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ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

Name

Percentage composition

Properties

Uses

Casting alloy
BS 1490/LM4M

è

92 aluminium
5 silicon
3 copper

è

Good fluidity and moderate strength

è

Sand and die castings for light-duty applications

Casting alloy
BS 1490/LM6M

è

88 aluminium
12 silicon

è

Very good fluidity and strength

è

Sand and die castings for motor vehicle and marine components

‘Y’ alloy

è

92 aluminium
2 nickel
1.5 manganese

è

Good fluidity and can have its hardness modified by heat treatment

è

Motor vehicle engine parts, eg pistons and cylinder heads

Duralumin

è

94 aluminium
4 copper

0.8 magnesium
0.7 manganese
0.5 silicon

è

Ductile and malleable in soft condition, can be heat treated

è

Structural uses, eg motor vehicle and aircraft panels

Wrought alloy
BS 1470/5:H30

è

97.3 aluminium
1 manganese
1 silicon
0.7 manganese

è

Ductile, with good strength, can be heat treated

è

Structural uses, eg ladders, scaffold tubes, overhead power lines

Aluminium alloys have aluminium as the main constituent but may also contain copper, silicon, silver, nickel, manganese, magnesium and tin. The effect is to increase the tensile strength of the aluminium, while retaining low weight and good corrosion-resistant properties. Some are produces for cold working and others for casting. It is also possible to increase the hardness of some types of aluminium alloy by heat treatment.

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