Alloy 5056 can be used for nails and for redrawing rod to make wire. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and fabrication characteristics of this 5xxx series alloy.

This article discusses the effects of heavy metal impurities, environmental factors, the surface condition (such as as-cast, treated, and painted), and the assembly practice on the corrosion resistance of a magnesium or a magnesium alloy part. It provides information on stress-corrosion cracking and galvanic corrosion of magnesium alloys, as well as the surface protection of magnesium assemblies achieved by inorganic surface treatments.

This article discusses the classification, characteristics and temper designations of wrought aluminum alloys. Wrought aluminum products are available as flat-rolled products such as sheets, plates, and foils; rods, bars, and wires; tubular products such as tubes and pipes; extruded shapes; forgings; and impacts. The article provides information on product economics, design and selection, including product dimension and dimension tolerances, and design and use of wrought product capabilities. Finally, it tabulates the specifications and standards for aluminum mill products.

This article contains a table that lists the thermal conductivity of selected metals and alloys near room temperature. These include aluminum and aluminum alloys; copper and copper alloys; iron and iron alloys; lead and lead alloys; magnesium and magnesium alloys; nickel and nickel alloys; tin and tin alloys; titanium and titanium alloys; zinc and zinc alloys; and pure metals.

This article begins with a discussion on the environmental factors that induce corrosion in magnesium alloys. It reviews the factors that determine the severity of different forms of localized corrosion, namely, galvanic corrosion, corrosion fatigue, and stress-corrosion. The article discusses corrosion protection in magnesium assemblies and the protective coating systems used in corrosion protection practices. Protection schemes for specific applications and the production of novel magnesium alloys with improved corrosion resistance are also reviewed. The article concludes with a discussion on the corrosion of bulk vapor-deposited alloys and magnesium-matrix composites.

This article introduces the basic characteristics, processes, and product forms associated with the five major categories of aluminum wrought products, namely, flat-rolled products (sheet, plate, and foil); rod, bar, and wire; tubular products; profiles; and forgings. It summarizes the various product forms in which commonly used wrought aluminum alloys are available. The article also provides design guidelines for aluminum extrusions and discusses various forming methods.

This article presents a table that lists the linear thermal expansion of selected metals and alloys. These include aluminum, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, nickel, tin, titanium, and zinc and their alloys. Thermal expansion is presented for specific temperature ranges.

This article contains a table that lists the electrical conductivity and resistivity of selected metals, alloys, and materials at ambient temperature. These include aluminum and aluminum alloys; copper and copper alloys; electrical heating alloys; instrument and control alloys; relay steels and alloys; thermostat metals; electrical contact materials; and magnetically soft materials.

This datasheet provides information on composition limits, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and applications of bright-finishing alloys 5457, 5557, and 5657. A table lists approximate bend radii for 90 deg cold bending of alloy 5557.

Heat treatment of aluminum alloys is assessed by various quality-assurance methods that include metallographic examination, hardness measurements, mechanical property tests, corrosion-resistance tests, and electrical conductivity testing. The use of hardness measurements in the quality assurance of heat treated aluminum products is effectively used in conjunction with the measurement of surface electrical conductivity. This article provides a detailed discussion of the error sources in eddy-current conductivity measurements. It also presents useful information on the variation of electrical conductivity of alloy 2024 samples as a function of aging time at different isothermal holding temperatures.

This article begins with a discussion on the classification of aluminum alloys and the selection of alloy and temper based on machinability. It provides an overview of cutting force and power, tool design and material, and general machining conditions. In addition, the article discusses distortion and dimensional variation and machining problems during the machining of high-silicon aluminum alloy. It also provides information on tool design and material, speed and feed, and the cutting fluid used for various machining processes, namely, turning, boring, planing and shaping, broaching, reaming, tapping, milling, sawing, grinding, honing, and lapping. The article concludes with a discussion on drilling operations in automatic bar and chucking machines and drill presses.

This article focuses on the various forms of corrosion that occur in the passive range of aluminum and its alloys. It discusses pitting corrosion, galvanic corrosion, deposition corrosion, intergranular corrosion, stress-corrosion cracking, exfoliation corrosion, corrosion fatigue, erosion-corrosion, atmospheric corrosion, filiform corrosion, and corrosion in water and soils. The article describes the effects of composition, microstructure, stress-intensity factor, and nonmetallic building materials on the corrosion behavior of aluminum and its alloys. It also provides information on the corrosion resistance of anodized aluminum in contact with foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

More than 450 alloy designations/compositions have been registered by the Aluminum Association (AA) Inc. for aluminum and aluminum alloys. This article contains tables that list the designations and composition limits of wrought unalloyed aluminum and wrought aluminum alloys, and designations and composition limits for aluminum alloys in the form of castings and ingot. It provides helpful information on the Unified Numbering System (UNS) numbers and its corresponding AA numbers for aluminum and aluminum alloys, and the international alloy designations cross-referenced to its equivalent compositions of wrought AA alloys.

This article contains a table that lists the density of metals and alloys. It presents information on aluminum, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, nickel, tin, titanium, and zinc, an their respective alloys. Information on wrought alloys, permanent magnet materials, precious metals, and rare earth metals is also listed.

The most widely accepted alloy and temper designation system for aluminum and its alloys is maintained by the Aluminum Association and recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the American National Standard Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Aluminum (ANSI H35.1). This article provides a detailed discussion on the alloy and temper designation system for aluminum and its alloys. The Aluminum Association alloy designations are grouped as wrought and cast alloys. Lengthy tables provide information on alloying elements in wrought aluminum and aluminum alloys; nominal composition of aluminum alloy castings; typical mechanical properties of wrought and cast aluminum alloys in various temper conditions; and cross references to former and current cast aluminum alloy designations.

Commercial aluminum alloys are classified based on how they are made and what they contain. This article describes the ANSI H35.1 designation system, which is widely used to classify wrought and cast aluminum alloys. The ANSI standard uses a four-digit numbering system to identify alloying elements, compositional modifications, purity levels, and product types. It also uses a multicharacter code to convey process-related details on heat treating, hardening, cooling, cold working, and other stabilization treatments. The article includes several large tables that provide extensive information on aluminum alloy and temper designations and how they correspond to critical mechanical properties as well as other designation systems.

Aluminum and its alloys are highly corrosion resistant, protected by a self-healing oxide film that effectively passivates the underlying surface. This article examines the various processes by which the protective layer can be breached and the types of corrosion that can occur. It describes pitting, galvanic, and atmospheric corrosion as well as stress-corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, and erosion corrosion. It also covers intergranular, exfoliation, filiform, deposition, and crevice corrosion and special cases of corrosion in soils, seawater, and automotive coolant systems. The article provides an extensive amount of data as well as information on coatings, claddings, and cathodic protection methods; the effects of composition, microstructure, and surface treatments; and the compatibility of aluminum with food and various household and industrial chemicals.

Density allows for the conversion of uniform corrosion rates from units of weight (or mass) loss per unit area per time to thickness per unit time. This article contains a table that lists the density of metals, such as aluminum, copper, iron, stainless steel, magnesium, and lead, and their alloys.

This article compares and contrasts mechanical joining techniques used in the manufacture of aluminum assemblies, including seaming, swaging, flanging, crimping, clinching, dimpling, interference and snap fits, and interlocking joints. It provides basic illustrations of the various methods and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each. The article also discusses the use of staples, nails, rivets, and threaded fasteners and provides relevant property and performance data.