Aluminum 5456

Aging Procedure

Not applicable to this alloy.

Annealing Procedure

Anneal at 650 F and air cool.

Applications

Commonly used in the manufacture of high strength welded structures, pressure vessels, marine applications, and in storage tanks.

Cold Workability

The alloy may be readily cold worked. However severe cold working (over 20 % reduction) should be avoided as this may make the part subject to stress corrosion cracking in application where temperatures can reach 150 F.

Forgeability

No data.

Formability

Forming of this alloy is more difficult than for other aluminum alloys. It requires generous bend radius and should not be severely cold worked. See "Cold Working".

Hardening Procedure

Hardens due to cold working only and the amount of cold work should be limited. See "Cold Working".

Heat Treatability

Not hardenable by heat treatment. See "Annealing".

Hot Workability

Hot working of this alloy may be done at 425 F. This will avoid imparting high stress into heavily cold worked shapes.

Machinability

Generally difficult to machine. Carbide tooling and oil lubricants should be used.

Other Mechanical Properties

Shear strengths for various tempers are: O temper, 28 ksi. H321, 30 ksi. H311, 28 ksi

Other Physical Properties

Electrical conductivity is 32% of copper.

Principle Design Features

This is an alloy of aluminum and magnesium with good strength. It does not respond to hardening by heat treatment. The alloy is good for structural use because of its good weldability.

Tempering Procedure

Not applicable.

Weldability

Arc welding is best for this alloy and this makes it useful for structural applications. Gas welding may be used, but results are less favorable than for arc welding.