Aluminum alloy

An aluminum alloy is a metallic material in which aluminum is the principal element and other elements are added to alter its properties.

Aluminum: A lightweight, corrosion-resistant chemical element with symbol Al and atomic number 13. It forms the principal metallic base of every aluminum alloy.
Solid-solution strengthening: Strengthening produced when dissolved alloying atoms impede dislocation motion in a metal. Magnesium and other elements strengthen aluminum while remaining in solid solution.
Aluminum alloy series: Groups of wrought aluminum alloys classified by their principal alloying elements and designation numbers. Series such as 2xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx map compositions to common engineering uses.
Cast aluminum alloy: An aluminum alloy shaped by pouring molten metal into a mold and allowing it to solidify. Casting alloys prioritize mold filling and solidification behavior over wrought processing needs.
Aluminum alloy designation: A standardized system that identifies aluminum alloy compositions and forms. Its numbering schemes distinguish alloy families by their principal alloying elements.
Aluminum-copper alloys: Aluminum alloys in which copper is a major alloying addition, often used for high strength. Their strength commonly comes from copper-rich precipitates formed during heat treatment.
Aircraft: Powered or unpowered vehicles designed to fly through Earth's atmosphere. High-strength aluminum alloys have long served in airframes where low mass matters.
Wrought aluminum alloy: An aluminum alloy shaped by rolling, extrusion, forging, or another deformation process. Wrought grades are designed for mechanical working rather than casting into final form.
Aluminum temper designation: A suffix system describing the treatment and resulting condition of a wrought aluminum alloy. Temper codes record processing that changes strength and ductility after composition is set.
Aluminum-magnesium alloys: Aluminum alloys strengthened chiefly by magnesium, often valued for corrosion resistance and weldability. They demonstrate solid-solution strengthening without requiring precipitation-hardening treatment.

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