2025 (2025-T6) Aluminum
2025 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 T6 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. 2025 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-2025. Additionally, the UNS number is A92025.
It has been in use since 1921, but has only received its standard designation in 1954.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 2025 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
Brinell Hardness
110
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
72 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
15 %
Fatigue Strength
130 MPa 18 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
27 GPa 3.9 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
240 MPa 35 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
400 MPa 59 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
260 MPa 37 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
400 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
190 °C 380 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1180 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
520 °C 970 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
870 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
150 W/m-K 89 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
40 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
120 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
10 % relative
Density
3.0 g/cm3 190 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
7.9 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 64 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1130 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
55 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
450 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
46 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
37 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
40 points
Thermal Diffusivity
58 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
18 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 2025 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.
| Al | 90.9 to 95.2 | |
| Cu | 3.9 to 5.0 | |
| Si | 0.5 to 1.2 | |
| Mn | 0.4 to 1.2 | |
| Fe | 0 to 1.0 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.15 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Mg | 0 to 0.050 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B247: Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Die Forgings, Hand Forgings, and Rolled Ring Forgings
Iron in Aluminium Alloys: Impurity and Alloying Element, N. A. Belov et al., 2002
Aluminum Standards and Data, Aluminum Association Inc., 2013