Today aluminum alloys gained deserved popularity and are widely used both for production hozyaystvenno of household products, and for production of various sports equipment. Very often in characteristics of a product it is possible to meet data on the aluminum alloy used for production. But if not to understand marking, then the encrypted information will remain just a set of letters. We suggest you to study the list of the main aluminum alloys which will occur to you in the list of characteristics of any modern product briefly.
Aluminum alloys are used instead of steel not so long ago and their low weight acts as the main advantage. They have much bigger specific durability. It means what for ensuring equal durability will be required to 10 g of aluminum or 50 g became (the coefficient is chosen randomly for an example).
All aluminum alloys subdivide into alpaxes and duralyumina. Alpaxes is called silicon alloy from aluminum, duralyuminam – alloy of aluminum and copper (presence and the additional alloying additives is possible).
To sports products it is most often applied duralyumin. It is possible to meet alpaxes only in the bicycle sphere - there fork trousers are made of it. Other stock is made of duralumin.
Others to you V-95T, AD33 and D16T alloys will meet more often. Also such markings as 6061, 7005 and 7075 can meet. These are only different standards of record. So AD33 alloy is an equivalent of alloy 6061, D16 – an analog 7005, and B95 – 7075. Letter T in all cases designates heat treatment, and figure after letter T – the mode of this processing. This information is a little necessary for the ordinary user. But properties of these alloys differ.
D16 (7005) alloy – has big viscosity, is respectively more plastic and has smaller elasticity. Its durability respectively too is slightly less, than at analogs, but it is less subject to fragile destruction and cracks less.
AD33 (6061) alloy – has the optimum range of properties and perfectly copes with shock loadings. Has both plasticity, and durability.
B95 (7075) alloy – the strongest and elastic of all listed options. Possesses a large supply of mechanical durability, but at the same time fragile and not really well perceives impact loads.
It is necessary to answer a question what alloy will be suitable for what option of use better. It is obvious that for example for production of a framework of a tent where there is no shock loading and fatigue, and the elasticity is important, alloy of B95 type approaches better. AD33 alloy as the elasticity and durability are important in equal degrees will be suitable for a bicycle frame better. D16 alloy will be suitable for less responsible designs better – for example for production of some stationary hooks or elements of protection.
Besides, it must be kept in mind that it is quite difficult to repair aluminum products as it is not always possible to find the expert capable to weld aluminum details without the special camera. However, modern aluminum details have very high quality (in comparison with what was observed about 30-40 years ago) and therefore seldom fail at observance of service regulations.