Tempered aluminum refers to aluminum that has undergone a specific process called tempering, which is a process used to further enhance its mechanical properties, particularly after it has been alloyed with other metals.
The Process of Tempering Aluminum
Aluminum is often combined with other elements like copper, magnesium, silicon, or zinc to create aluminum alloys. These alloys are designed to have improved characteristics compared to pure aluminum, such as increased strength or corrosion resistance.
Following the creation of an alloy, the tempering process is applied. As the reference highlights, tempering is a process used to further enhance these properties. This means it takes the characteristics of the alloy and improves them even more.
Why Temper Aluminum?
The primary goal of tempering is to achieve desirable mechanical properties that are essential for various applications. By enhancing properties, tempering can:
- Increase strength and hardness
- Improve durability and resilience
- Modify ductility (how easily it can be deformed)
- Control internal stresses
The specific effects of tempering depend on the aluminum alloy composition and the exact tempering process used.
Understanding Aluminum Tempers
In the aluminum industry, different states of tempering are standardized and denoted by specific letters and numbers, known as temper designations. The 'T' designation specifically refers to thermal treatments that result in stable tempers, such as solution heat treating and artificial or natural aging.
- T-Tempers: Indicate that the aluminum alloy has been heat-treated to produce a stable temper. Different numbers following the 'T' (e.g., T4, T6) signify different specific heat treatment procedures and cooling rates, resulting in distinct final properties. For example, T6 temper typically involves solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging, leading to high strength.
These temper designations are critical for engineers and manufacturers to select the right type of aluminum for a specific structural or functional requirement, ensuring the material performs reliably under intended conditions.
Essentially, tempered aluminum is aluminum (usually an alloy) that has been heat-treated and/or aged to optimize its strength, hardness, and other mechanical attributes beyond what is achieved through alloying alone.
