All About 5754 Aluminum Alloy
Learn more about 5754 aluminum alloy and its properties.
Aluminum alloys are widely utilized metals due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. 5754 aluminum finds relevance in many industrial, automotive, and aerospace applications because of its low density, high strength, and superior corrosion resistance. Aluminum alloys have aluminum as the predominant element together with alloying metals such as: magnesium, copper, silicon (a metalloid), nickel, and zinc. The essence of these additions is to improve certain characteristics such as the alloy’s strength and workability.
An aluminum alloy with a designation of 5754 indicates the primary alloying element is magnesium. In other words, magnesium is present in a greater quantity than other alloying elements; second only to aluminum, which is the base metal. The 5000 series alloys, including 5754, are known for their weldability, excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and workability.
This article will discuss the composition of 5754 aluminum alloy, its material properties, how to identify different grades, and more.
What is Aluminum Alloy?
Aluminum alloys are the byproduct of the combination of aluminum, the primary element, with other, known elements (such as magnesium, tin, chromium, copper, silicon, and manganese), referred to as the alloying elements. In essence, pure aluminum is a metal and has a surface that appears silver-white, with very slight traces of bluish color. Alloys made of aluminum are lighter than those made of steel, brass, copper, nickel, and most other metals. They can also come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Normalizing, annealing, and anodizing can be used to create aluminum alloys. The exact alloying elements may be selected and appropriately blended in quantifiable amounts, depending on the purpose, to create aluminum alloys. These metallic elements, when mixed with aluminum, give the new material enhanced strength, mechanical characteristics, durability, corrosion resistance, and workability (among other properties).
What is the Alloy Composition of 5754 Aluminum?
The alloy composition of 5754 aluminum is: 94.2–97.4 % aluminum, 2.6–3.4 % magnesium, 0.3 % chromium, 0.1 % copper, 0.4 % silicon, 0.5 % manganese, and 0.4 % iron. A small number of additional elements are also present. Magnesium is the primary alloying element in this metal since it is found in greater quantities than the other alloying elements. The primary function of this alloying element is to cause the precipitation of magnesium silicide in the matrix to fortify the alloy. There are various alloy tempers available, including: 5754-H111, 5754-H114, 5754-H12, and 5754-H14.
What Are the Characteristics of 5754 Aluminum?
The characteristics of 5754 aluminum are: good machinability, great corrosion resistance, and weldability. 5754 aluminum is also stronger than 5251 and is better suited for flooring applications. On the downside, it cannot be utilized for casting and cannot be heat treated. 5754 aluminum is under the category of wrought alloys and can be produced through rolling, extrusion, and forging. 5754 aluminum can also be cold-treated to produce tempers that are substantially stronger but less ductile. Usually, some form of heating method is used to forge metals into the desired shape. With 5754 aluminum, which is reformed via a procedure called cold working, this is not the case. Mechanical stress placed on the metal changes its crystalline structure, increasing its strength.
| Material Properties | Value |
|---|---|
Material Properties Hardness, Vicker | Value 80 |
Material Properties Proof Stress | Value 160 Min Mpa |
Material Properties Elongation A 50 mm | Value 6 Min % |
Material Properties Electrical Resistivity | Value 0.00000532 ohm-cm |
Material Properties Hardness, Brinell | Value 70 HB |
Material Properties Elongation at Break | Value 14% |
Material Properties Modulus of Elasticity | Value 70.3 Gpa |
Material Properties Tensile stress | Value 270 Mpa |
Material Properties Yield stress | Value 215 Mpa |
Material Properties Fatigue Stress | Value 96.5 Mpa |
Material Properties Poisson's Ratio | Value 0.33 |
Material Properties Shear stress | Value 160 Mpa |
Material Properties Shear modulus | Value 25.9 Gpa |
Material Properties Machinability | Value Average |
Material Properties Thermal Conductivity | Value 125 W/m-k |
Material Properties Specific Heat Capacity | Value 0.900 J/g-°C |
Material Properties Melting Point | Value 600 °C |
Material Properties Density | Value 2.66 g/cm³ |
Material Properties CTE, linear | Value 23.9 µm/m-°C |
Where is 5754 Aluminum Alloy Used?
5754 aluminum is extensively used in various industries, including: rail transportation, electricity generation, tanks, panel and frame construction, food storage, transportation, and chemical handling/processing. This alloy is anodized first to achieve high microhardness before being used in the production of parts for the aerospace and automotive industries. Anodizing aids in altering the alloy's surface chemistry, which protects it against corrosion. Another advantage of anodizing is that the alloy gains visual appeal and improved scratch resistance.
How Strong is 5754 Aluminum?
The strength of 5754 aluminum depends on the tempered grade. Different variants of 5754 aluminum are available including: 5754-H24, 5754-H12, and 5754-H14. The yield stress for 5754-H24 is 27,000 psi or 190 Mpa. Generally, 5754 aluminum has higher strength compared to 5251 aluminum.
What Are the Common Trade Names of 5754 Aluminum?
The common trade names of 5754 aluminum alloy are: UNS A95754, Aluminum 5754, 5754-F, 5754-H12, 5754-H14, and 5754-H24.
How Do I Identify My Grade of Aluminum?
You can tell the grade of an aluminum alloy by looking at the number designation. The first digit denotes the primary alloying metal or component of the mixture. For example, grade 5XXX alloy refers to all aluminum alloys with a first number starting with 5. The second digit, if not 0, makes it clear that it is a variant of the original alloy. An example is the 5754, which is the seventh variation of 5054 aluminum alloy. The third and fourth digits were assigned to identify alloys in their respective series. However, this is not the case with grade 1xxx alloys, for which the last two numbers are simply used to indicate the level of aluminum purity present.
What is the Operating Temperature Range for 5754 Aluminum?
The operating temperature range for aluminum 5754 can be defined based on the smelting, melting, annealing, and refining temperatures. A temperature range of 730–750 °C is used to smelt 5754 aluminum. For melting, the suitable temperature used is 600 °C. Temperatures between 140–200 °C are suitable for annealing. While the refining process operates at 725–735 °C, respectively.
Is 5754 Aluminum Good for Welding?
Yes, 5754 aluminum has good weldability. Alloy grades such as: 3XXX, 1XXX, and 5XXX all have good weldability. However, the 5XXX series is well suited to applications that require structural integrity. Significant differences in mechanical and chemical properties of the various tempers mean the suitability of a chosen alloy should be properly checked before it is used for the desired application. Therefore, no aluminum should be welded if the specific alloy composition has not been identified. Also, alloys that have been heated previously are vulnerable to cracking and weakening after welding. Therefore, special skills and knowledge are required to get the most out of the welding process.
What Are the Things to Consider When Choosing an Aluminum Grade?
The factors to consider when choosing an aluminum grade are: weldability, workability, corrosion resistance, strength, end-use application, heat treatment, and machinability. Despite having several types and grades of aluminum alloys available, the part’s application will have a significant impact on the aluminum grade chosen. Ranking the traits or characteristics of each grade will be simpler after the application has been identified. It is recommended to choose the grade that best matches the required attribute. For instance, alloy 6061 might be the best option if a project calls for an alloy with good strength but less focus on weldability. On the other hand, if a project requires weldability that comes with relative ease, then 5754 aluminum alloy is a good choice.
Summary
This article presented 5754 aluminum alloy, explained what it is, and discussed how it can be used in manufacturing. To learn more about 5754 aluminum alloy, contact a Xometry representative.
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