Quick answer: Aluminum “series” are chemistry families (1xxx–8xxx) defined by the main alloying elements. Each family trends differently for strength, weldability, corrosion resistance, heat-treatability, and finishing—and they also map to manufacturing processes (sheet/plate/extrusion vs casting).
At-a-glance (one screen)
| Series | Main alloying element | Heat-treatable? | Weldability | Where it shines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | (Nearly) pure Al | No | Excellent | Conductivity, reflectors, deep-draw |
| 2000 | Copper (Al-Cu) | Yes | Limited | High strength, aerospace |
| 3000 | Manganese (Al-Mn) | No | Good | Formability, HVAC fins, cookware |
| 4000 | Silicon (Al-Si) | Mostly no (wrought) | Good (as filler) | Welding/brazing fillers, pistons, some cast |
| 5000 | Magnesium (Al-Mg) | No | Excellent | Marine, sheet metal, tanks |
| 6000 | Magnesium + Silicon (Al-Mg-Si) | Yes | Good | Extrusions, frames, machinery |
| 7000 | Zinc + Mg (+Cu) (Al-Zn-Mg) | Yes | Limited | Highest strength, aerospace |
| 8000 | Other (e.g., Fe, Li) | Varies | Varies | Foil, conductor, specialty |
Jump to: 1000 · 2000 · 3000 · 4000 · 5000 · 6000 · 7000 · 8000
What do aluminum series numbers actually mean?
“Series” (1xxx…8xxx) is a wrought-aluminum numbering convention indicating the dominant alloying element. It’s not a specific grade (e.g., 6061 is a grade in the 6000 series) and it’s not a temper (e.g., T6 is a heat-treatment state).
Key ideas:
- Series → chemistry family. Example: 6xxx = aluminum-magnesium-silicon.
- Grade → named composition inside a family. Example: 6061 or 6063.
- Temper → material condition. Example: T5, T6, H32, O.
Wrought vs cast names
| Category | How it’s named | Examples | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrought (sheet/plate/extrusion/forging) | 1xxx–8xxx + 4 digits (AA/EN/JIS) + temper | 6061-T6, 5052-H32, 7075-T73 | Fabricated parts, extrusions, sheet metal |
| Cast (die casting, sand/permanent mold) | xxx.x (3xx.x/4xx.x families etc.) + casting temper | A380.0, A356.0, A413.0 | Net-shape cast housings, brackets |
Why it matters: Wrought 6xxx and cast A380 behave very differently in wall thickness, porosity, tolerances, and finishing.
How do wrought vs cast aluminum differ—and why it matters?
- Wrought: Start as sheet/plate/extrusion → cut/bend/machine → excellent mechanical uniformity and anodizing cosmetics. Great for frames, panels, brackets.
- Cast: Metal fills a mold (die/sand) → near-net-shape with integrated features (ribs, bosses, threads). Excellent for complex housings at volume.
Design consequence: If your part has thin walls with ribs, bosses, pockets and must be economical at volume, die casting (e.g., A380/AlSi10Mg) may beat “6061 extrusion + heavy machining” on piece cost and integrated finish.
Series overview—chemistry, properties & best uses
| Series | Strength trend | Corrosion | Formability | Weldability | Heat-treatable | Typical products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Low | Good | Excellent | Excellent | No | Electrical, reflectors, deep-draw |
| 2000 (Al-Cu) | High | Fair (needs protection) | Fair | Limited | Yes | Aerospace skins/frames (legacy), high-strength plate |
| 3000 (Al-Mn) | Low-mid | Good | Excellent | Good | No | Cookware, HVAC fins, packaging |
| 4000 (Al-Si) | Low-mid (wrought) | Good | Good | Good (as filler wire) | Mostly no | 4043/4047 fillers, 4032 pistons, brazing sheets |
| 5000 (Al-Mg) | Mid | Excellent (marine) | Good | Excellent | No | Boat hulls, tanks, general sheet metal |
| 6000 (Al-Mg-Si) | Mid-high (T tempers) | Good | Good | Good | Yes | Extrusions (frames, profiles), machined parts |
| 7000 (Al-Zn-Mg) | Highest | Fair (SCC risk) | Fair | Limited | Yes | Aerospace, high-load structures |
| 8000 | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Foil, conductor, specialty |
1000 Series Aluminum
What it is: (Near)-pure aluminum; max conductivity and formability, minimal strength.
Common grades: 1050, 1060, 1100.
| Snapshot | 1100 (typical) |
|---|---|
| Strength | Low (UTS ~ 90–120 MPa) |
| Conductivity | Very high (good for busbars/heat sinks by area) |
| Weldability | Excellent |
| Uses | Electrical, chemical equipment, reflectors, deep-drawn parts |
2000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Copper-strengthened aluminum; heat-treatable; aircraft classics.
Common grades: 2024, 2014, 2219.
| Snapshot | 2024-T3 (typical) |
|---|---|
| Strength | High (UTS ~ 470 MPa) |
| Corrosion | Moderate-to-poor without protection |
| Weldability | Limited |
| Uses | Aerospace fuselage/wing skins (legacy), high-strength plate, riveted structures |
3000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Work-hardened family; formability + corrosion at low cost.
Common grades: 3003, 3104, 3105.
| Snapshot | 3003-H14 (typical) |
|---|---|
| Strength | Low-mid |
| Formability | Excellent (deep draw) |
| Weldability | Good |
| Uses | Cookware, HVAC, can bodies, decorative panels |
4000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Lower melting Al-Si wrought and fillers; also a set of cast Al-Si grades.
Common wrought: 4032 (wear-resistant), 4043/4047 (welding/brazing).
Common cast 4xx.x: A413.0, 443.0, 444.0 (high-Si, fluidity).
| Topic | Quick notes |
|---|---|
| Welding fillers | 4043/4047 flow well, reduce cracking; color-match differs vs 5xxx |
| Pistons/wear parts | 4032 (high Si) for low expansion, wear resistance |
| Finishing | Anodize appears gray (Si); paint/powder for cosmetics |
5000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Marine-grade family; non-heat-treatable; excellent weldability.
Common grades: 5052, 5083, 5754.
| Snapshot | 5052-H32 vs 5083-H116 (typical) |
|---|---|
| Strength | 5052 mid; 5083 higher |
| Corrosion | Excellent (seawater) |
| Weldability | Excellent (watch HAZ softening) |
| Uses | Boat hulls, tanks, enclosures, sheet metal |
6000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Heat-treatable workhorse for extrusions; balances strength, weldability, and anodizing quality.
Common grades: 6061, 6063, 6082.
Tempers: T5, T6, T651 (stress-relieved).
| Grade | Where it fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6061 | Structural frames, machined components | Strongest all-rounder; great post-machining |
| 6063 | Profiles with premium anodize | Best surface for architectural anodizing |
| 6082 | EU/UK favorite for strength vs 6061 | Higher strength extrusions; good machinability |
7000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Highest strength aluminum families; heat-treatable; aerospace and performance hardware.
Common grades: 7075, 7050, 7020.
| Snapshot | 7075-T6 (typical) |
|---|---|
| Strength | Very high (UTS ~ 570 MPa) |
| Weldability | Limited |
| Corrosion | Needs care (SCC); often coated |
| Uses | Aircraft structures, tooling plates, high-load frames |
8000 Series Aluminum
What it is: Specialty families (e.g., 8011/8021) used mostly for foil, conductor, battery applications.
| Snapshot | 8011/8021 |
|---|---|
| Form | Thin foil, conductor strip |
| Uses | Packaging foil, cable wrap, battery foils |
| Notes | Focus on work-hardening tempers and gauge control |
Which series should you choose for your part?
Use this practical chooser to decide quickly—and to know when to consider casting instead of fabricated wrought.
| If you need… | Start with this series | Why | Finishing tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best anodized cosmetics on an extrusion | 6000 (6063/6061) | Smooth surfaces, T tempers | Etch+anodize; manage color across batches |
| Marine corrosion + easy welding | 5000 (5052/5083) | Al-Mg resists seawater; welds well | Conversion + paint/powder for long life |
| Highest strength plate | 7000 (7075/7050) or 2000 | Heat-treatable high strength | Protect from SCC; coat or clad |
| Deep draw & conductivity | 1000 (1100) | Pure Al formability | Anodize possible; cosmetics basic |
| Welding filler for 6xxx | 4000 (4043/4047) | Lower crack sensitivity, good flow | Expect gray anodize color |
| Complex thin-wall housing at volume | Cast (e.g., A380/AlSi10Mg) | Near-net features, lower piece cost | Bead blast + conversion + powder/e-coat |
Finishing by series (anodize, powder/e-coat, conversion)
| Series | Anodize outcome | Powder / e-coat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Bright, uniform | Excellent | High reflectivity possible |
| 2000 | Variable; needs care | Recommended | Often clad/coated in service |
| 3000 | Good | Excellent | Uniform basic colors |
| 4000 | Grayish (high Si) | Recommended | Prefer paint/powder for cosmetics |
| 5000 | Good | Excellent | Marine systems common |
| 6000 | Best (esp. 6063) | Excellent | Architectural finishes |
| 7000 | Variable; risk of issues | Recommended | Often painted/coated |
| 8000 | Varies by product | Excellent | Often thin foil → lacquer |
Common mistakes & how to avoid them
- Confusing series with grade/temper. 6061-T6 ≠ 6061-T5; 6061 ≠ 6063.
- Using 6061 where a cast housing is better. For ribs/bosses/thin walls, die casting can win on cost and integration.
- Under-specifying corrosion protection for 2xxx/7xxx in marine/coastal service.
- Ignoring HAZ softening in 5xxx/6xxx weldments—design around it.
FAQs
What do aluminum series numbers mean?
They indicate chemistry families (1xxx–8xxx). Grades (e.g., 6061) live inside a family; tempers (T/H/O) describe the condition.
Which series are heat-treatable?
2000, 6000, 7000 (and some 8000) are heat-treatable. 1000/3000/5000 are strengthened by work-hardening (H tempers).
Which series welds best?
5000 (Al-Mg) and 6000 (Al-Mg-Si) weld widely in fabrication. Use 4043/4047 or 5356 filler per base alloy and color-match needs.
Which series anodize to the most uniform black?
6000, especially 6063, generally gives the most consistent architectural anodize. 4xxx often turns gray.
Wrought vs cast—how do I choose?
If your geometry has continuous thin walls, ribs/bosses, and you need volume, evaluate die casting (A380/AlSi10Mg). If you need flat panels, long spans, bent profiles, use wrought (5xxx/6xxx).
Next steps (for buyers & engineers)
- Upload your drawing for a 24-hour alloy/process recommendation (series/grade/temper vs A380/AlSi10Mg die casting).
- Need deeper dives? Read: 6000 Series Aluminum Guide and What Is 4000 Series (Al-Si)?.
- Comparing grades? See 6061 vs 6063 and 6061 vs 5052 (coming next).
