The 7075 aluminum alloy series has a composition that gives it a maximum strength to the point that it can hold its own against many steels. Although this is one of its most enticing qualities, it is the combination of this trait in combination with its other excellent features —low density, excellent machinability, and excellent corrosion resistance— that makes it the ideal candidate for highly-stressed structural parts. It is incredibly robust since zinc serves as its main alloying component.Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494Metalmen has the largest inventory of Al 1100 plate and bar in North America. We can serve our customers with other Al alloys in foils , sheet, rod, channel, angle, tube and pipe.
Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers.
A-1 Alloys
San Diego, CA | 800-266-2569We can provide you with aluminum bars (half round, hex, rectangular, round, square, oil impregnated) plus we handle aluminum scrap disposal. We also perform sheet metal fabrication, cutting, slitting and shearing. Since 1978, A-1 Alloys has been in business. We are a division of ABC Metals, Inc.
Southern Tool Steel, Inc.
Hixson, TN | 800-487-6382Aluminum is among the specialty metals and plastics that we distribute. We don't regard the size, shape or quantity of an order as a requirement for fulfillment. Southern Tool Steel specializes in cut pieces of aluminum wire, aluminum sheet, aluminum pipe, aluminum plate, aluminum bar and tubing.
Industrial Alloys, Inc.
Indian Trial, NC | 800-772-6176Since 1983, Industrial Alloys, Inc. has delivered dependable service and high-quality stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and nickel alloy products in a variety of shapes. We provide custom metal fabrication services as well as drilling, plasma cutting, rolling, forming, welding, and bending services. As a complete metal service and distribution center, we consistently offer reliable quality materials that are properly processed and delivered to your requirements.
Although it has a high strength, it does not offer the same levels of machinability or weldability as other typical aluminum alloys, however. Additionally, 7075 aluminum has a lower level of corrosion resistance than other aluminum alloys.
How 7075 Aluminum is Processed
How do we get products made from the 7075 aluminum alloy? Well, it’s a multistep process. First, the 7075 alloy needs to be created. This process involves combining aluminum together with a variety of other materials- most notably zinc due to the properties it provides this alloy (magnesium, copper, iron, and silicon are among the other ingredients found). Like other alloys, the ingredients of this alloy are melted down, mixed together, then allowed to cool into a solid form. From there, the alloy is then direct cast (DC).
Direct casting is a vertical semi-continuous casting technique. The procedure involves melting the now-alloyed material and pouring this molten melt onto a starting block, where the difference in temperatures causes the part of the melted material to solidify right away (direct chill). To enlarge the mushy zone (semi-solid zone), which will help the production of the end product, the solid material, is shifted downward. A water film continuously cools the mold walls. Only 20% of the heat is removed by heat transfer through the mold wall; the majority of heat (around 80%) is removed by direct cold.
The fundamental advantage of DC casting is the comparatively limited layer of solidification (and the production of structure and flaws) that occurs in a billet and can be tightly controlled. Typically, this alloy is cast into the form of solid ingots (blocks or bars). From there, these ingots are further processed through various processes (rolling, additional forging, etc.) into more workable forms, like sheets.
Advantages of 7075 Aluminum
- Among the numerous commonly-used aluminum alloys, 7075 aluminum has the distinction of being the strongest grade aluminum alloy for a variety of industrial applications. It provides a level of strength comparable to many steel alloys while also offering the advantages of being a lightweight metal, easily machinable, and corrosion resistant.
- Due to its reflecting quality and visually pleasing surface when polished, 7075 alloy frequently removes the need for painting while simultaneously lowering the object's weight, which is crucial for aerospace applications.
- The composition of 7075 aluminum is 90 percent aluminum, 5.6% zinc, 2.5% magnesium, and 1.6% copper, and it has a density of.102 pounds per cubic inch. It is the best choice for many structural parts of airplanes because it can withstand stresses brought on by high-altitude flights.
- T7351 and T173 tempers of the aluminum alloy 7075 offer outstanding stress corrosion resistance.
- As previously mentioned, zinc serves as the main alloying component of 7075 aluminum. The addition of chromium to an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu high-strength alloy for the first time gave 7075 an outstanding level of resistance to stress corrosion cracking in sheet form. In spite of its inability to be welded, middling performance, and negligible corrosion resistance, 7075 aluminum has a high level of fatigue strength. However, the alloy's high strength to density ratio makes it perfect for applications such as rock climbing and military weaponry, to mention a few.
Applications of 7075 Aluminum
Manufacturers and product consumers agree that the lightweight and durability properties of 7075 aluminum are very advantageous. Below, we examine some applications of 7075 aluminum.
- This aluminum alloy is used in the aerospace, aircraft, and automotive industries because of its outstanding fatigue resistance, which is very useful in these aforementioned sectors. For applications involving specific stresses like constant movement and pressure variations, this aluminum alloy is the most affordable choice.
- 7075 is widely employed in the creation of structures connected to airplanes, such as wings and fuselages. The 7075 aluminum alloy is used for a variety of components in other industries, including those involving recreation such as bicycle parts, rock climbing gear, archery equipment, and gun manufacturing. The 7075 aluminum alloy has been utilized in the M-16 rifles produced for the military.
- To satisfy the requirements of varied applications, aluminum alloy 7075 is supplied in a variety of shapes. This alloy is particularly useful for high stress applications. Whether the application calls for plastic industry molds, military-grade guns, or bicycle parts, 7075 is frequently the alloy of choice. The 7075 aluminum alloy is also used to create gears, fuse parts, and other highly-stressed structural components.
