Overview of 2017 T4 T451 Aluminum Bar
2017 aluminum bar is a high-strength, heat-treatable aluminium-copper alloy intended for precision-machined and structural components. Compared with common 6xxx alloys such as 6061 it offers higher tensile strength, and compared with premium aerospace grades such as 2024 it machines more easily. This combination makes it suitable for aircraft fittings, automotive parts and industrial machinery arms, and it is supplied in tempers such as T3, T4, T451, T6 and T8 with adjustable diameters, fixed-length cutting and surface treatments such as polishing or anodizing.
2017 is a member of the 2xxx family, so it develops its strength through solution heat treatment and ageing rather than by cold working alone. The alloy retains useful strength at moderately elevated temperatures, which extends its use into parts that must withstand heat as well as load.
Specifications, Shapes and Standards
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Tempers offered | T3, T4, T451, T6, T8 |
| Diameter range | 3–300 mm (customizable on request) |
| Length | Standard 6 m; fixed-length cutting available |
| Available shapes | Round, hex, square, flat and custom extruded profiles |
| Surface finishes | Bright finish, sandblasted, anodized and deburred cut surfaces |
| Standards | ASTM B221, ASTM B211, ASTM B316, AMS 4118, AMS-QQ-A-225/5, AMS QQ-A-200/9, UNS A92017, EN573, EN485, JIS H4040, or customer-specified standards |
Round bar: diameter 3–600 mm, length 1–12 m
Square bar: side length 4–100 mm, length cut to order
Hex bar: size 4–100 mm A/F, length cut to order
Flat bar: 33 mm × 30 mm up to 295 mm × 1066 mm, length cut to order
Chemical Composition and Equivalent Names
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 5.5–6.5 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.2–0.8 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.4–1.0 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.7 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.2 |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.25 |
| Titanium (Ti) | ≤ 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Balance |
Equivalent designations include AW-AlCu4MgSi, the older AU4G, WNr 3.1325, UNS A92017, ISO AlCu4MgSi, AA 2017 and DIN AlCuMg1.
Mechanical Properties by Temper
| Temper | Tensile strength (MPa) | Yield strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Hardness (HB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | 320–360 | 215–250 | 12–18 | 90–110 |
| T4 | 340–380 | 230–270 | 10–15 | 95–115 |
| T6 | 400–440 | 340–380 | 8–12 | 115–135 |
| T8 | 430–470 | 380–410 | 6–10 | 130–145 |
| CF (cold finished) | 360–400 | 270–320 | 10–14 | 105–120 |
Typical temper definitions help in selecting the right condition. T3 is solution heat-treated and naturally aged to a stable condition with good machinability and moderate strength. T4 is also solution heat-treated and naturally aged but offers better formability and strength than T3. T6 is artificially aged to give high strength and hardness for structural use. T8 is solution heat-treated, cold worked and artificially aged for the highest strength and hardness. T451 is solution heat-treated, stress-relieved by stretching and naturally aged, giving improved dimensional stability and machining accuracy for precision work.
Advantages and Applications
2017 offers high strength, outstanding fatigue strength and good machining and cutting performance. Its heat resistance is a key advantage: when the service temperature rises above 125 °C, 2017 retains higher strength than 7075. The hot, annealed and freshly quenched states are all readily formable, and heat treatment produces a clear strengthening effect that requires close process control. Corrosion resistance is relatively poor, but a pure aluminium cladding can provide effective protection, and although welding is prone to cracking, resistance welding or riveting can be used instead.
Automatic screw machining, where high strength and excellent cutting behaviour are combined
Rivets and aircraft fittings requiring strength with controlled ductility
Heavy-duty structural components and machine manufacturing parts
Shafts, measuring tools and medical equipment needing tight tolerances
Sports equipment, military hardware and aerospace structures
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is 2017 aluminum bar used for?
It is used for automatic screw machining parts, rivets, aircraft fittings, heavy-duty structural components, machine parts, shafts, measuring tools, medical equipment, sports equipment and military hardware.
Q: What is the difference between 2017 T4 and 2017 T451?
Both are solution heat-treated and naturally aged. T451 is additionally stress-relieved by stretching, which improves dimensional stability and machining accuracy, while T4 offers high strength with excellent machinability for general parts.
Q: Is 2017 aluminum stronger than 6061?
Yes. Because 2017 is an aluminium-copper alloy developed for high strength, its tensile strength is higher than that of common 6xxx alloys such as 6061, while it also machines more easily than 2024.
Q: Does 2017 aluminum bar have good corrosion resistance?
Its corrosion resistance is relatively poor compared with pure aluminium and some 5xxx or 6xxx alloys, but it can be effectively protected by a pure aluminium cladding or by anodizing for exposed applications.
Q: Can 2017 aluminum bar be welded?
Welding 2017 is prone to cracking, so the alloy is usually joined by resistance welding or mechanical fastening such as riveting rather than by conventional fusion welding.
Q: What tempers are available for 2017 aluminum bar?
Common tempers are T3, T4, T451, T6 and T8, along with cold finished bar. Higher-strength tempers such as T8 give greater hardness but lower elongation, while T3 and T4 offer more formability.
