The wide range of aluminum sheets and panels offer an infinity of possibilities in the automotive industry. However, this great variety, combined with the rapid technological development in the industry, can make it difficult to recognize the practical applications of aluminum in car manufacturing.
This brief guide detailing the characteristics and applications of aluminum alloy series will help you identify the aluminum sheets you need for the manufacture of certain automotive applications.
Series 1xxx
99.9% pure aluminum, not heat treatable, extremely malleable with excellent corrosion resistance.
- 1100: application in thermal insulators, thermal shields, electrical conductors, interior and exterior moldings, air conditioning components.
Series 3xxx
Excellent synergy between formability and corrosion resistance, stronger than 1xxx series aluminum, but weaker than 5xxx.
- 3003, 3004: application in non-structural components, brake splash guards, air conditioning application, supports and different body components.
Series 5xxx
Alloy series of medium to high strength combined with good formability and weldability.
- 5052, 5251: Low strength with good corrosion resistance, formability and weldability. Application in interior and exterior supports, and in body panels where passenger safety is a requirement.
- 5083: The best for hot forming of complex automotive components.
- 5182: The most common of the 5xxx series for structural automotive applications with high strength and excellent formability. Good resistance to galvanic corrosion, but high magnesium contents make it susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in applications where the component is under load stress and exposed to heat. Applied in supports, internal closures and BIW panels.
- 5754: Common alloy for structural applications in automobiles offering high strength and good corrosion resistance, but less formability for complex geometries.
Series 6xxx
The quintessential alloy for automotive applications. Provides the best combination of finish quality, formability, corrosion resistance and strength, with opportunity and value for recycling.
- 6061, 6022: Variants with lower copper content used in applications where malleability performance is needed over tensile strength. It has adequate tensile strength to achieve the dent resistance required.
- 6005, 6111, 6451: Employed where the “post-aging” limit is the main desired property in panel applications such as doors.
- 6082: High strength and resistance to impact and corrosion, mainly used in load frames.
- 6181: Strong and lightweight, ideal for exterior body panels.
Series 7xxx
The most powerful and high-strength alloy.
- 7075: Employed in applications of most critical strength, such as A/B pillars, intrusion beams, roof headers, and generally when parts are formed at elevated temperatures.
Ulbrinox provides the industry with the highest quality aluminum and alloys to meet the most demanding needs of the automotive industry in Mexico and Latin America.
Check out the technical sheet of our aluminum offer and request a quote. For more information, write through our online chat where one of our specialized technicians will answer all your questions.
