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Aluminum
Aluminum (Al, atomic number 13) is a silvery-white post-transition metal and the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust, comprising approximately 8.2% by mass. With a density of just 2.70 g/cm³ — roughly one-third that of steel — and a melting point of 660.3 °C, it occupies a unique position among structural metals: light enough to be transformative in weight-sensitive engineering, yet sufficiently strong, stiff, and thermally stable for demanding service conditions. Its face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure gives pure aluminum excellent ductility and formability at room temperature, while alloying with copper, magnesium, zinc, silicon, and manganese unlocks tensile strengths from ~40 MPa in commercially pure annealed sheet to over 700 MPa in precipitation-hardened aerospace alloys such as 7075-T6.
A key characteristic distinguishing aluminum from most other reactive metals is its self-passivating behaviour. On exposure to air or moisture, a dense, adherent aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) film — typically 2–10 nm thick under ambient conditions — forms spontaneously and suppresses further oxidation. This native oxide layer provides corrosion protection across a broad range of environments and is the foundation of anodizing processes that thicken and harden it to tens or hundreds of microns for demanding surface engineering applications. Aluminum is non-magnetic, non-sparking, and highly reflective in the visible and infrared spectra (reflectivity >90% at 10 µm), properties that underpin its use in optical baffles, telescope mirror substrates, and infrared antennae.
Electrically, aluminum carries approximately 61% of the conductivity of copper by volume, but because it is three times lighter, it delivers over twice the conductance per unit mass — making it the material of choice for long-distance overhead power transmission lines and high-current bus bars. Its thermal conductivity of 237 W/m·K is similarly high, placing it among the most thermally efficient structural metals and driving adoption in heat exchangers, LED thermal management, and automotive powertrain cooling.
Goodfellow supplies aluminum across the full purity and form spectrum — from commercially pure 1050 and 1070 foils and sheets for electrical and packaging applications, to 99.999%+ single-crystal material for fundamental surface science and epitaxial thin-film research. Our sputtering targets meet the deposition requirements of semiconductor back-end-of-line metallisation, photovoltaic anti-reflection coatings, and decorative PVD. Aluminum rod, wire, powder, and granule forms support applications ranging from additive manufacturing feedstock qualification to electrochemistry and battery anode development. All grades are supplied with traceable purity certification and are available in custom dimensions to minimise material waste in laboratory and pilot-scale work.
General Properties
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 13 | Group 13 (IIIA), Period 3; post-transition metal |
| Atomic Mass | 26.982 u | Monoisotopic — only one stable isotope (²⁷Al) |
| Density (20 °C) | 2.70 g/cm³ | ~⅓ the density of steel (7.85 g/cm³); enables significant structural weight savings |
| Melting Point | 660.3 °C (933.5 K) | Low enough for energy-efficient casting and die-casting processes |
| Boiling Point | 2,519 °C (2,792 K) | Wide liquid range facilitates alloying and casting operations |
| Thermal Conductivity | 237 W/m·K | ~60% that of copper; among the highest of structural metals — critical for heat exchangers and thermal management |
| Specific Heat Capacity | 897 J/kg·K | High heat capacity supports use in thermal storage and buffering applications |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 23.1 µm/m·°C | Approximately twice that of steel; critical for joint design in mixed-material assemblies |
| Electrical Resistivity | 26.5 nΩ·m (20 °C) | ~61% IACS conductivity by volume; >200% IACS by mass — preferred for overhead power lines |
