Alloy series
2xxx Series — Aluminum–Copper
Heat-treatable, aircraft-grade strength. Lower corrosion resistance — usually clad or painted.
Properties
2xxx — Traits and Typical Uses
| Common grades | 2014 · 2024 · 2A12 · 2219 |
|---|---|
| Key traits | High strength after heat treatment · Good machinability · Poor corrosion resistance bare · Weldability varies |
| Typical uses | Aircraft structure · Truck wheel · Screw machine part · High-load fitting |
| Heat treatable | Yes — T4 / T5 / T6 / T651 tempers available |
Every grade
All 4 Grades in the 2xxx Series
The series tells you the alloying element. The grade tells you how much of it, and that is what decides strength, corrosion behaviour and price. Grades with a detail page carry composition limits and temper-by-temper mechanicals.
| Grade | What it is for | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | High strength with limited corrosion resistance; normally clad when it sees weather. | On request |
| 2024 | The classic aircraft skin alloy — strength and fatigue resistance, poor bare corrosion. | On request |
| 2A12 | Chinese-registry member of the 2024 family, common on domestically sourced drawings. | On request |
| 2219 | Holds strength at cryogenic and elevated temperature, and welds better than most 2xxx. | On request |
A grade without a detail page is still quotable — the range, temper and certificate are confirmed on the offer rather than published as a table.
Specifying
How a 2xxx Order Is Written
Four things decide whether the material that arrives is the material you meant. None of them is the alloy number, which is usually the only thing on the enquiry.
1 — Temper, not just grade
The suffix sets the mechanical condition and changes strength more than the alloy does. This series is heat treatable, so state T4, T5, T6 or T651 explicitly — and specify T651 for thick plate that will be machined, because stress relief happens at that step.
2 — The product standard
ASTM, EN and GB do not have identical tolerance tables. Name the standard on the purchase order — 2xxx material supplied to a different edition can be perfectly good metal and still fail your incoming inspection.
3 — Thickness and its tolerance band
Nominal thickness is not the delivered thickness. State the band you can accept, especially near the sheet-plate boundary at 6.35 mm, where the product changes from cold-rolled sheet to hot-rolled plate.
4 — Certificate type
EN 10204 2.2 is a statement against general production; 3.1 carries the actual test values for your heat and is signed by an inspection representative independent of production. Say which one your file needs before the order is placed.
Choose
How 2xxx Compares
Choose 2xxx when
Aircraft structure · Truck wheel · Screw machine part · High-load fitting
Think again if
The part sees salt water or is welded heavily — 5xxx behaves far better in both.
Other series
- 1xxx — Commercial Pure AluminumExcellent formability · Excellent corrosion resistance · High thermal/electrical conductivity · Non-heat-treatable
- 3xxx — Aluminum–ManganeseGood formability & weldability · Better strength than 1xxx · Excellent corrosion resistance · Non-heat-treatable
- 5xxx — Aluminum–MagnesiumExcellent marine corrosion resistance · Good weldability · Work-hardenable · Higher strength than 3xxx
- 6xxx — Aluminum–Magnesium–SiliconHeat-treatable (T5/T6) · Excellent extrudability · Good weldability · Excellent anodizing response
- 7xxx — Aluminum–ZincHighest strength · Heat-treatable · Lower corrosion resistance (stress corrosion risk) · Requires EN 10204 3.1
- 8xxx — Aluminum–Other (Foil & Special)High elongation · Low pinhole count · Clean surface · Non-heat-treatable
Not Sure Between Two Grades?
Send the end use and the environment, and we will say which one we would run — including when the answer is "neither".
Ask for a Grade Recommendation