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All About 7075 Aluminum Alloy

Picture of Dean McClements
Written by
Megan Conniff - Xometry Contributor
Updated by
 5 min read
Published October 24, 2022
Updated August 30, 2024

Learn more about 7075 aluminum alloy and how it's used in manufacturing.

Round metal bars stacked. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com/rimira

7075 aluminum employs a high zinc content and achieves some significant improvements in performance over other contemporary grades. It has very good mechanical properties such as: tensile strength, ductility, toughness, and fatigue resistance. 7075 aluminum is quite susceptible to embrittlement because of microsegregation (relatively poor homogeneity), but greatly improves the corrosion resistance of the 2000 series alloys. It is widely employed in highly stressed structural applications, particularly in the structural parts of aircraft.

7075 aluminum was first developed by Sumitomo Metal in Japan in 1935 and was heavily employed in military aircraft production. It was reverse engineered by Alcoa in the US in 1943 and was a significant component in the rapid improvement in military aircraft design among the Allies. 

This article will discuss the composition of 7075 aluminum alloy, its characteristics, material properties, and applications.

What is Aluminum Alloy?

Aluminum alloys are metals that consist primarily of aluminum and are combined with small percentages of other elements, such as: silicon, copper, magnesium, tin, and manganese. The combination results in the alterations of the properties of aluminum. This alteration is generally produced by a combination of lattice strain from “misfit” atoms and modified crystalline structures by precipitation processes or by directly influencing grain growth.

Aluminum sheet metal
Aluminum sheet metal

Alloy Composition of 7075 Aluminum

The alloy composition of 7075-grade aluminum alloy is: 87.1–91.4 % aluminum, 5.1–6.1 % zinc, 1.2–2.0 % copper, 0.0–0.3 % manganese, 0.0–0.4 % silicon, 0.0–0.5 % iron, 2.1–2.9 % magnesium, 0.18–2.0 % chromium, 0.0–0.2 % titanium, and 0.05–0.15 % of other elements. These small amounts of modifying elements each have particular desirable influences, either alone or in concert with others. 

Characteristics of 7075 Aluminum

The characteristics of 7075 aluminum are: high strength, average corrosion resistance, and poor weldability. 7075 aluminum was the first aluminum alloy to benefit from the combination of high zinc content and relatively high chromium content. Zinc has dual effects in that it assists with precipitation hardening but at elevated levels in this alloy and delivers higher yield stress and ultimate tensile strength. It is speculated that research models indicate that zinc enhances  strength by inhibiting partial dislocation. The relatively high chromium content reduces crystal growth, enhancing ductility and toughness.

7075 alloy, also known as aircraft aluminum or aviation aluminum, is widely used for structural parts and skin elements. Structural parts tend to be T651 temper, whereas skin sheets are generally T6 temper. Fatigue resilience is similar to 2000-series alloys, making 7075 aluminum ideal for most aircraft and the structural components of rockets.

Material Properties of 7075 Aluminum

Table 1 lists some generic property values for comparable samples of three different tempers of 7075 aluminum, to illustrate the similarities and differences:

Table 1: Material Properties 7075 Aluminum
Property7075-O7075-T6-T627075-T73
Property

Density

7075-O

2.7–2.85 g/cm3

7075-T6-T62

2.7–2.85 g/cm3

7075-T73

2.7–2.85 g/cm3

Property

Tensile strength

7075-O

228 MPa

7075-T6-T62

572 MPa

7075-T73

505 MPa

Property

Yield strength

7075-O

103 MPa

7075-T6-T62

503 MPa

7075-T73

435 MPa

Property

Modulus of elasticity

7075-O

71.7 GPa

7075-T6-T62

71.7 GPa

7075-T73

72.4 GPa

Property

Brinell hardness - 500g weight, 10 mm ball

7075-O

60

7075-T6-T62

150

7075-T73

128

Property

Elongation at break (12.7 mm test piece)