| Crystal Structure | Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) | FCC structure provides 12 slip systems, giving pure Al its high ductility and excellent formability |
| Lattice Parameter | a = 4.050 Å | Reference value at 20 °C; used in thin-film epitaxy substrate matching calculations |
| Reflectivity | >90% (visible); >95% (IR at 10 µm) | Highest near-IR reflectivity of common metals; used in telescope mirrors, IR optics, and solar reflectors |
Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 40–700 MPa | 40–90 MPa (pure, annealed); up to 700 MPa (7075-T6 aerospace alloy) |
| Yield Strength (0.2%) | 30–500 MPa | ~15 MPa (pure, annealed) to 500 MPa (high-strength alloys, peak-aged temper) |
| Young's Modulus | 68–70 GPa | ~⅓ that of steel; deflection-critical designs require larger section moduli |
| Shear Modulus | 26 GPa | Governs torsional stiffness in structural sections and fastener design |
| Hardness | Brinell 15–150 HB | Pure Al: ~15–25 HB; work-hardened: 35–60 HB; heat-treated alloys: up to 150 HB |
| Elongation at Break | 10–45% | High elongation in pure and 5xxx grades; lower in high-strength 2xxx/7xxx alloys |
| Fatigue Limit | No true fatigue limit | Unlike steel, Al alloys have no endurance limit — fatigue life must be specified at a defined stress cycle count (typically 10⁷ or 5×10⁸) |
| Fracture Toughness (K₁c) | 20–45 MPa·m½ | 2024-T3: ~44 MPa·m½; 7075-T6: ~24 MPa·m½ — trade-off between strength and damage tolerance |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.33 | Consistent across most alloy series; used in FEA modelling and strain-gauge corrections |
Thermal & Environmental Properties
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent (self-passivating) | Native Al₂O₃ film (2–10 nm) forms instantly on exposure to air; stable in pH 4–9; anodizing extends this to 5–25 µm (Type II) or 25–150 µm (Type III hard anodize) |
| Oxidation States | +3 (dominant) | Al³⁺ is the only commercially relevant oxidation state; no higher-valence oxides under normal conditions |
| Reactivity with Water | Low (passivated) | Reacts with steam above ~400 °C; powdered Al is reactive and classified as a flammable solid |
| Cryogenic Performance | Excellent | FCC structure retains ductility down to liquid helium temperatures (4 K); widely used in LNG tanks and superconducting magnet structures |
| Emissivity | 0.03–0.09 (polished) | Very low emissivity makes polished Al an effective radiation shield in thermal insulation systems (e.g., spacecraft multi-layer insulation) |
| Magnetic Susceptibility | +2.2 × 10⁻⁵ (paramagnetic) | Effectively non-magnetic for most practical purposes; safe for use near MRI equipment and in sensitive magnetic measurement environments |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Value / Behaviour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Surface Oxide | Al₂O₃ (amorphous, then γ-phase) | Thermodynamically stable; adhesion to substrate is exceptionally strong (~10 GPa interfacial strength) |
| Acid Resistance | Dissolves in HCl, H₂SO₄ (conc.) | Passive in dilute HNO₃ and organic acids; attacked by concentrated HCl — important for chemical plant material selection |
| Alkali Resistance | Attacked by NaOH, KOH | Dissolves readily in strong alkalis forming aluminate — unlike most other structural metals; a key consideration for cleaning agent selection |
| Galvanic Behaviour | Active (–0.84 V vs. SHE) | Anodic to most structural metals except Mg and Zn; galvanic isolation required when coupled to steel or copper in wet environments |
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Al |
| Atomic Number | 13 |
| CAS Number | 7429-90-5 |
| UN Number | UN1396 (powder) |
| EINECS Number | 231-072-3 |
| Isotope | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Al-27 | Stable | Natural and only stable isotope |
| Al-26 | Radioactive | Used in geological and cosmochemical dating |
Scientific & Research Applications
| Use Case | Form Typically Used | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thin-Film Deposition & Metallisation | Sputtering targets, evaporation pellets | Al is the dominant back-end-of-line (BEOL) interconnect metal in CMOS devices below 180 nm nodes. High-purity (99.999%+) sputtering targets are used for PVD of contact layers, anti-reflection coatings on silicon solar cells, and optical mirror coatings in UV/VIS/NIR instruments. |
