The 8xxx or 8000 series is the last in the wrought aluminum alloy designation system. Alloys not covered by the 2xxx to 7xxx series are categorized under the grade. The nominal composition varies with different major and minor impurities.

Aluminum 8xxx Alloy Characteristics

Some key characteristics of grade 8xxx alloys are –

• High strength with good stiffness
• Superior electrical conductivity
• Excellent weight-to-strength ratio
• Improved resistance to creep
• Moderate-level stress relaxation
• Lower termination performance

However, the mechanical properties widely vary due to different chemical compositions. Also, the alloys are mostly non-weldable but can be welded through Friction Stir Welding.

Common Aluminum Grade 8xxx Alloys

Alloys in the 8000 series having industrial applications are –

• Grade 8006 (1.5% Fe, 0.5% Mn)
• Grade 8009 (8.6% Fe, 1.8% Si, 1.3% V)
• Grade 8011 (0.7% Fe, 0.6% Si)
• Grade 8014 (1.4% Fe, 0.4% Mn)
• Grade 8019 (8.3% Fe, 4.0% Ce, 0.2% O)
• Grade 8030 (0.5% Fe, 0.2% Cu)
• Grade 8176 (0.6% Fe, 0.1% Si)

Iron (Fe), Silicon (Si), and Manganese (Mn) are the major impurities for most compositions. Some alloys have Vanadium (V), Cerium (Ce), and Copper (Cu) as the major impurities.

Minor impurities are also present in some of the less-used grade 8xxx alloys. Titanium (Ti), Magnesium (Mg), Chromium (Cr), Lithium (Li), Zinc (Zn), and Zirconium (Zr) can be found.

Applications for Aluminum 8xxx Series Alloys

Only a few grades of the alloy have practical applications, keeping the usability low for the series. Sheet, plate, wire, and foil remains the most common form of certain alloys. However, other forms like bar, coil, strip, or tube are available on custom orders.

Electricity

Alloys having low Fe content with Si or Cu have good electrical conductivity. They have occasional uses in electrical equipment as an alternative to copper wires.

Aerospace

Alloys having less than 90% aluminum can deliver an excellent weight-to-strength ratio. The 8019 alloys have general aerospace uses. But the 8009 alloy is beneficial for high-temperature aerospace applications.

Universal

Alloys having Mn with Fe possess sufficiently high mechanical properties. They’re often handy in making many hard-metal tools of varying grades in the industry.

Which Alloy is Best for Your Project?

The applicability of grade 8000 aluminum alloys is considerably limited. You may be better off with aluminum die-casting metals for more intricate applications. Sunrise Metal is a leading die-cast aluminum manufacturer from China with 10+ years in the business.

Feel free to contact us anytime to decide on the best aluminum alloy for your next projects.