trade associations developed to identify metals and alloys, includes aluminum

alloys. The UNS number for wrought aluminum alloys uses the same number
as the Aluminum Association designation but precedes it with ��A9�� (for
example, UNS A95052 for 5052) in order to differentiate aluminum alloys
from other metal alloys covered by the UNS. The UNS number for cast
aluminum alloys also uses the same number as the Aluminum Association
designation (discussed below) but precedes it with ��A�� and a number ��0�� or
higher (for example, UNS A14440 for A444.0).
You can also still come across the pre-1954 designations, usually when
someone who doesn�t know much about aluminum quotes an old reference.
To help in these instances, as well as when you�re confronted with modifying
an historic aluminum structure, a cross reference between the old system
designations and the new is given in Appendix A. What�s probably even more
amazing than the fact that these designations still occasionally appear is that
many of the old alloys, such as 24S (now 2024), 43S (4043), and 61S (6061),
are still popular. You�ll also still occasionally hear reference to duralumin,
the commercial name given to the original aluminum-copper alloys. Unfortunately
these alloys proved to be the least durable of aluminum, and use of
the name has faded.
Informal appellations are also given to aluminum alloy series. The 2xxx
and 7xxx series are sometimes referred to as ��aircraft alloys,�� but they are
also used in other applications, including bolts and screws used in buildings.
The 1xxx, 3xxx, and 6xxx series alloys are sometimes referred to as ��soft,��
while the 2xxx, 5xxx, and 7xxx series alloys are called ��hard.�� This description
refers to the ease of extruding the alloys: hard alloys are more difficult
to extrude, requiring higher-capacity presses, and are, thus, more expensive.
2.4.3 Tempers
Aluminum alloys are tempered by heat treating or strain hardening to further
increase strength beyond the strengthening effect of adding alloying elements.
Alloys are divided into two groups based on whether or not their strengths
can be increased by heat treating. Both heat treatable and non-heat treatable
alloys can be strengthened by strain hardening, which is also called coldworking.
The alloys that are not heat-treatable may only be strengthened by
cold-working. Whether or not an alloy is heat treatable depends on its alloying
elements. Alloys in which the amount of alloying element in solid solution
in aluminum increases with temperature are heat treatable. In general, the
1xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx, and 5xxx series wrought alloys are not heat treatable, while
the 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx wrought series are, but minor exceptions to this
rule exist.
Non-heat treatable alloys may also undergo a heat treatment, but this heat
treatment is used only to stabilize properties so that strengths do not decrease
over time�behavior called age softening�and is required only for alloys