7050 VS 7075 Aircraft Aluminum Plate
Updated : Feb. 18, 2024The most commonly used grades for high-strength seven-series aluminum plates are 7050 and 7075. While they are often compared side by side, most people are not familiar with the differences between these two alloys.
The difference lies in their chemical composition
| Chemical element | 7050 | 7075 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.12 | 0.40 |
| Fe | 0.15 | 0.50 |
| Cu | 2.0-2.6 | 1.2-2.0 |
| Mn | 0.10 | 0.30 |
| Mg | 1.9-2.6 | 2.1-2.9 |
| Cr | 0.04 | 0.18-0.28 |
| Zn | 5.7-6.7 | 5.1-6.1 |
| Ti | 0.06 | 0.20 |
| Zr | 0.08-0.15 | - |
| Other (Each) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Other (total) | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | Remainder |
- Both 7050 and 7075 aluminum alloys use zinc as the main element.
- The chemical composition of 7075 alloy contains slightly higher amounts of chromium, iron, manganese, silicon, titanium, and zirconium.
- The chemical composition of 7050 alloy contains slightly higher amounts of aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zinc.
- 7050 aluminum plate is an improvement over 7075 aluminum plate, with modifications to the Zn, Cu components, and the Cu/Mg ratio to enhance strength. Zirconium is used instead of chromium to overcome sensitivity to heat treatment and prevent work hardening.
Commonly used sizes vary
Due to the low sensitivity of 7050 aluminum plate to quenching, the aluminum plate can maintain high-strength performance for a long time, especially in the thickness range of 3 to 6 inches (76.20 to 152.40 mm).
Therefore, 7050 aluminum plate is particularly suitable for thick plate applications. Of course, depending on the specific application, other sizes of 7050 aluminum plate are also commonly used. There are no specific size requirements for 7050 aluminum plate.
Commonly used Tempers are different
| 7050 aluminum plate | 7075 aluminum plate |
|---|---|
| T73511 | T6 |
| T73510 | T651 |
| T3651 | T76 |
| T74 | T7651 |
| T73651 | T73 |
| T7651 | T7351 |
| - | O |
| - | T62 |
| - | T652 |
Different properties
The shear strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and other mechanical properties of the 7050 and 7075 alloys are very similar.
7050 aluminum plate has lower hardness but holds advantages in stress corrosion cracking, toughness, and fatigue strength. Additionally, 7050 plate exhibits higher thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity values.
In comparison, 7075 aluminum plate has higher hardness and strength but performs relatively poorly in terms of machinability and corrosion resistance.
It is also sensitive to stress corrosion and experiences decreased toughness with lower temperatures. Therefore, an outer layer of pure aluminum is often applied to 7075 aluminum plate to enhance corrosion resistance.
Different applications
7050 aluminum plate and 7075 aluminum plate are both widely used in aerospace applications, but they differ in performance based on their respective characteristics.
Main applications of 7050 aluminum plate
- The 7050 aluminum plate is primarily employed in the fuselage, cabin walls, and outer skin of the wings of aircraft. It is also used for components in the aircraft body such as lower wing panels and stringers. Additionally, it finds application in engine installations, rotating tables, remote control parts, helicopter rotor components, and spacecraft.
- This aluminum plate is utilized in the manufacturing of firearms, armored vehicles, tanks, and other military applications.
- In 2014, it was groundbreaking as it was first used as the body material for the OPPO N3 smartphone.
Main applications of 7075 aluminum plate
- The 7075 aluminum plate is used in various critical components of aircraft manufacturing. This includes the front fuselage longerons, forgings for passenger observation window frames, mid-fuselage sheet bending and longerons, keel beam belly plates, floor transverse beams, mid-to-rear fuselage longerons, cargo door frames, nose forward pressure frame edge heads, and cabin door frames.
- The 7075 aluminum plate finds extensive application in mechanical equipment, tooling, blow molding (bottle) molds, ultrasonic plastic welding molds, golf club heads, shoe molds, paper-plastic molds, foam molding molds, and dewaxing molds.
Cost price is different
Cost is always a factor when choosing any material. The 7075 aluminum plate is more expensive than the 7050 aluminum plate due to its higher strength.
However, specific cost differences may vary depending on factors such as the required quantity, processing capabilities, packaging, shipping, payment methods, and more.
Different weldability
- The high copper content in 7050 aluminum plate results in poor weldability.
- On the other hand, 7075 aluminum plate can be welded using common techniques. However, it is important to take precautions to avoid cracking during the welding process, which could compromise its performance.