| Single-Crystal Surface Science | Single crystals (oriented wafers) | Well-defined Al(100), Al(110), and Al(111) surfaces are used to study adsorption kinetics, surface reconstruction, epitaxial growth mechanisms, and catalytic behaviour. Low surface energy and well-characterised electronic structure make them ideal model systems in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) research. |
| Battery & Electrochemistry Research | Foil (current collector), powder, rod | Al foil (typically 1050 or 1070 grade, 10–25 µm thick) is the universal cathode current collector in lithium-ion cells. Emerging aluminium-ion and aluminium-air battery chemistries use high-purity Al anodes for their theoretical specific capacity of 2,980 mAh/g. |
| Neutron & X-Ray Structural Studies | Rod, sheet, single crystal | Al's low neutron absorption cross-section (0.231 barn for thermal neutrons) and well-known crystal structure make it the reference standard for neutron diffraction instrument calibration and a preferred window/cryostat material in neutron scattering experiments. |
| Reflective & Optical Coatings | Evaporation wire, pellets, sputtering targets | Evaporated Al films achieve >90% reflectivity across the visible spectrum and remain effective into the deep UV (down to ~100 nm), outperforming silver and gold in the UV range. Used in astronomical telescope primary mirrors, laser cavity retroreflectors, and automotive headlamp reflectors. |
| Additive Manufacturing Research | Powder (spherical, 15–53 µm or 45–105 µm) | Al alloy powders (particularly AlSi10Mg and 2024/7075 derivatives) are feedstocks for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) process development. Pure Al powder is used in thermite and energetic material research and as a sintering aid in ceramic composites. |
| Cryogenic Systems | Sheet, tube, rod | 5083-H321 and 6061-T6 are standard structural alloys for liquid nitrogen (77 K) and liquid helium (4 K) vessels, due to their retention of ductility and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperatures — a property not shared by most steels. |
| Vacuum & UHV Technology | Sheet, rod, machined parts | Al is widely used in UHV chamber construction (especially 6061-T6), sample stages, and manipulator arms. Its low outgassing rate (after baking at 150 °C), machinability, and non-magnetic nature make it preferable to stainless steel in many electron spectroscopy and ion beam experiments. |
Industrial & Commercial Applications
| Use Case | Form Typically Used | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Structures | 2024, 7050, 7075, 2219 | The aerospace industry consumes ~25% of all high-performance Al alloys. Fuselage skins (2024-T3), wing spars and ribs (7075-T6, 7050-T7452), and wing skins (7150-T77) rely on the strength-to-weight ratio of Al-Cu and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu systems. 2219-T87 is used for cryogenic fuel tanks (including Space Launch System liquid hydrogen tanks) due to superior weldability and cryogenic toughness. |
| Automotive & EV Lightweighting | 5052, 5754, 6061, 6082, cast A380 | Every 10% reduction in vehicle mass reduces fuel consumption by ~6–7%. Modern body-in-white structures use 5xxx series outer panels (formability), 6xxx series structural extrusions (crash management), and high-pressure die-cast A380 for engine and transmission housings. EV battery enclosures predominantly use 6xxx extrusions and 5xxx sheet. |
| Power Transmission & Electrical | 1350, 6101-T6, 6201-T81 | Overhead conductor cables (ACSR, AAAC, ACAR) use 1350-H19 wire for its optimum conductivity-to-weight ratio. 6101-T6 bus bars handle high-current distribution in switchgear and substations. Al's 61% IACS conductivity at 3× lower density than copper gives it over 200% the conductance per kilogram. |
