A Comprehensive Comparison 2024-T3 and 2124 Aluminum Alloy Characteristics
2024-T3 aluminum alloy and 2124 aluminum alloy are both high-strength alloys commonly used in aerospace and other high-performance applications. They each have distinct advantages and are suited to specific application environments.
2024-T3 and 2124 aluminum alloys have wide applications in aerospace and high-performance structural materials. Although their alloy compositions are very similar, there are differences in many key material properties, and these differences lead to varying performance in specific applications.
2024-T3 and 2124 Aluminum Alloy Performance Comparison
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum Alloy | 2124 Aluminum Alloy |
| Tensile Strength | 480 MPa | 505 MPa |
| Ductility and Toughness | Excellent, suitable for high load-bearing, good fatigue resistance | Lower, higher strength but not suitable for applications with repetitive stresses |
| Electrical Conductivity and Thermal Conductivity | Lower | Higher |
| Heat Treatment State | T3 treated: good strength and toughness, but poor corrosion resistance | Suitable for high-strength requirements, but corrosion resistance and toughness are poorer |
| Corrosion Resistance | Poor, requires additional coating protection | Fair, typically requires surface treatment |
| Suitable Applications | Aerospace structural components, parts subject to high loads and repetitive stresses | High-strength electrical and thermal exchange applications, environments requiring high electrical conductivity |
- 2024-T3 Aluminum Alloy: More suitable for applications requiring high tensile strength and toughness, such as aerospace structural components, military aircraft, and any parts that need to withstand dynamic loads and repetitive stresses. 2024-T3 aluminum alloy is ideal for environments that endure high loads over extended periods.
- 2124 Aluminum Alloy: Suitable for applications with higher requirements for electrical performance and thermal management. When high strength is needed but frequent repetitive stresses are not a concern, 2124 aluminum alloy is a very good choice.
2024-T3 aluminum alloy is more suitable for structural components that endure high repetitive loads and fatigue, while 2124 aluminum alloy is better suited for applications requiring slightly higher electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and electrical performance.
2024 T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Alloy Composition Comparison
In terms of alloy composition, 2024-T3 and 2124 aluminum alloys have very similar basic compositions, with the main difference being that 2124 aluminum alloy has a slightly lower iron content and does not contain zirconium. These minor compositional differences may have some impact on the material's mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
| Element | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Aluminum (Al), % | 90.7 to 94.7 | 91.3 to 94.7 |
| Chromium (Cr), % | 0 to 0.1 | 0 to 0.1 |
| Copper (Cu), % | 3.8 to 4.9 | 3.8 to 4.9 |
| Iron (Fe), % | 0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.3 |
| Magnesium (Mg), % | 1.2 to 1.8 | 1.2 to 1.8 |
| Manganese (Mn), % | 0.3 to 0.9 | 0.3 to 0.9 |
| Silicon (Si), % | 0 to 0.5 | 0 to 0.2 |
| Titanium (Ti), % | 0 to 0.15 | 0 to 0.15 |
| Zinc (Zn), % | 0 to 0.25 | 0 to 0.25 |
| Zirconium (Zr), % | 0 to 0.2 | 0 |
| Residuals, % | 0 | 0 to 0.15 |
2024-T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Mechanical Properties Comparison
2024-T3 aluminum alloy excels in tensile strength, ductility, and fatigue strength, especially in ductility (15%), which is a significant advantage over 2124 aluminum alloy (5.7%). Although the tensile strength of 2124 aluminum alloy (71 ksi) is slightly higher than that of 2024-T3 (69 ksi), the high ductility of 2024-T3 makes it more ideal for applications requiring large deformations.
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, x 10⁶ psi | 10 | 10 |
| Elongation at Break, % | 15 | 5.7 |
| Fatigue Strength, x 10³ psi | 20 | 19 |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 |
| Shear Modulus, x 10⁶ psi | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Shear Strength, x 10³ psi | 41 | 41 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), x 10³ psi | 69 | 71 |
| Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), x 10³ psi | 47 | 62 |
2024 T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Thermal Properties Comparison
In terms of thermal performance, there is little difference between 2024-T3 aluminum alloy and 2124 aluminum alloy, with the main distinction being thermal conductivity. 2124 aluminum alloy has a higher thermal conductivity (88 BTU/h-ft-°F) compared to 2024-T3 (70 BTU/h-ft-°F), giving 2124 aluminum alloy an advantage in thermal management.
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g | 390 | 390 |
| Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °F | 390 | 380 |
| Melting Completion (Liquidus), °F | 1180 | 1180 |
| Melting Onset (Solidus), °F | 930 | 930 |
| Specific Heat Capacity, BTU/lb-°F | 0.21 | 0.21 |
| Thermal Conductivity, BTU/h-ft-°F | 70 | 88 |
| Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K | 23 | 23 |
2024 T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Electrical Properties Comparison
2124 aluminum alloy has a higher electrical conductivity than 2024-T3 aluminum alloy, both in terms of volumetric conductivity (38% IACS) and weight-based conductivity (110% IACS), which makes 2124 aluminum perform better in electrical applications.
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS | 30 | 38 |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS | 90 | 110 |
2024 T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Other Properties Comparison
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Base Metal Price, % relative | 11 | 10 |
| Density, lb/ft³ | 190 | 190 |
| Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Embodied Energy, x 10³ BTU/lb | 65 | 64 |
| Embodied Water, gal/lb | 140 | 140 |
2024 T3 Aluminum vs. 2124 Aluminum Common Calculations Comparison
In terms of toughness and thermal management, 2024-T3 aluminum alloy has higher toughness (in terms of fracture work) and modulus toughness, making it more suitable for applications requiring high impact resistance. However, 2124 aluminum alloy has higher thermal diffusivity (58 mm²/s), making it more suitable for environments with high demands for rapid heat dissipation.
| Property | 2024-T3 Aluminum | 2124 Aluminum |
| Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³ | 62 | 27 |
| Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³ | 740 | 1290 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points | 13 | 13 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points | 46 | 46 |
| Strength to Weight: Axial, points | 44 | 45 |
| Strength to Weight: Bending, points | 45 | 46 |
| Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s | 46 | 58 |
| Thermal Shock Resistance, points | 21 | 21 |
