Aluminum 2024

Principal Design Features

An age hardening, high strength aluminum alloy. Useful for optimum strength to weight ratio structures.

Applications

Commonly used in the manufacture of truck wheels, aircraft structures, and screw machine products, scientific instruments, veterinary and orthopedic braces and equipment, and in rivets.

Machinability

The machining characteristics of AL 2024 are fair in the heat treated condition, which is the condition in which most machining is done. Machinability in the annealed condition is good. Use of oil lubricants is recommended for all machining operations.

Forming

The alloy may be formed by conventional methods, except that hot forming should be avoided – see “Hot Working”.

Welding

Welding may be done by use of resistance welding or inert gas consumable electrode arc method. However it must be noted that, in general, welding by any means is NOT recommended for this alloy because of the degradation of corrosion resistance that occurs as a result of weld heat. A repeat heat treatment should be done if welded.

Heat Treatment

This is an age-hardening alloy and responds to heat treatment to accomplish the strengthening (aging). See “Annealing” and ” Aging”. The T4 condition is attained by a 920 F heating followed by cold water quench and aging at room temperature. T6 by the same 920 F and quench followed by 375 F for 10 hours and air cooling

Forging

The alloy may be forged. However subsequent heat treatment is necessary in order to retain reasonable corrosion resistance.

Hot Working

Hot forming should be avoided if possible because of the harmful effect of heating upon corrosion resistance. If, for example, T4 condition is hot worked it is the necessary to age the part to the T6 condition to restore corrosion resistance.

Cold Working

Cold working of this alloy is readily done by conventional methods. Ductility In the annealed condition is best and bend radii of 1/2 to 1 times thickness are possible for sheet 1/4 ” thick, or thinner. For T3 or T4 conditions bend radii of 5 to 6 times

Annealing

Annealing is done at 750 to 800 F for at least 2 hours at temperature, followed by slow cooling in the furnace. This will anneal the alloy from a heat treated condition. Annealing between cold work operations may be done at 650 F for 2 hours, followed b

Aging

The T4 condition is attained by a 920 F heating and cold water quench. Aging then occurs at room temperature. For T6 condition use the same 920 F and water quench procedure then reheat to 375 F for 10 hours and air cool. Other conditions are a result o