Non heat-treatable alloys (Topic: 10001)

The definition of non heat-treatable alloys is alloys that cannot achieve higher strength by heat-treatment. These alloys obtain higher strength either by strain-hardening (e.g. cold working) or by solid solution.

Non heat-treatable alloys include the pure aluminium group (1000), the AlMn -group (3000) the AlSi-group (4000) and the AlMg- group (5000).

The non heat-treatable alloys mostly are used for flat products such as plate, thin sheet and foils. In some extent you can find extrusions from the 1000- and 5000-groups.

Plate and sheet are often delivered in cold rolled tempers for high strength applications, but the best formability is in the soft annealed temper.

Very good forming properties are often required from extruded products made of these alloys, while high strength is less important. The extrusions therefore often are delivered in the annealed or as fabricated condition.