Comprehensive Analysis of Aluminum Plate Models and Hardness

I. Introduction

 

As an important metal material, aluminum plates are widely used in modern industry and daily life. There are numerous aluminum plate models, and different models exhibit significant differences in hardness, strength, corrosion resistance, and processing performance. Understanding the relationship between aluminum plate models and hardness is of crucial significance for correctly selecting and using aluminum plates. This article will deeply explore the relevant content of aluminum plate models and hardness and display the characteristics and application fields of different aluminum plate models through detailed tables.

 

II. Basic Characteristics of Aluminum Plates

 

A. Definition of Aluminum Plates
Aluminum plates refer to rectangular plates rolled from aluminum ingots and are divided into pure aluminum plates, alloy aluminum plates, thin aluminum plates, medium-thick aluminum plates, patterned aluminum plates, etc.

 

B. Advantages of Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Light weight: The density of aluminum is about 2.7g/cm³, only about one-third of that of steel. Therefore, aluminum plates have the characteristic of light weight, which is convenient for transportation and installation.
  2. Good corrosion resistance: Aluminum forms a dense oxide film in the air, which can effectively prevent further oxidation of aluminum, thus giving aluminum plates good corrosion resistance.
  3. Good processing performance: Aluminum plates have good processability and can be processed by various methods such as cutting, stamping, bending, and welding to meet different design requirements.
  4. Good aesthetics: The surface of aluminum plates is smooth and the color is bright. Through surface treatment methods such as anodizing and spraying, various colors and textures can be obtained, with good aesthetics.

 

C. Concept of Hardness of Aluminum Plates
Hardness refers to the ability of a material to resist local deformation, especially plastic deformation, indentation, or scratch. For aluminum plates, hardness is usually expressed in Brinell hardness (HB), Rockwell hardness (HR), or Vickers hardness (HV). Different hardness testing methods are suitable for different types and thicknesses of aluminum plates.

 

III. Common Aluminum Plate Models and Their Hardness Characteristics

 

A. 1000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 1000 series aluminum plates are pure aluminum plates with an aluminum content of more than 99.0%. This series of aluminum plates has good ductility, corrosion resistance, and electrical and thermal conductivity, but the strength is relatively low.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 1000 series aluminum plates is relatively low, usually between 25-30 HB. Due to their low hardness, they are easy to process and form and are suitable for making products with low strength requirements, such as decorative materials and electrical appliance casings.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Decorative field: Can be used to make decorative materials such as ceilings, curtain walls, and doors and windows.
    (2) Electronic and electrical field: Can be used to make electrical appliance casings and radiators.
    (3) Packaging field: Can be used to make food packaging and pharmaceutical packaging.

 

B. 2000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 2000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-copper alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying element is copper. This series of aluminum plates has high strength and hardness, as well as good heat resistance and processability.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 2000 series aluminum plates is relatively high, usually between 70-120 HB. Due to their high hardness, they are suitable for making products with high strength requirements, such as aircraft structural parts and automotive engine parts.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Aerospace field: Can be used to make aircraft fuselages, wings, engine parts, etc.
    (2) Automotive field: Can be used to make automotive engine blocks, pistons, connecting rods, etc.
    (3) Mechanical manufacturing field: Can be used to make various mechanical parts such as gears and shafts.

 

C. 3000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 3000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-manganese alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying element is manganese. This series of aluminum plates has good strength, corrosion resistance, and processability, as well as certain heat resistance.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 3000 series aluminum plates is moderate, usually between 35-60 HB. Due to their moderate hardness, they can be used to make products with both low and high strength requirements, such as kitchenware, electrical appliance casings, pressure vessels, and storage tanks.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Kitchenware field: Can be used to make pots, kettles, basins, and other kitchenware.
    (2) Electrical appliance casing field: Can be used to make air conditioner casings and refrigerator casings.
    (3) Construction field: Can be used to make roofing and wall paneling and other building materials.

D. 4000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 4000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-silicon alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying element is silicon. This series of aluminum plates has good heat resistance, wear resistance, and processability, as well as certain corrosion resistance.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 4000 series aluminum plates is relatively high, usually between 80-150 HB. Due to their high hardness, they are suitable for making products with high strength and wear resistance requirements, such as pistons and cylinder liners.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Automotive field: Can be used to make automotive engine parts such as pistons, cylinder liners, and camshafts.
    (2) Mechanical manufacturing field: Can be used to make various wear-resistant parts such as sliders and guide rails.

 

E. 5000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 5000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-magnesium alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying element is magnesium. This series of aluminum plates has good corrosion resistance, weldability, and strength, as well as certain heat resistance.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 5000 series aluminum plates is relatively high, usually between 60-100 HB. Due to their high hardness, they are suitable for making products with high strength and corrosion resistance requirements, such as ships, automobiles, and aerospace fields.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Shipbuilding field: Can be used to make ship hulls, decks, cabins, and other ship structural parts.
    (2) Automotive field: Can be used to make automotive body and chassis parts.
    (3) Aerospace field: Can be used to make aircraft fuselages and wings.

 

F. 6000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 6000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying elements are magnesium and silicon. This series of aluminum plates has good strength, corrosion resistance, processability, and weldability, as well as certain heat resistance.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 6000 series aluminum plates is moderate, usually between 60-90 HB. Due to their moderate hardness, they are suitable for making products with high strength and processing performance requirements, such as doors and windows, curtain walls, and furniture.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Construction field: Can be used to make building materials such as doors, windows, curtain walls, and roofs.
    (2) Furniture field: Can be used to make furniture such as tables, chairs, sofas, and cabinets.
    (3) Electronic and electrical field: Can be used to make electrical appliance casings and radiators.

