When it comes to aluminum, 6061 may be the most popular, but it's not the strongest. That distinguished honor goes to 7075. To get an idea of just how strong 7075 aluminum is, look no further than the fact that it's used for structural components in the aerospace industry. So, it’s a good bet that it will hold up to the strength test of your application, too.
Let's check the numbers
Part of the 7000 series of aluminum, 7075 contains zinc as its central alloying element. When coupled with a small percentage of magnesium, the result is a heat-treatable alloy with very high strength. Like other grades in the 7000 series of aluminum, 7075 aluminum uses small quantities of copper and chromium as well. This grade conforms to AMS QQ-A-225/9 and ASTM B211.
Various methods of cold working are typically used to reduce the internal residual stress resulting from prior heat treatment. Stretcher leveling and compressing are two standard cold-working methods used on 7075 aluminum.
7075 aluminum vs. 6061: What are the major differences?
6061, one of the most used aluminum grades in the world, contains magnesium (1.0%) and silicon (0.6%) as its primary alloying elements.
Strength is the primary difference between 6061 and 7075 aluminum.
6061 aluminum is highly resistant to corrosion, whereas 7075 aluminum is a bit more susceptible to corrosion due in part to its copper elements.
7075 Casting: Does it Work?
In some cases, as-cast 7075 aluminum alloy is directly used as billet in hot-working methods like extrusion. However, as-cast 7075 aluminum alloy can be highly sensitive to deformation temperature and strain rate and can be susceptible to cracking during hot plastic deformation. Therefore, it is important to seek professional advice before casting.
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