ThePipingMart Blog Grades Aluminum 7068 Alloy (UNS A97068) – Composition, Properties and Uses

Aluminum 7068 Alloy (UNS A97068) – Composition, Properties and Uses

Aluminium 7068

Aluminum 7068 is a popular aluminium alloy known for its strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. It’s used in the automotive and aerospace industries for applications that require high-precision parts with superior tensile strength. This alloy is also considered to be one of the most weldable of all aluminum alloys due to its excellent formability characteristics. Let’s take a closer look at what makes aluminum 7068 such an effective material.

7068 Alloy Composition

Element Content (%)
Zinc, Zn 8.3
Magnesium, Mg 3
Copper, Cu 2.4
Iron, Fe 0.15
Zirconium, Zr 0.15
Silicon, Si 0.12
Manganese, Mn 0.1
Titanium, Ti 0.1
Chromium, Cr 0.05
Other (each) 0.05
Other (total) 0.15
Aluminum, Al Remainder

7068 Alloy Physical Properties

Properties Metric Imperial
Density 2.85 mg/cm³ 0.103 lb/in³
Melting point 476-635 ºC 890-1175 ºF

7068 Alloy Mechanical Properties

Properties Metric Imperial
Tensile strength 641 MPa 93 ksi
Yield strength 590 MPa 85.7 ksi
Elongation 8% 8%

7068 Alloy Thermal Properties

Properties Metric Imperial
Thermal conductivity 190 W/mK 1317 BTU in/hr.ft².°F

7068 Alloy Equivalents

  • AMS 4331
  • AMS 2772

7068 Alloy Uses

aluminum 7068 is a type of aerospace-grade alloy containing zinc, magnesium and copper. Due to its superb strength-to-weight ratio, this alloy is most often used to create high-performance parts needed in the aerospace industry, such as landing gear, fuselage frames and aircraft control surfaces. Additionally, its excellent corrosion resistance makes aluminum 7068 ideal for non-aerospace applications such as armour plating on military vehicles and industrial casings that require durability in harsh environments. It’s even seen use in complex architectural constructions like stadiums and office buildings due to its low weight and good heat dissipation properties. Given its versatility, it’s no wonder why Aluminium 7068 has become a staple material for today’s most advanced industries.

Corrosion Resistance

One of the biggest advantages of aluminum 7068 is that it is highly resistant to corrosion. This makes it ideal for use in marine environments or other harsh industrial settings where exposure to saltwater or chemicals can corrode traditional metals. It’s also great for outdoor products, as the protective oxide layer created by anodizing adds another layer of protection against corrosion.

Heat Treatment

Aluminium 7068 has a good response to heat treatment, allowing it to achieve different levels of hardness depending on the application it’s intended for. Heat treating also helps increase this alloy’s strength and wear resistance, making it suitable for components that need to withstand extreme conditions such as high temperatures or heavy shock loads.

Machining

This alloy is relatively easy to machine compared to other types of aluminum due to its improved machinability characteristics. It can be turned, milled, drilled, tapped, and reamed without excessive tool wear or chatter from the cutting tool. Additionally, this alloy is suitable for casting processes like gravity die casting or sand casting where great detail parts are required.

Welding

Aluminium 7068 provides excellent weldability thanks to its low melting point and good formability characteristics. This means that welding operations like arc welding, MIG welding, brazing and soldering can be easily performed on this alloy without any issues with cracking or warping during the cooling down process after the welding operation has been completed.

Conclusion

Aluminium 7068 is a versatile aluminium alloy with many benefits ranging from superior tensile strength and corrosion resistance to excellent weldability and machinability properties. Its heat treatability makes it suitable for applications requiring extreme conditions, while its low melting point allows it to be used in welding operations without any issues with cracking or warping while the cooling down period after the welding operation has been completed. All these qualities make aluminium 7068 an ideal choice for creating high-precision parts in various industries, including automotive and aerospace, requiring strong yet lightweight enough materials to offer superior performance under extreme conditions. Whether you’re looking for a material that offers superior corrosion resistance or exceptional weldability properties – aluminum 7068 may just be your perfect match!

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