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2124 (2124-T851, AlCu4Mg1(A), 3.1354) Aluminum

2124 aluminum is a 2000-series aluminum alloy: the main alloying addition is copper, and it is formulated for primary forming into wrought products. Cited properties are appropriate for the T851 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated, stress relieved, then artificially aged. The stress relief is accomplished by stretching the metal by an amount that depends on the type of standard wrought product being made (sheet, plate, bar, or forging). 2124 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-2124. AlCu4Mg1(A) is the EN chemical designation. Additionally, the UNS number is A92124.

It has been in use since 1960, but has only received its standard designation in 1970.

The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 2124 aluminum to: 2000-series alloys (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus

71 GPa 10 x 106 psi

Elongation at Break

5.7 %

Fatigue Strength

130 MPa 19 x 103 psi

Poisson's Ratio

0.33

Shear Modulus

27 GPa 3.9 x 106 psi

Shear Strength

280 MPa 41 x 103 psi

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)

490 MPa 71 x 103 psi

Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)

430 MPa 62 x 103 psi

Thermal Properties

Latent Heat of Fusion

390 J/g

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical

190 °C 380 °F

Melting Completion (Liquidus)

640 °C 1180 °F

Melting Onset (Solidus)

500 °C 930 °F

Specific Heat Capacity

880 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F

Thermal Conductivity

150 W/m-K 88 BTU/h-ft-°F

Thermal Expansion

23 µm/m-K

Electrical Properties

Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume

38 % IACS

Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)

110 % IACS

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Base Metal Price

10 % relative

Density

3.0 g/cm3 190 lb/ft3

Embodied Carbon

8.2 kg CO2/kg material

Embodied Energy

150 MJ/kg 64 x 103 BTU/lb

Embodied Water

1150 L/kg 140 gal/lb

Common Calculations

Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)

27 MJ/m3

Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)

1290 kJ/m3

Stiffness to Weight: Axial

13 points

Stiffness to Weight: Bending

46 points

Strength to Weight: Axial

45 points

Strength to Weight: Bending

46 points

Thermal Diffusivity

58 mm2/s

Thermal Shock Resistance

21 points

Alloy Composition

Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 2124 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of copper (Cu). Copper is used to improve strength. This comes at the cost of a decrease in corrosion resistance and weldability.

Aluminum (Al)Al 91.3 to 94.7
Copper (Cu)Cu 3.8 to 4.9
Magnesium (Mg)Mg 1.2 to 1.8
Manganese (Mn)Mn 0.3 to 0.9
Iron (Fe)Fe 0 to 0.3
Zinc (Zn)Zn 0 to 0.25
Silicon (Si)Si 0 to 0.2
Titanium (Ti)Ti 0 to 0.15
Chromium (Cr)Cr 0 to 0.1
Residualsres. 0 to 0.15

All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.

Followup Questions

Similar Alloys

Further Reading

Handbook of Aluminum Bonding Technology and Data, J. D. Minford, 1993

ASTM B209: Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate

Aluminum Standards and Data, Aluminum Association Inc., 2013

ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 1993

ISO 6361-2: Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys - Sheets, strips and plates - Part 2: Mechanical properties

EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products