Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Posted in:

International Temper Designation Systems for Wrought Aluminum Alloys

The globalization of the aluminum industry has made it imperative that universal alloy and temper designations be adopted worldwide. Already, there is an international accord regarding the designation and composition of aluminum and aluminum alloys, published by The Aluminum Association in TEAL SHEETS 2009. However, there still is no international accord on designation and registration of tempers for wrought aluminum and aluminum alloy products, although this is changing slowly but surely. A joint ANSI H35.1, EN 515, and ISO 2107 technical committee on a unified temper designation system has been established and meets periodically.

In the meantime, the aluminum industry conducts business worldwide and manages to translate and work with the different temper standards for wrought products established country-by-country. Thus, this two-part article series attempts to summarize the present worldwide status of temper designations and meanings for wrought aluminum and aluminum alloys classified as either strain hardenable (Part 1) or thermally treated (Part 2). In the first article (Part 1), the temper designations for 1xxx, 3xxx, and 5xxx alloys are reviewed with respect to the H temper designations standardized in the U.S. in ANSI H35.1-2009 and European CEN countries in EN 515. In the second article (Part 2), the temper designations for thermally treated – most commonly 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx alloys – are reviewed with respect to T temper designations. At the same time, definitions and comparisons are made between these new and the older temper designations, e.g., outdated German DIN and English BS, wrought aluminum temper designations, and country-specific temper designations that may still be in existence.

  • “Part I – Strain Hardenable (H Temper) Aluminum Alloys,” by Joseph C. Benedyk, LMA, October 2009. Click to view pdf.
  • “Part II – Thermally Treated (T Temper) Aluminum Alloys,” by Joseph C. Benedyk. Click to view pdf.

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,