Wichtigste Highlights
- 2024-T4 is a high-strength 2xxx-series alloy built for aerospace and structural parts.
- The T4 temper means solution heat-treated and naturally aged, balancing strength with formability.
- Copper (3.8-4.9%) drives its strength and fatigue resistance, the reason it replaces many steel parts.
- It machines well but resists corrosion poorly and is hard to weld, so it usually needs cladding or coating.
- Conductivity sits around 30% IACS, low for aluminum, so specify it for strength, not electrical use.
Einführung
2024-T4 aluminum is the workhorse high-strength alloy for aircraft structures. It pairs a high strength-to-weight ratio with fatigue resistance that outlasts most other aluminum grades. This guide covers what 2024-T4 is, its physical and chemical properties, where it fits, and how the T4 temper compares with T3 and T351. If you are sourcing the material, our 2024 aluminum alloy product page lists the available tempers and shapes.
What Is 2024-T4 Aluminum?
2024-T4 belongs to the 2xxx series, where copper is the primary alloying element. In the T4 temper the alloy is solution heat-treated and naturally aged at room temperature. That gives it high strength while keeping more formability than the cold-worked T3 and stress-relieved T351 tempers, which matters when you need to bend or lightly form a part before service.
Definition und Überblick
The “2024” designation places the alloy in the copper-rich 2000 series. “T4” tells you the heat-treatment path: solution heat treatment followed by natural aging. The result is an alloy with high tensile strength and good machinability, used where weight savings and fatigue life matter more than corrosion resistance.
Bedeutung in der Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie
Aircraft structures live and die by the strength-to-weight ratio. 2024-T4 delivers the stiffness and fatigue strength needed for wing skins, fuselage frames, and structural fittings while keeping mass low. Its predictable behavior under cyclic loads is why it remains a standard aerospace material decades after introduction.
Physikalische Haupteigenschaften von 2024-T4-Aluminium
| Eigentum | Wert |
| Dichte | 2,78 g/cm³ |
| Zugfestigkeit (Ultimate Tensile Strength) | ~480 MPa (69.000 psi) |
| Streckgrenze | ~310 MPa (45.000 psi) |
| Dehnung beim Bruch | ~16% |
| Ermüdungsfestigkeit | ~140 MPa |
| Elektrische Leitfähigkeit | 30% IACS |
| Elastizitätsmodul | 71 GPa |
| Scherfestigkeit | 290 MPa |
| Thermische Ausdehnung | 23 µm/m-K |
Note the 30% IACS electrical conductivity: that is moderate-to-low for aluminum, a direct trade-off of the high copper content. Specify 2024-T4 for mechanical performance, not for current-carrying parts.
Chemische Zusammensetzung von 2024-T4-Aluminium
| Element | Zusammensetzung (%) |
| Al | 90.7 – 94.7 |
| Cu | 3.8 – 4.9 |
| Mg | 1.2 – 1.8 |
| Mn | 0.3 – 0.9 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.5 |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.15 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.1 |
| Andere Elemente (insgesamt) | ≤ 0.15 |
Vorteile der Verwendung von 2024-T4-Aluminium
The headline advantage is strength at low weight. With an ultimate tensile strength near 480 MPa, 2024-T4 carries loads that would need much heavier steel, and its fatigue strength is among the best of the common aluminum alloys. Good machinability lets shops hold tight tolerances on structural components.
Thermal conductivity is adequate for many structural roles, but do not pick 2024-T4 for electrical duty. Its 30% IACS rating is well below pure aluminum and most 6xxx grades, so reserve it for strength-critical parts.
Einschränkungen von 2024-T4-Aluminium
Next to 6061 or 6063, 2024-T4 resists corrosion poorly. In humid or marine service it needs cladding, anodizing, or coating to survive. Plan for that protection from the start rather than after a failure.
Welding is difficult because the heat-affected zone cracks easily, so most joints use rivets, bolts, or adhesive bonding. Formability is also limited compared with the O temper, which can affect how far you can bend or stretch a part before it cracks. Weigh these restrictions against the strength gain before committing to 2024-T4.
When to Choose 2024-T4
Choose 2024-T4 when strength-to-weight and fatigue life drive the design; aerospace parts, structural components, and fittings are typical cases. If you need maximum strength in thin products, the T3 temper adds cold-work strengthening; for thick plate and large sections where residual-stress control matters, T351 is the common pick. For an absolute strength ceiling, compare it against 2024 gegen 7075 before you lock the spec.
T3 vs T4 vs T351: Which Temper?
| Temperament | Treatment | Am besten für |
| T3 | Solution heat-treated, cold-worked, naturally aged | Thin products needing peak strength |
| T4 | Lösungsgeglüht, natürlich gealtert | Strength with better formability than T3 |
| T351 | Lösungsgeglüht, durch Dehnung entspannt, natürlich gealtert | Plate and large sections needing dimensional stability |
All three share the same alloy chemistry; the temper changes only the heat-treatment and forming path. See our 2024-T3 guide und 2024-T351 guide for temper-specific data and sourcing.
Wie lässt sich die Korrosionsbeständigkeit von 2024-T4 verbessern?
- Eloxieren: builds a thicker oxide layer that slows corrosion and accepts dyes for identification.
- Verkleidung: a thin layer of pure aluminum or corrosion-resistant alloy is bonded to the surface, protecting the core while preserving strength.
- Konversionsbeschichtungen: a chemical film that blocks corrosion and improves paint adhesion.
- Epoxid-Beschichtung: seals the surface against moisture, useful in damp or marine environments.
Schlussfolgerung
2024-T4 earns its place in aircraft and structural work through strength and fatigue life that few aluminum alloys match. The trade-off is real: poor corrosion resistance, difficult welding, and moderate conductivity mean you must design around protection and joining from the start.
Linsy supplies 2024-T4 across sheet, plate, bar, tube, and wire, with mill test certificates (MTC) on every order, low-MOQ custom production, and ISO 9001/14001/45001 certification. SGS test reports are available on request. That lets you qualify the exact temper and shape your project needs without a minimum-order barrier.
Browse 2024-T4 and other tempers on our 2024 aluminum alloy product page, or visit premiumalu.com to request a quote and material data.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
How does 2024-T4 differ from other aluminum alloys?
The difference is copper. At 3.8-4.9%, copper is the main strengthening element in 2024, pushing tensile strength well above the 6xxx and 5xxx families. That strength comes at the cost of corrosion resistance and conductivity, which is the central trade-off versus alloys like 6061.
What makes 2024-T4 suitable for aircraft components?
High fatigue strength and a strong strength-to-weight ratio let aircraft parts survive millions of load cycles at low mass. Shear strength is also high, which matters for fittings and joints. Note that conductivity is not the reason; at 30% IACS, 2024-T4 is chosen for structure, not for carrying current.
Can 2024-T4 be welded or machined?
Machining is excellent; 2024-T4 holds tight tolerances and finishes cleanly. Welding is the weak point. The heat-affected zone cracks easily, so most assemblies use rivets, bolts, or adhesive bonding instead of fusion welding.
What shapes does 2024-T4 come in?
Standard forms include sheet, plate, round and square bar, tube, and wire. Our 2024 Aluminiumblech and other product pages list the full size and temper range available to order.
