Aluminum Forgings 7075
Anchor Harvey produces high strength and quality forged aluminum products. Among the many products are a variety of alloyed aluminum forgings, a primary type being forged 7075 aluminum.
Forged 7075 alloyed aluminum, also called “Ergal,” products are popular among many clients and are used in a wide variety of aerospace and structural applications due to its high tensile strength, machinability, deformation factor, elongation capabilities, and variety of heat treatments that can specialize the base material. We are proud to provide the highest quality forged 7075 aluminum products and offer various heat treatment options that can custom tailor material solutions to your unique needs.
Learn about 7075 yield strength, tensile strength, the difference between aluminum 7075-T6 and 7075-T651, what they’re used for, and more.
What is the 7075 Aluminum Alloy?
The 7075 alloy belongs to the 7000 series of aluminum alloys, which primarily includes Zinc, Magnesium, and Copper as the alloying elements. 7075 Aluminum specifically has between 5.6 - 6.1% Zinc, 2.1 - 2.5% Magnesium, 1.2 – 1.6% Copper, and <0.5% of Silicon, Iron, Manganese, Titanium, Chromium, and various other trace metals.
7075 Aluminum alloy has excellent mechanical capabilities, including:
- High ductility when compared to other, especially 2000 series, aluminum alloys.
- High strength when coupled with its ductile and flexible nature. This allows for stress resistance with little chance of cracking.
- Good toughness, which delays the time before failure, providing personnel time to safely identify and replace worn components before it becomes a danger.
- Resistance to fatigue, which allows the metal to bend and stretch without suffering a permanent reduction in capacity or permanent damage.
- Corrosion resistance, especially when compared to 2000 series alloys. This directly contributes to a longer lifetime for parts and reduces the amount of maintenance necessary.
- High yield strength: The typical 7075 yield strength varies depending on the temper. However, many have a fairly high limit, especially aluminum 7075-T6.
Forged 7075 aluminum products are perhaps more susceptible to embrittlement, which may reduce the effectiveness over time, but superior engineering and manufacturing, such as is provided at Anchor Harvey, can significantly reduce these concerns. 7075 aluminum can also be heat treated in different ways to modify the previously mentioned properties.
Aluminum Forgings 7075-T6
Heat treating 7075-T6 aluminum is achieved by holding the material at high temperatures for several hours and then aging it at about 120C for up to one day. This yields ideal precipitation of alloy elements throughout the structure of the aluminum substrate.
The T6 aluminum alloy temper produces a material with a tensile strength of 510 – 540MPa and a yield strength of 430 – 480 MPa, with a failure elongation percentage of 5-11%. The typical 7075 yield strength and tensile strength is nearly doubled when tempered to aluminum 7075-T6, while having a slightly higher failure elongation percentage.
Aluminum Forgings 7075-T651
Treating 7075-T651 aluminum is achieved similarly to the T6 temper standard. The aging process also includes a stress relief procedure by stretching the metal by an amount determined by the final use case of the material. This special stress relief process produces a part that is like T6 tempered aluminum but with a few key differences.
7075-T651 aluminum has a tensile strength of 572MPa and a yield strength of 503 MPa, with a failure elongation of 11%. This produces a metal with an elongation percentage like that of untreated 7075 but with a strength three times that of untreated 7075 aluminum alloys.
Aluminum Forgings 7075-T7
Treating 7075-T7 aluminum is different from the process for T6/T651. In this case, the metal is heated to low temperatures, around 120C for several hours, then held at a slightly higher temperature for at least one day. This produces a structure of precipitates that are larger but less dispersed throughout the aluminum substrate.
The effects of this method produce a material with lower tensile and yield strength than T6/T651, but this also means that this material is less susceptible to stress and corrosion cracking. T7 aluminum can handle more adverse conditions without being susceptible to failure, making it ideal in conditions where extreme resistance to wear is paramount.
Uses of the Forged 7075 Aluminum Alloy
Forged 7075 aluminum alloys have been used in aircraft since 1935. It was the original structural metal used in Japanese fighter planes and still sees use in aircraft today from frames to internal components. Today, this alloy is used in applications that require high specific strength, such as marine applications, automotive components, and high-performance aviation.
In addition, 7075 Aluminum also sees use in rock climbing, bicycle builds, hang gliders, RC planes, AR-15 and M16 lower and upper receivers, lacrosse sticks, camping silverware and flatware, and even competitive yo-yos. Forged 7075 Aluminum can also be polished to an incredibly high degree, which allows it to be used in the cores and cavities of plastic injection mold tooling.
Anchor Harvey can produce the highest quality forged 7075 Aluminum parts for any number of applications. With lead times faster than any in the industry, a professional engineering team to provide feedback and custom solutions at every point in the process, and high-quality manufacturing methods that always make the best products, Anchor Harvey can provide a quality guarantee unsurpassed. Request a quote today.