Aluminum is similar to steel as one of the most available and frequently selected metals for numerous commercial and industrial applications. Whether the application involves commercial aircraft construction or the manufacture of a host of consumer products, 2024 is an often chosen aluminum alloy. This alloy possesses excellent strength and outstanding resistance to fatigue. Consequently, it is highly ideal for use in numerous aerospace applications. It is the perfect option for applications requiring metals with optimum strength-to-weight ratios. At Howard Precision Metals, we are your source for the 2024 aluminum alloy products you need for your applications.
Aerospace and Other Applications
Alloy 2024 was introduced by Alcoa in 1931. It was the first Al-Cu-Mg alloy to have a yield strength approaching 50,000-psi and generally replaced 2017-T4 as the predominant 2XXX series aircraft alloy. The strong fatigue resistance makes the Alloy 2024 a continual specification for many aerospace and structural applications. The machinability as well as the workability of both 2024 and 2024 T351 also make them perfect for automotive part production.
Aluminum 2024 is a common feature in aircraft industry applications as a result of its high-strength qualities. This alloy, however, also has relatively poor resistance to corrosion. When used in aircraft sheet applications As a result, it is often given aluminum or Al-1Zn cladding for protection, which may at the same time lower its fatigue strength. While it has questionable capabilities at resisting corrosion, it possesses good machinability characteristics. These properties are crucial for applications requiring machined parts and precision fitting. Because of the alloy’s exceptional grain structure, aluminum 2024 is also ideal for applications that require thread rolling and cold heading. The chief alloying element of 2024 aluminum is copper. This alloy may be welded, but only effectively by means of friction welding.
The following applications make common use of 2024 aluminum alloy:
- Aircraft structural elements such as fuselage and wing structures that carry tension forces
- Aircraft fittings
- Truck wheels
- Hardware of various types
- Hydraulic Manifolds
- Other transportation vehicle components
Shear ribs and webs and the wing and tension members mentioned above include 2024 aluminum plates – these are structural configurations that require good strength, fatigue resistance, and stiffness. Aluminum 2024 sheet alloy is used in military and commercial aircraft fuselage skin applications.
Aluminum 2024 is most commonly stock in plate and bar forms, sheet with Alclad protection, and some custom extruded shapes. Most bar is stock cold finished as the round stock is often machined on screw machines requiring tighter diameter tolerances to hold. Due to the high strength of a 2024 alloy, it is difficult to extrude, and there are only a few extruders that have the capabilities to extrude 2024 with limited complexity. It can be produced in an annealed condition as well as various tempers – T3, T4, and T8. It is not usually forged, however, unlike its closely related alloy, 2014 aluminum.
Aluminum alloy 2024 is highly-suited to handle high strength requirements. It is used frequently for fittings that must withstand fatigue. Impact applications where typically components would fatigue over time will often be engineered out of 2024 as well as applications where temperature fluctuations may result in thermal shock.
Aluminum alloy 2024 is also used commonly for worm gears, fuse parts, couplings, hardware, colts, shafts, clock parts, computer components, and other structural parts. As an age-hardening alloy, 2024 aluminum reacts well to heat treating applications. Aluminum 2024-T3 is ideal for use in RV restoration and repair projects because of its shiny finish appearance.
The structural mechanical benefits of aluminum 2024 can vary significantly based on its particular temper. Some of the most common available tempers of this alloy are 2024-T351, 2024-T851, 2024-T6, 2024-T4, 2024-T3, 2024-O. Increased tensile strength among other improvements are noticeable when 2024 alloy is manufactured in these tempers. Difficult machining processes like deep hole drilling are a strong suit for 2024 heat treated.
Although aluminum alloy 7075 is used often for high strain and stress applications, 2024 aluminum also has exceptional resistance to cyclic fatigue, as stated above high cycle counts on impact applications. It also has more strength than 6061 aluminum, but less versatility.
Heat-Treating 2024 for Enhanced Strength
Heat treatment operations can be used on various aluminum alloys in the 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series, and this includes 2024. The process of heat treating for 2024 involves heating the alloy to a pre-determined temperature that allows the mixing or homogenizing of the alloy elements into the base metal. Then, the metal undergoes solution heat treating that involves the quenching of the metal in a solution that keeps the elements in position.
As the piece cools down, atoms of copper and other elements precipitate from the solution. Through this process, the alloy increases strength by aging – this involves the interaction of compounds with the aluminum metal’s superstructure. Based on the actual process of heat treating and aging, the 2024 aluminum may be assigned designations such as 2024-T351, 2024-T4, 2024-T851, or others.
Machinability and Forming
Aluminum alloy 2024 possesses solid machining capabilities in its annealed and heat-treated conditions. However, this aluminum alloy may not undergo hot forming.
Our team can provide 2024 aluminum plates ranging in thicknesses from 1/4 in. to 6 in. These plates may be used for various applications, including hydraulic manifolds, fuselage structures, shear webs and ribs, and tension members. Your applications can be properly outfitted with 2024 aluminum in areas that require structural strength and fatigue resistance.
At Howard Precision Metals, we are your source for aluminum alloy products to help you achieve your project specifications and goals, including 2024 aluminum plates and other 2024 aluminum products for aircraft and other industrial and commercial applications. For more information about how we can serve your aluminum alloy needs, give us a call today at 800.444.0311, or request a quote on our website.
