Aluminum Alloy Cross-Reference Guide

 

In the world of manufacturing, construction, and engineering, aluminum alloys play a vital role. However, anyone working with these materials quickly faces a significant challenge: the diverse naming standards used across different countries and regions. This fragmentation can cause confusion in communication, procurement, and product development. To address this issue, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to aluminum alloy designation systems and their cross-references, helping professionals navigate the global landscape of aluminum alloys with confidence.

Understanding Aluminum Alloy Designation Systems

Aluminum alloys are identified by various systems worldwide, each developed by national or international standardization bodies. These systems evolved based on regional industrial practices, historical traditions, and technical requirements, resulting in different coding methods even for chemically similar alloys. Understanding these systems is the first step toward effective global collaboration in aluminum-related industries.

Key Global Designation Standards

The most widely used aluminum alloy designation systems include:

• DIN (Germany): Developed by Deutsches Institut für Normung eV, using alphanumeric codes reflecting chemical composition
• EN (Europe): European Norms replacing national standards with unified designations for wrought (EN AW) and cast (EN AC) alloys
• ISO: International Organization for Standardization system based on chemical composition
• ANSI/AA (USA): Aluminum Association system using four-digit numeric codes
• BS (Great Britain): British Standards using alphanumeric codes indicating main alloying elements
• AFNOR (France): French system with alphanumeric codes showing elements and percentages
• UNE (Spain): Spanish system similar to AA standards
• UNS: Unified Numbering System popular in the US with letter prefixes and five digits
• JIS (Japan): Japanese Industrial Standards with prefixes and four-digit codes
• CSA (Canada): Canadian system using alphanumeric codes for composition and class
• SIS (Sweden): Swedish four-digit numbering system for main elements and composition

Decoding Major Aluminum Alloy Standards

Each designation system has unique characteristics in how it identifies aluminum alloys, often reflecting the philosophy of its originating organization.

European Standards (EN)

The EN system was created to standardize materials across Europe, replacing older national standards while maintaining compatibility with them. EN designations for aluminum alloys follow a clear structure:

• Prefix “EN AW” for wrought alloys or “EN AC” for cast alloys
• Four-digit number where the first digit indicates the main alloying element:
• 1xxx: Pure aluminum (99%+)
• 2xxx: Aluminum-copper alloys
• 3xxx: Aluminum-manganese alloys
• 5xxx: Aluminum-magnesium alloys
• 6xxx: Aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys
• 7xxx: Aluminum-zinc alloys

This logical structure makes EN designations intuitive once you understand the numbering system, facilitating identification of an alloy’s basic composition at a glance.

American Standards (AA/ANSI)

The AA system developed by the Aluminum Association is widely adopted globally as a reference. Its four-digit numbering provides specific information:

• First digit: Principal alloying element(s)
• Second and third digits: Unique alloy identifier (no intrinsic meaning)
• Fourth digit: Processing indicator (0 for cast, 1-2 for ingot)

This system’s simplicity and consistency have made it a de facto international reference point, with many other standards cross-referencing AA numbers.

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