Conventional 2011
Pb 0.20 – 0.6 %. Best chip control. Check whether your end market and product category still permit this lead level.
Free-machining screw-machine stock
2011 and Lead-Free 2011B Aluminium Bar and Rod
2011 aluminium bar is the classic free-cutting aluminium alloy: copper gives it strength, and small additions of lead and bismuth make the chips break into tiny, easily cleared pieces. That makes 2011-T3 and T8 rod the standard choice for high-volume turned parts on automatic lathes. Metline supplies conventional 2011 and low-lead or lead-free 2011-type bar to customers worldwide, with full mill certification.
- Alloy
- 2011 (Al-Cu-Bi-Pb)
- Tempers
- T3, T351, T4, T6, T8
- Machinability
- Best of all wrought Al
- Standards
- ASTM B211 · EN 754-2
What is 2011 aluminium bar?
2011 is a heat-treatable aluminium-copper alloy designed for one job: to be turned, drilled and threaded as fast as possible on automatic screw machines and CNC lathes. It is the benchmark against which the machinability of every other aluminium alloy is rated.
The secret is in the minor elements. Lead and bismuth have almost no solubility in aluminium, so they form tiny soft particles spread through the bar. As the tool cuts, these particles melt or smear locally and act as built-in chip breakers. Instead of long, stringy swarf that wraps round the tool, 2011 produces short broken chips, a bright surface and very low tool wear, even at high spindle speeds.
With 5 – 6 % copper, 2011 also reaches useful strength: around 380 MPa tensile in T3, comparable to 6061-T6 and well above free-cutting brass on a strength-to-weight basis. The trade-offs are poor weldability and limited corrosion resistance, so 2011 parts are usually anodised, assembled mechanically and kept out of aggressive environments.
2011 chemical composition (wt %)
Registered Aluminum Association limits, mirrored by ASTM B211 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-2011, AlCu6BiPb). Your lot's actual analysis, including lead content, is reported on the mill test certificate.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.7 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | 5.0 | 6.0 | Main strengthening element; responds to heat treatment |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.30 | Impurity |
| Bismuth (Bi) | 0.20 | 0.6 | Chip-breaking addition |
| Lead (Pb) | 0.20 | 0.6 | Chip-breaking addition; restricted in some markets |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Lead-free 2011 (often sold as 2011B)
Lead in aluminium is restricted under the EU RoHS and End-of-Life Vehicles directives and similar rules in other markets. For years these rules carried exemptions for aluminium containing up to 0.4 % lead, and those exemptions are being narrowed. As a result many buyers now ask for "lead-free 2011", sometimes labelled 2011B or 2011 LF.
It is important to know that 2011B is a trade description, not a registered Aluminum Association or EN designation. In practice it means a 2011-type Al-Cu bar in which lead is reduced to a low residual level and bismuth (sometimes with tin) does the chip-breaking. EN AW-2011A, a registered European variant with slightly wider copper limits, is also used as a basis for low-lead material. Other lead-free free-machining options include 2033 and several bismuth-tin 6xxx alloys.
Low-lead / lead-free 2011
Pb limited to a residual level (state the maximum, for example 0.1 % or lower). Machinability is close to standard 2011; chip control can be slightly less consistent.
Alternative free-cutting grades
If copper-alloy corrosion is a concern as well, consider lead-free 6xxx free-machining grades, which anodise better but are somewhat softer.
When ordering lead-free bar, write the maximum Pb content on the purchase order and ask for it on the certificate. Do not rely on a grade name alone to prove compliance.
Mechanical properties of 2011 bar by temper
Typical values for cold-finished rod measured on standard specimens. Specified minimums in ASTM B211 or EN 754-2 vary by temper and diameter and are lower; design to the minimum stated on the certificate.
| Temper | Tensile strength (typical) | Yield strength (typical) | Elongation | Brinell hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3 | 379 MPa / 55 ksi | 296 MPa / 43 ksi | 15 % | 95 HB |
| T8 | 407 MPa / 59 ksi | 310 MPa / 45 ksi | 12 % | 100 HB |
Physical properties (T3)
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³)
- Melting range
- about 541 – 638 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 70 GPa (10,200 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- about 151 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- about 39 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Machinability rating
- A (highest class in Aluminum Association ratings)
2011 tempers: T3, T8 and others
2011-T3
Solution heat-treated, cold-worked (drawn) and naturally aged. The most widely stocked condition for screw-machine rod. Good strength with the best chip behaviour.
2011-T8
Solution heat-treated, cold-worked and then artificially aged. Slightly higher strength and better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking than T3; preferred for larger diameters and parts under sustained stress.
2011-T351 / T4
Stress-relieved or naturally aged conditions, used mainly for extruded bar and larger sizes where drawing is not practical.
2011-T6
Solution treated and artificially aged without cold work; listed in EN standards for extruded bar.
For thin-walled or long slender parts, T8 often gives better dimensional stability after machining because it carries lower residual stress from drawing.
2011 standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Bar and rod standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 2011 | ASTM B211 (cold-finished bar, rod, wire); ASTM B221 for extruded shapes |
| UNS | A92011 | — |
| Former US federal spec | 2011 | QQ-A-225/3 (superseded by ASTM B211) |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2011 / AlCu6BiPb; EN AW-2011A | EN 754-2 (drawn), EN 755-2 (extruded), EN 573-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.1655 | DIN EN 754 |
| ISO | AlCu6BiPb | ISO 209 |
| Japan (JIS) | A2011 | JIS H4040 |
| China (GB) | 2011 | GB/T 3190, GB/T 3191 |
2011 bar sizes and weights
Typical supply range
- Round rod
- Cold-finished from about 3 mm (1/8 in) up to large diameters; extruded bar for bigger sizes
- Hex and square bar
- Common metric and inch across-flats sizes for fittings and nuts
- Length
- Usually 3 – 3.7 m (10 – 12 ft) bar-feeder lengths, or cut to size
- Tempers
- T3 and T8 most common; T4, T6 and T351 on request
- Diameter tolerance
- Cold-finished rod to ASTM B211 / EN 754-3, suitable for bar feeders
Confirm diameter, temper and lead limit when you enquire; low-lead stock and odd sizes may need to be produced to order.