| Packaging | 1050, 1070, 3004, 3104, 8011 | Approximately 20% of global Al production goes into packaging. Beverage can bodies (3004-H19) and ends (5182-H19) are optimised for deep drawing and ironing; pharmaceutical blister foil (8011-O) provides hermetic moisture and oxygen barriers; flexible packaging laminate foil (1235-O) is typically 6–9 µm thick. |
| Construction & Architecture | 6060, 6063, 6082, 5083 | 6063-T5/T6 is the dominant architectural extrusion alloy for window frames, curtain walling, and structural glazing systems, prized for its excellent surface finish and anodising response. 6082-T6 is used for structural members (purlins, beams, trusses) where higher load-bearing capacity is needed. |
| Marine Engineering | 5083, 5086, 5454, 6061 | 5083-H116/H321 is the standard hull alloy for high-speed patrol and naval vessels, offering exceptional resistance to seawater corrosion and SCC (stress corrosion cracking). Superstructures, decking, and fittings typically use 5086 or 6061-T6. Al's low density gives naval vessels a 20–30% weight advantage over comparable steel construction. |
| Thermal Management & Electronics | 1050, 3003, 6061, cast A356 | Extruded Al heatsinks and cold plates are ubiquitous in power electronics, LED drivers, and RF amplifiers. Brazed aluminium heat exchangers (BAHEs) manufactured from 3003 clad sheet are used in natural gas processing, cryogenic air separation, and aviation fuel cooling. Al thermal interface foils (0.1–0.5 mm, 1050/1070) provide compliant conductive paths in battery pack thermal management. |
1xxx Series — Commercially Pure Aluminum (≥99.0% Al)
| Grade | Min. Purity | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra High Purity | 99.999%+ Al | 5N purity; exceptional electrical conductivity (~64% IACS); extremely low trace-element content for surface science and epitaxy research | Semiconductor research, sputtering targets, single-crystal substrates, neutron diffraction standards |
| 1199 | 99.99% Al | 4N purity; outstanding conductivity and corrosion resistance; very soft and highly formable | Electrolytic capacitor foil, electrical conductors, research-grade foil |
| 1070 | 99.7% Al | Very high purity; excellent corrosion resistance and conductivity; good deep-drawing characteristics | Chemical process equipment, electronics, foil for lithium-ion battery current collectors |
| 1050 | 99.5% Al | Commercially pure; high conductivity (~57% IACS); excellent formability and weldability; work-hardenable only | Electrical bus bars, chemical storage vessels, nameplate sheet, battery cathode current collector foil |
| 1200 | 99.0% Al | Lowest-cost pure grade; good corrosion resistance; excellent spinning and drawing characteristics | General fabrication, cooking utensils, heat exchanger fins, roofing sheet |
2xxx Series — Aluminum-Copper Alloys (Heat-Treatable)
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Al-Cu-Bi-Pb | Highest machinability rating of any Al alloy; free-cutting chips; T3 and T8 tempers; lower corrosion resistance than other 2xxx grades | Precision-machined turned parts, automatic screw machine products, fittings |
| 2014 | Al-Cu-Mg-Si | High strength in T6 temper (UTS ~483 MPa); good fatigue resistance; forged and extruded forms widely used; susceptible to corrosion without cladding | Aerospace structural forgings, truck frames, aircraft wheels |
| 2017 | Al-Cu-Mg | First age-hardenable Al alloy used commercially (Duralumin); good machinability and workability in T4 temper | Aircraft rivets, machine parts, structural fittings |
| 2024 | Al-Cu-Mg | Benchmark damage-tolerant aerospace alloy; excellent fatigue resistance (K₁c ~44 MPa·m½ in T3); T3 temper preferred for fuselage skins; must be clad (Alclad) for corrosion protection | Fuselage skins, wing tension members, shear webs, rivets |
| 2219 | Al-Cu | Excellent weldability and high strength at cryogenic temperatures; superior SCC resistance vs 2024; used with T87 temper for maximum strength | Cryogenic fuel tanks (LH₂, LOX), space launch vehicle structure, high-temperature aircraft skins |
| 2319 | Al-Cu-Mn | Dedicated filler alloy for GTAW/GMAW of 2219; matches base metal chemistry to minimise post-weld heat treatment distortion | Filler wire/rod for welding 2219 components |
