Designation of metals and alloys

In Metallurgy, the designation of metals and alloys are the standardized Désignation metallic materials, to indicate for example on the drawings of parts.

Aluminum and Alloy S of aluminum

Aluminum alloy intended for welding

They are alloys intended to be transformed by deformation (Laminage, Forgeage, spinning etc).

Numerical designation

The Alliages of aluminum for welding are referred by a designation of 4 digits. This designation is in conformity with the directives of Aluminum Association (Washington DC 20006, the USA), which gives for example: 7075. The four figures are sometimes preceded by letters AA (example: AA 6061), acronym of “Aluminum Association”. The four figures are sometimes followed by a letter which indicates a national alternative of an existing composition.

This designation was taken again in Europe by the standard IN 573-3 by adding the prefix IN, has (aluminum) and W (wrought: English word meaning welding). What gives IN AW-7075. In the facts, very often, only the four figures are used.

This notation with four digits is very used internationally and in practice replaced old national names.

The first figure indicates the principal element of addition of the Alliage:

* 1XXX (series of the 1000): alloy comprising aluminum 99% at least (example: 1050)

* 2XXX (series of the 2000): Copper (example 2024)

* 3XXX (series of the 3000): Manganese (example: 3003)

* 4XXX (series of the 4000): Silicon (example: 4006)

* 5XXX (series of the 5000): Magnesium (example: 5083)

* 6XXX (series of the 6000): magnesium, silicon (example: 6061)

* 7XXX (series of the 7000): Zinc (example: 7020)

*8XXX (series of the 8000): other elements.

The second figure indicates an alternative (example: 7075 comprises 0,50% of Fer and 7175 purer comprises iron 0,20%). The third and fourth figures are of the sequence numbers and are used to identify the alliage.
La only exception is the series 1000, these the last two figures indicating to it the percentage of aluminum (example: 1050 which comprises aluminum 99,50% at least).

ISO designation

It is about a designation using the chemical symbols known as often ISO (according to ISO 209-1: wrought aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shapes of the products. Part 1: chemical composition).

It is far from used.

Example: Al Cu4 Mg If

European alphanumeric designation

There exists an European standard which describes names very close to names of the ISO type. This standard carries the reference IN 573-2 (Aluminum and aluminum alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 2: designation based on the chemical symbols). In theory, this name should not be used only but must be put behind numerical name, between hooks.

It is far from used.

Examples: IN AW-2024 Cu4Mg1, AW-6060 Mg If, IN AW-7075 Zn5,5MgCu (exact designation according to the series of standard IN 573)

Old French designation

This designation was described in standard NF has 02-004 (cancelled). It was based on a coding of the chemical elements different from the chemical usual nomenclature (aluminum: With, copper: U, zinc: Z etc). It also gave an indication on the percentages of elements contained in alloy.

This name is not used any more for alloys of welding.

Aluminum

Example: A7

Alloys of aluminum

Example: A-U4G, A-G4MC, A-GS, A-Z5GU

Table of equivalence between various names

Warning: this table is given as an indication , it exists sometimes differences between the compositions in spite of equivalence. Certain names being old, it can have had evolutions since the disappearance of some of enter there they.

Recall: name with 4 digits (possibly preceded by prefix AA) standard Aluminum Association is to be privileged. It is the most used name today.

Standards and documents

* IN 573-1: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 1: numerical designation.

*EN 573-2: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 2: designation based on the chemical symbols.

*EN 573-3: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 3: chemical composition.

*EN 573-4: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 4: the shapes of the products

*PR IN 573-5 (project): Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shape of the wrought products - Part 5: coding of the standardized wrought products

* ISO 209-1: Wrought aluminum aluminum and alloys - Chemical composition and the shapes of the products. Part 1: chemical composition

*Aluminum Association: Internationl Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Association. (downloadable on the site of Aluminum Association: .

Aluminum alloy intended for the foundry

They are alloys intended to be transformed by moulding (Fonderie of aluminum).

Numerical designation

The Alliages of aluminum for foundry are referred by a designation of 5 digits.