2011 is denser than most aluminium alloys (2.83 g/cm³) because of its copper and lead content. Reference weights for solid round bar:
| Diameter (mm) | kg per metre | 3 m bar (kg) | 6 m bar (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.080 | 0.24 | 0.48 |
| 8 | 0.142 | 0.43 | 0.85 |
| 10 | 0.222 | 0.67 | 1.33 |
| 12 | 0.320 | 0.96 | 1.92 |
| 16 | 0.569 | 1.71 | 3.41 |
| 20 | 0.889 | 2.67 | 5.33 |
| 25 | 1.39 | 4.17 | 8.34 |
| 30 | 2.00 | 6.00 | 12.00 |
| 40 | 3.56 | 10.67 | 21.34 |
| 50 | 5.56 | 16.67 | 33.34 |
| 60 | 8.00 | 24.00 | 48.01 |
| 80 | 14.23 | 42.68 | 85.35 |
| 100 | 22.23 | 66.68 | 133.36 |
Machining, finishing, joining and corrosion
Machining
Run high surface speeds with sharp, polished carbide or HSS tools and a positive rake. Chips break without special geometry. Soluble-oil coolant controls heat and keeps the finish bright.
Threading and knurling
Cuts and rolls clean threads; knurls crisply. Ideal for inserts, fittings, nuts and camera or optical parts.
Welding
Not recommended. Lead and bismuth cause hot cracking and porosity. Join by threading, press fits, crimping or adhesive.
Anodising
Anodises for protection, but the film is less clear and uniform than on 6xxx alloys, and hard anodising needs adjusted parameters. Chemical conversion coating is an alternative.
Corrosion
Fair to poor, typical of high-copper alloys. Protect parts used outdoors or in humid conditions; avoid direct contact with seawater.
Temperature
Low-melting lead and bismuth phases make 2011 unsuitable for high-temperature service or brazing.
Where 2011 bar is used
- Screw-machine parts: screws, nuts, bolts, studs, spacers and threaded inserts
- Fluid fittings: pneumatic and hydraulic connectors, valve bodies and pipe stems (in mild media)
- Optical and camera: lens mounts, tripod parts and focus rings that need fine threads and finish
- Automotive: brake pistons and fittings, carburettor and fuel-system parts, trim components
- Electrical and electronics: connector bodies, terminals and cable fittings
- Consumer and appliances: knobs, pens, ordnance and hardware components made in high volume
2011 compared with 2017, 2024, 6061 and 6262
| Property | 2011-T3 | 2017-T4 | 2024-T351 | 6061-T6 | 6262-T9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 379 MPa | 427 MPa | 469 MPa | 310 MPa | 400 MPa |
| Machinability (chips) | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair–good | Very good |
| Weldability | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Fair |
| Corrosion resistance | Fair–poor | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |
| Anodising response | Fair | Fair | Fair | Excellent | Good |
Choose 2011 when cycle time is everything. When the part must also resist corrosion or anodise well, 6262 or a lead-free 6xxx free-cutting alloy is the usual compromise. When more strength is needed, move to 2017 or 2024 bar and accept longer chips.
How to order 2011 bar from Metline
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 2011-T3), round or hex size, length suited to your bar feeder, quantity and any maximum lead content.
- Confirm the standardASTM B211 for cold-finished rod or EN 754-2 / EN 755-2 for European orders, plus any RoHS or ELV statement you need.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance class, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination port or site.
- Process and inspectBars are cut, checked for diameter, straightness and surface, and bundled with end protection so they feed cleanly.
- Document and shipEach lot ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate and packing list. Bars are bundled or cased in seaworthy wooden boxes with moisture protection; third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
References and standards
- ASTM B211/B211M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- EN 754-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: cold drawn rod/bar and tube, mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
- Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2018/740 – RoHS exemption for lead in aluminium alloys
2011 aluminium (aluminum) bar: frequently asked questions
Why is 2011 called a free-machining alloy?
Its lead and bismuth particles break chips into small pieces during cutting. That allows high speeds, long unattended runs on automatic lathes and a bright finish with low tool wear.
What is the difference between 2011-T3 and 2011-T8?
Both are solution treated and cold worked. T3 is naturally aged; T8 is artificially aged, which raises strength slightly (about 407 versus 379 MPa typical) and improves resistance to stress-corrosion cracking.
Is 2011 aluminium RoHS compliant?
Standard 2011 contains 0.20 – 0.6 % lead, which has relied on time-limited RoHS exemptions. For compliant parts, order low-lead or lead-free 2011-type bar with a stated lead maximum on the certificate, or choose another lead-free free-cutting alloy.
Can 2011 aluminium be welded?
It is not considered weldable. Lead and bismuth cause cracking and porosity, and the high copper content adds to hot-cracking risk. Use mechanical joints instead.
Can 2011 be anodised?
Yes, for protection and colour, but expect a less transparent and less uniform film than on 6061 or 6082. Test the finish if appearance is critical.
What is the density of 2011 aluminium?
About 2.83 g/cm³. A 1 m length of 25 mm diameter bar weighs about 1.39 kg.
Need 2011 free-machining bar?
Send size, temper, lead requirement, quantity and destination, and we will reply with availability and a delivered price.