3xxx Series — Aluminum-Manganese Alloys (Non-Heat-Treatable)
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3003 | Al-Mn | ~20% stronger than 1100; excellent formability, weldability, and corrosion resistance; work-hardenable; the most widely used Al alloy by volume | Cooking utensils, roofing sheet, storage tanks, heat exchanger fins, brazing sheet core |
4xxx Series — Aluminum-Silicon Alloys
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4047 | Al-Si (~12%) | Near-eutectic Si content lowers melting point to ~577 °C; excellent flow and low shrinkage; good wear resistance; can be anodised but darkens to grey | Brazing filler alloy for automotive heat exchangers, filler wire for casting repair, wear plates |
5xxx Series — Aluminum-Magnesium Alloys (Non-Heat-Treatable)
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5019 | Al-Mg (~5%) | Marine-grade; excellent resistance to seawater and industrial atmosphere corrosion; good weldability | Shipbuilding, offshore structure cladding, chemical storage tanks |
| 5052 | Al-Mg-Cr | Excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments; highest strength of non-heat-treatable alloys with Mg <3%; good fatigue resistance | Marine and automotive panels, aircraft fuel/oil lines, pressure vessels, electronic chassis |
| 5056 | Al-Mg-Mn-Cr | Good toughness and fatigue strength; very good corrosion resistance; anodises to a clear attractive finish | Cable sheathing, zipper manufacture, photographic and optical equipment frames |
| 5083 | Al-Mg-Mn-Cr | Highest-strength weldable non-heat-treatable alloy; retains near-ambient-temperature toughness down to –196 °C; H116/H321 tempers for marine service | LNG tanker hulls and structural members, cryogenic pressure vessels, high-speed naval craft, armour plate |
| 5251 | Al-Mg-Mn | Good formability and moderate strength; excellent corrosion resistance; weldable | Vehicle panels, road tankers, marine applications, general fabrication |
| 5754 | Al-Mg-Mn | Good corrosion resistance in aggressive environments; excellent weldability; preferred for automotive body panels in Europe (EU EN AW-5754) | Automotive inner panels and structures, floor plates, pressure vessels, transportation |
6xxx Series — Aluminum-Magnesium-Silicon Alloys (Heat-Treatable)
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 | Al-Mg-Si-Cu | The most versatile structural Al alloy; excellent weldability, corrosion resistance, and machinability in T6 temper (UTS ~310 MPa); anodises well; widely available globally | Structural members, bicycle frames, marine fittings, pipelines, electronic enclosures, UHV chambers |
| 6082 | Al-Mg-Si-Mn | Highest-strength alloy in the 6xxx series (T6: UTS ~310–340 MPa in extrusion); superior fatigue performance vs 6061; the dominant structural extrusion alloy in Europe | Bridges, cranes, trusses, transport vehicle frames, offshore platforms |
| 6101 | Al-Mg-Si | Optimised for electrical conductivity (~55% IACS in T6) while retaining useful mechanical strength; superior to 1350 for bus bar applications requiring load-bearing capacity | Electrical bus bars, high-current distribution, power generation equipment |
7xxx Series — Aluminum-Zinc-Magnesium-Copper Alloys (Heat-Treatable)
| Grade | Key Alloying Elements | Key Characteristics | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7050 | Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr | Optimised for thick section aerospace products; superior SCC resistance vs 7075; T7451 and T7452 tempers provide best combination of strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance in plate and forging | Aircraft wing spars, fuselage frames, bulkheads, military vehicle armour |
| 7075 | Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Cr | One of the highest-strength Al alloys (T6: UTS ~570 MPa, 0.2% YS ~503 MPa); lower fracture toughness and SCC resistance than 7050; T73 temper trades strength for improved corrosion resistance | Aircraft structures, high-performance sporting equipment (bicycle frames, climbing carabiners), precision tooling plate, defence applications |
| Synonym |
|---|
| Aluminum metal |
| Aluminium |
| Al |
| Aluminio |
| Alu |