This designation was taken again in Europe by the standard IN 1780-1 by adding the prefix IN, has (aluminum) and C (casting: English word meaning foundry). What gives IN AC-43100 for example. In the facts, very often, only the five figures are used.

This notation with five digits is used internationally but France remains rather attached to an old designation described low.

The first figure indicates the principal element of addition of the Alliage:

* (series of the 20000): Copper (example 21000)

* (series of the 40000): Silicon (example: 43300)

* (series of the 50000): Magnesium (example: 51200)

* (series of the 70000): Zinc (example: 71000)

The second figure indicates the group of alloy. This concept of group is used for standardized alloys (IN 1706). Each group presents a whole of mechanical and/or physical characteristics similar. For example the alloys of the AlSi group have a composition close to the Eutectique aluminum-silicon (12,6% in mass) what confers an excellent aptitude for casting to them.

The three figures according to indicate an alternative (example: 43100 comprises 0,10% of Cuivre and 43200 purer comprises 0,35% of copper, the proportions of Zinc and Nickel, of Plomb and from Titane also vary between these two alloys, in similar proportions). The three figures according to are of the sequence numbers and are used to identify alloy.

Chemical designation

It is about a designation using the chemical symbols (according to IN 1780-2: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Designation applicable to the ingots for combined aluminum remelting, to mother alloys and the moulded products - Part 2: designation based on the chemical symbols.).

It is far from used.

Example: Al Cu4 Mg Ti for the 21000

Old French designation

Example AU5GT for the 21000. One will note a nuance between these two designations, one indicating Al' Cu4 MgTi and the other has U5 WP for this alloy whose content of copper lies between 4,20% and 5,00%.

The table below indicates the symbols of the principal components of aluminum alloys used in foundry:

This name still is very much used in France for alloys of foundry.

Standards and documents

IN 1780-1: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Designation applicable to the ingots for combined aluminum remelting, to mother alloys and the moulded products - Part 1: numerical designation.
IN 1780-2: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Designation applicable to the ingots for combined aluminum remelting, to mother alloys and the moulded products - Part 2: designation based on the chemical symbols.
IN 1780-3: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - Designation applicable to the ingots for combined aluminum remelting, to mother alloys and the moulded products - Part 3: writing rules for the chemical composition.
IN 12258-1: Aluminum aluminum and alloys - terms and definitions.

For the foundry, the office of French standardization is B.N.I.F.

See too

Alloys of aluminum for welding
Alloys of aluminum for foundry

Copper and Alloys of copper

Coppers

Example: Cu-ETP

Alloys of copper

Example: Cu Zn39 Pb2

ferrous Iron and alloys

Pig iron and cast iron

Pig iron and cast iron with lamellate graphite (nonallied)

for example: FGL-350 - > FGL: Cast iron with lamellate graphite - > 350: Minimal resistance to traction in MPa

Pig iron and cast iron with spheroid graphite (nonallied)

for example: FGS-450-10 - > FGS: Nodular cast iron - > 450: Minimal resistance to Traction in MPa

- > 10: Lengthening in %

malleable Pig iron and cast iron (nonallied)

for example: MN-550-4

- > MN: Malleable pig iron in black core

- > 550: Minimal resistance to traction in MPa

- > 4: Lengthening in %

for example: MB-380-12

- > MB: Malleable pig iron in white heart

- > 380: Minimal resistance to traction in MPa

- > 12: Lengthening in %

austenitic Pig iron and cast iron (allied)

for example: S Nor Cr30-1

- >S: Nodular cast iron allied

- > Ni: Nickel with 30%

- >Cr: Chromium plate with 1%

for example: BFR Cr15Mo Ni

- > BFR: Allied white pig iron

- > Cr: Chromium plate with 15%

- > Mo: Molybdenum with some traces

- > Ni: Nickel with some traces

Steel S

Steels structural
Special steels (nonallied) for heat treatment
allied Steels faiblements
strongly allied Steels

Zinc and zinc alloys

Example: Z - A4 G

Random links: