-hardness applications, especially in aircraft structural components and parts subjected to larger tensile or shear forces.

2014 T4 vs 2014-T6 Mechanical Properties