Just as steel, aluminum is one of the most frequently used and commonly available metals for commercial projects and applications. It is applied to applications involving everything from consumer products to aircraft parts and systems. Aluminum 2024 is one of the more common alloys used among those available. This alloy possesses exceptional strength and great resistance to fatigue. Because of these attributes, 2024 aluminum is widely used to support and enhance structural applications in the aerospace industry. It is the ideal alloy when you need a material having a beneficial strength-to-weight ratio. At Howard Precision Metals, we have all of your 2024 aluminum needs covered.
Properties of 2024 Aluminum
Aluminum alloy 2024 was created nearly a century ago in 1931. Due to its advantageous properties and characteristics is used extensively in aircraft design applications. This alloy is now used widely in place of alloy 2017-T4 for these applications.
The properties that make 2024 aluminum beneficial include its stress corrosion cracking resistance, strength, stiffness, and shearing resistance. This alloy, whether in the form of 2024 aluminum plate or 2024 aluminum bars, also functions well under extreme temperature conditions. Although it does have a reduced atmospheric resistance to corrosion when in close proximity to the sea, this issue may be solved through anodizing or other surface treatments.
From a heat-treated condition 2024 aluminum alloy is annealed for about two hours within the temperature range of 399 to 427 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the material is cooled slowly in the furnace. On the other hand, aluminum 2024 may be annealed between cold working applications for 2 hours at 343 degrees Celsius and cooled in the air.
2024 Aluminum Benefits
Copper is the alloying element on aluminum alloy 2024. This alloying element gives 2024 additional strength and fatigue resistance. The alloy has properties that gives it the ability to withstand high levels of stress and strain for prolonged periods of time. Along with a high yield strength of 50,000 psi, 2024 has the characteristics that make it ideal for aircraft and marine parts and fittings, hydraulic cylinders, structures, hardware, transportation components (truck wheels, for example) and others that can benefit from high resistance to fatigue. Aluminum 2024 sheet is the ideal choice for some military and aircraft applications that involve highly elevated temperatures in engine areas.
Aluminum 2024 can be flash, spot, or seam welded and has high machinability. It has favorable workability properties and is heat treatable. This alloy maybe be extruded and provided in sheet and plate form.
2024 Aluminum Aircraft Industry Applications
The different structural applications in the aircraft industry that can benefit from aluminum 2024 include hydraulic manifolds, tension members, wing skins, fuselages, hydraulic manifolds, rips, and tension members. Aircraft engine parts are also commonly made from 2024 aluminum. The skins of fuselages in military and commercial applications can benefit from Alclad forms of this alloy.
If your application requires 2024 in the form of 2024 aluminum plate or 2024 aluminum bars, we have you covered at Howard Precision Metals.
Machinability and Forming
In its heat-treated and annealed state, 2024 alloy has good machining capabilities. At the same time, the alloy may not be hot-formed.
Aluminum 2024 is ideal for areas that required fatigue resistance and structural strength. We offer 2024 aluminum plate in 1/4 to 6 in. thicknesses. In addition at Howard Precision, we stock these thicknesses with plus side tolerances as we have found it to be the preference by our customers. Various applications can make use of these plates, including fuselage structures, tension members, ribs and shear webs, and hydraulic manifolds.
2024 Heat Treatment for Greater Strength
Alloy 2024 along with other aluminum alloys in the 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series may be subjected to heat treatment operations. When done on 2024, the alloy is heated to a pre-set temperature that enables the homogenizing or mixing of the elements of the alloy into the base metal. After this, the metal is subjected to solution heat treating in which the metal is quenched is a solution that maintains the position of the elements.
Aluminum alloy 2024 may not be subjected to just any type of welding due to the possibility of reduced corrosion resistance as a result. If inert gas is not used in welding the alloy, the heat treatment process should be performed once again. Aluminum 2024 maybe forged, but in order to maintain the necessary corrosion resistance, another heat treatment is required.
With the cooling down of 2024 aluminum alloy, copper atoms and other elements precipitate from the solution. As the compounds interact with the superstructure of the aluminum metal, the alloy gains strength by aging. In accordance with the heat treating and aging process applied, aluminum 2024 by be given designations that include 2024-T6, 2024-T-9, 2024-T59, or others.
At Howard Precision Metals, we are the preferred choice for an aluminum supplier. Here to help you fulfill the requirements of your projects and applications. This includes 2024 aluminum plate, 2024 aluminum bar, and more for aerospace, aircraft, commercial, and other industrial applications. For more information about how our team can serve your aluminum alloy requirements, call us today at 800.444.0311, or request a quote through our website.