7075-O

16%

7075-T6-T62

19%

7075-T73

5%

Property

Shear modulus

7075-O

26.9 GPa

7075-T6-T62

26.9 GPa

7075-T73

27 GPa

Property

Shear strength

7075-O

152 GPa

7075-T6-T62

331 MPa

7075-T73

296 GPa

Property

Fatigue strength

7075-O

N/A MPa

7075-T6-T62

159 MPa

7075-T73

117 MPa

Property

Thermal expansion coefficient

7075-O

23.6 µm/m°C

7075-T6-T62

23.6 µm/m°C

7075-T73

23.2 µm/m°C

Property

Solidus

7075-O

477 °C

7075-T6-T62

477 °C

7075-T73

477 °C

Property

Liquidus

7075-O

635 °C

7075-T6-T62

635 °C

7075-T73

635 °C

Property

Annealing temperature

7075-O

413 °C

7075-T6-T62

413 °C

7075-T73

413 °C

Property

Solution temperature

7075-O

466–482 °C

7075-T6-T62

466–482 °C

7075-T73

256 °C

Property

Thermal conductivity

7075-O

173 W/mK

7075-T6-T62

130 W/mK

7075-T73

151 W/mK

Property

Specific heat capacity

7075-O

0.96 KJ/Kg°C

7075-T6-T62

0.96 KJ/Kg°C

7075-T73

0.96 KJ/Kg°C

Where 7075 Aluminum Alloy Is Used

7075 aluminum is widely employed in the aerospace sector as it offers among the highest strength-to-weight ratios available. It is used both in structural members and in aircraft skins, although this use is diminishing in favor of some 6000-series alloys. Other common uses for 7075 aluminum are in the manufacture of rock climbing gear and bicycle components, and  as a key material in the US military M16 rifle. It is one of the backing materials used in ceramic composite armor of military vehicles because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and good corrosion resistance.

Aluminum sheet metal plates
Aluminum sheet metal plates

What To Consider When Choosing an Aluminum Grade

The factors to consider in choosing an aluminum grade are:

  1. Strength: Can the design accommodate the volume of material required to deliver the required strength?
  2. Fatigue Resistance: While many aluminum grades are resilient for aluminum, there are better, non-aluminum options, if fatigue exposure is extreme.
  3. Processing: Not all processes are suitable for all alloys. So, for example, the need for minimum weight may drive the use of forging for a component.
  4. Construction: If a structure requires welding to form the assembly of parts, some alloys are suited to this while others are ruled out.
  5. Corrosion: Several aluminum alloys offer poor corrosion resistance. They can be ruled out of wet and, particularly, marine applications—whereas others are well suited to long-term (mildly) corrosive environments.
  6. Damage Resilience: Life-critical structures that are at risk of major failure must be designed to withstand partial failure without cascading into total collapse. Some grades offer considerably higher elongation at a break along with high strength; when the unthinkable happens, they are more likely to survive damage, which can save lives.
  7. Cosmetics: Some grades are better suited than others for aesthetically pleasing surfaces and parts.

How Xometry Can Help

Xometry provides a wide range of manufacturing capabilities including CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, laser cutting, and sheet metal fabrication. Get your instant quote today.

Disclaimer

The content appearing on this webpage is for informational purposes only. Xometry makes no representation or warranty of any kind, be it expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Any performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, quality and types of materials, or processes should not be inferred to represent what will be delivered by third-party suppliers or manufacturers through Xometry’s network. Buyers seeking quotes for parts are responsible for defining the specific requirements for those parts. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.

Picture of Dean McClements
Dean McClements
Dean McClements is a B.Eng Honors graduate in Mechanical Engineering with over two decades of experience in the manufacturing industry. His professional journey includes significant roles at leading companies such as Caterpillar, Autodesk, Collins Aerospace, and Hyster-Yale, where he developed a deep understanding of engineering processes and innovations.

Read more articles by Dean McClements

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