Specialty Aluminum Grades & Forms

Specialty Aluminum

Aluminum is popular across diverse industries, including aerospace, marine, military and defense, and construction due to its versatility and many desirable properties. Along with our standard aluminum offerings, Continental Steel & Tube Company can supply specialty aluminum materials in numerous grades, forms, and sizes. Our specialty aluminum products can meet even the most demanding project requirements, providing durable and long-lasting performance.

We offer specialty aluminum in the following grades and forms:

  • 5083-H131 Armor Plate
  • 2219-T87 Plate
  • 2017-T4 (7/8″ Round Bar and Under)
  • 1100-O Sheet
  • 5052-O Sheet

Learn more about the properties, benefits, and applications of these materials below.

5083-H131 Armor Plate

5083-H131 armor plate is a high-strength aluminum alloy that is especially well-suited for military applications due to its excellent ballistic resistance. Other key benefits and properties include:

  • Great Strength-to-Weight Ratio. Its unique combination of strength and light weight make it ideal for everything from military vehicle armor to protective barriers.
  • Corrosion Resistance. This material offers great corrosion resistance, ensuring longevity in harsh environments.
  • Weldability and Formability. 5083-H131 armor plate provides good weldability and formability, allowing it to be customized to the needs of various military and defense applications.

2219-T87 Plate

This high-strength aluminum alloy is well-known for its excellent performance at elevated temperatures, making it a popular choice for aerospace applications. Advantages of 2219-T87 plate include:

  • Excellent Mechanical Properties. 2219-T87 aluminum plate offers superior mechanical properties and is resistant to stress corrosion cracking. For this reason, it is commonly chosen for structural components in aircraft and spacecraft.
  • Strong and Stable. This material’s ability to maintain strength and stability in extreme conditions makes it ideal for rocket and fuel tank construction.
  • Weldability. 2219-T87 plate is highly weldable, facilitating easy fabrication and assembly into complex aerospace designs.

2017-T4 (7/8″ Round Bar and Under)

2017-T4 aluminum alloy is a very strong, highly machinable material commonly used for aerospace and automotive applications. It offers the following advantages:

  • Performance in Demanding Conditions. This material offers good mechanical properties and is especially effective in applications requiring a high degree of durability and stress resistance.
  • Machinability. 2017-T4 round bars have excellent machinability and can be easily formed into the required shape.
  • Strong and Ductile. The T4 temper of 2017 aluminum results in a balanced combination of strength and ductility. This makes it a versatile choice for various precision-engineered components.

It’s important to note that this material is less corrosion-resistant than other specialty aluminum materials; however, special coatings or treatments can offer extra protection. 2017-T4 aluminum is also more prone to cracks during welding, but it can be joined using more specialized techniques.

1100-O Sheet

1100-O sheet is a commercially pure aluminum product offering excellent corrosion resistance and high thermal conductivity. Other important benefits and properties include:

  • Formability and Workability. 1100-O aluminum sheet is highly formable and workable, making it ideal for applications requiring complex shapes or intricate designs. Examples include the manufacture of kitchenware, heat exchangers, and chemical storage equipment.
  • Ductility. Its ductility and softness make it easy to bend, draw, or stamp.
  • Flexibility. The O temper of 1100 aluminum means that it has been fully annealed, enhancing its overall flexibility and workability.

5052-O Sheet

This durable alloy provides excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in marine environments. As such, it is frequently used for shipbuilding and other coastal applications. Key advantages and properties of 5052-O aluminum sheet include:

  • Formability and Weldability. 5052-O aluminum sheet offers good formability and weldability, allowing for the creation of complex structures and shapes.
  • Versatility. While not as strong as other aluminum alloys, 5052-O offers an ideal balance of durability and flexibility. This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from fuel tanks and automotive panels to ship decks and boat hulls.
  • Performance at Low Temperatures. 5052-O aluminum sheet maintains its properties at low temperatures, further expanding its range of applications such as in aircraft and marine fuel and oil lines, appliances, lighting, and more.

Continental Steel & Tube Company is Your Source for Specialty Aluminum

Specialty aluminum alloys offer unique performance characteristics for use in harsh, high-stress environments. As a trusted supplier of high-quality and hard-to-find metals, Continental Steel & Tube Company can provide specialty aluminum materials in various forms and grades to meet your needs. For more information about our specialty aluminum products, contact us today. You can also request a quote to get started on your custom order.