 

G. 7000 Series Aluminum Plates

 

  1. Model Characteristics
    The 7000 series aluminum plates are aluminum-zinc alloy aluminum plates, and the main alloying element is zinc. This series of aluminum plates has extremely high strength and hardness, as well as good corrosion resistance and processability.
  2. Hardness Characteristics
    The hardness of 7000 series aluminum plates is very high, usually between 150-200 HB. Due to their very high hardness, they are suitable for making products with extremely high strength requirements, such as aircraft structural parts, sports equipment, etc.
  3. Application Fields
    (1) Aerospace field: Can be used to make aircraft fuselages, wings, landing gears, and other parts.
    (2) Sports equipment field: Can be used to make bicycle frames and golf clubs.
    (3) Mechanical manufacturing field: Can be used to make various high-strength parts such as gears and shafts.

 

IV. Factors Affecting the Hardness of Aluminum Plates

A. Alloying Elements
Different alloying elements have different effects on the hardness of aluminum plates. For example, elements such as copper and zinc can increase the hardness of aluminum plates, while elements such as magnesium and silicon can improve the strength and corrosion resistance of aluminum plates to a certain extent.

 

B. Processing Technology
The processing technology of aluminum plates also affects their hardness. For example, hot-rolled aluminum plates usually have higher hardness than cold-rolled aluminum plates, and aluminum plates after heat treatment also have increased hardness.

 

C. Thickness
The thickness of aluminum plates also has a certain impact on their hardness. Generally, aluminum plates with larger thickness have relatively higher hardness, while aluminum plates with smaller thickness have relatively lower hardness.

 

D. Temperature
Temperature also affects the hardness of aluminum plates. At high temperatures, the hardness of aluminum plates decreases, while at low temperatures, the hardness increases.

 

V. Testing Methods for Aluminum Plate Hardness

 

A. Brinell Hardness Testing Method
The Brinell hardness testing method is a commonly used hardness testing method. It presses a steel ball of a certain diameter into the surface of an aluminum plate and then measures the diameter of the indentation to calculate the hardness of the aluminum plate. The Brinell hardness testing method is suitable for testing softer aluminum plates, and the test results are relatively accurate.

 

B. Rockwell Hardness Testing Method
The Rockwell hardness testing method is a fast and convenient hardness testing method. It presses an indenter of a certain shape into the surface of an aluminum plate and then measures the depth of the indentation to calculate the hardness of the aluminum plate. The Rockwell hardness testing method is suitable for testing harder aluminum plates, and the test results are relatively accurate.

 

C. Vickers Hardness Testing Method
The Vickers hardness testing method is a high-precision hardness testing method. It presses a diamond indenter of a certain shape into the surface of an aluminum plate and then measures the diagonal length of the indentation to calculate the hardness of the aluminum plate. The Vickers hardness testing method is suitable for testing aluminum plates of various hardnesses, and the test results are very accurate.

 

VI. Selection Principles for Aluminum Plate Models and Hardness

 

A. Select According to Application Fields
Different application fields have different requirements for the hardness of aluminum plates. For example, in the aerospace field, aluminum plates with higher hardness are required to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft; while in the decorative field, aluminum plates with lower hardness can be used to meet aesthetic requirements.

 

B. Select According to Processing Technology
Different processing technologies also have different requirements for the hardness of aluminum plates. For example, in stamping processing, aluminum plates with lower hardness are required to ensure the formability of the aluminum plates; while in welding processing, aluminum plates with higher hardness are required to ensure the strength of the weld.

 

C. Consider Cost
Different models of aluminum plates have different prices and hardnesses. When selecting aluminum plates, the cost and performance need to be comprehensively considered to select the aluminum plate with the highest cost-effectiveness.

 

VII. Conclusion

 

Aluminum plate models and hardness are important factors to be considered in the selection and use of aluminum plates. Different models of aluminum plates have significant differences in hardness, strength, corrosion resistance, and processing performance. Therefore, when selecting aluminum plates, the model and hardness of aluminum plates need to be comprehensively considered according to specific application needs. At the same time, it is also necessary to understand the influencing factors and testing methods of aluminum plate hardness to better select and use aluminum plates. Through the introduction of this article, I believe readers have a deeper understanding of aluminum plate models and hardness and can be more proficient in the selection and use of aluminum plates in the future.

 

Here is a table summarizing different aluminum plate models and their hardness characteristics:

 

Aluminum Plate Model Main Alloying Element Hardness Range (HB) Characteristics Application Fields
1000 series Pure aluminum 25-30 Good ductility, corrosion resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, low strength Decorative materials, electrical appliance casings, packaging materials, etc.
2000 series Copper 70-120 High strength, high hardness, good heat resistance, good processability Aerospace, automotive, mechanical manufacturing, etc.
3000 series Manganese 35-60 Moderate strength, good corrosion resistance, good processability, certain heat resistance Kitchenware, electrical appliance casings, building materials, etc.
4000 series Silicon 80-150 Good heat resistance, good wear resistance, good processability, certain corrosion resistance Automotive, mechanical manufacturing, etc.
5000 series Magnesium 60-100 Good corrosion resistance, good weldability, high strength, certain heat resistance Shipbuilding, automotive, aerospace, etc.
6000 series Magnesium and silicon 60-90 Moderate strength, good corrosion resistance, good processability, good weldability Construction, furniture, electronic and electrical, etc.
7000 series Zinc 150-200 Extremely high strength, extremely high hardness, good corrosion resistance, good processability Aerospace, sports equipment, mechanical manufacturing, etc.
Scroll to Top