T3
Solution heat-treated, cold-worked (by levelling or stretching) and naturally aged. The standard sheet temper for aircraft skins.
Aerospace Al-Cu-Mg sheet and plate
2024 Aluminium Sheet & Plate (T3, T4, T351)
2024 is the classic high-strength, fatigue-resistant aluminium-copper-magnesium alloy used for aircraft skins, wing structure and highly stressed machined parts. Metline supplies 2024 sheet in T3 and T4, plate in T351 and T851, and Alclad 2024 for corrosion protection, certified to ASTM B209, AMS and EN standards, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2024 (Al-Cu-Mg)
- Tempers
- O, T3, T4, T351, T851
- Typical strength
- 469 – 483 MPa tensile
- Standards
- ASTM B209 · AMS 4037 · EN 485
What is 2024 aluminium?
2024 contains about 4.4 % copper, 1.5 % magnesium and 0.6 % manganese. It is naturally aged to the T3 (sheet) and T351 (plate) tempers, which give an exceptional combination of tensile strength, fatigue resistance and fracture toughness. That balance, not peak strength, is why 2024-T3 has been the standard fuselage skin alloy for decades.
Compared with 7075-T6, 2024-T3 is weaker in static strength but grows fatigue cracks more slowly and tolerates damage better, so it is used for tension-dominated structure such as lower wing skins and pressurised fuselage panels. Compared with 6061, it is roughly 50 % stronger but much less resistant to corrosion and essentially unweldable by fusion methods.
Outside aerospace, 2024 plate is machined into high-strength fittings, gears, hydraulic parts, truck wheels and defence components, and thin 2024 sheet is used for rivets, scientific instruments and high-performance sporting goods.
2024 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity; lower levels improve toughness (see 2124) |
| Copper (Cu) | 3.8 | 4.9 | Main strengthening element |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 | 0.9 | Grain control, strength |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.2 | 1.8 | Accelerates natural ageing, adds strength |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.10 | |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.25 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.15 | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 90.7 – 94.7 % |
Limits per the Aluminum Association registration used by ASTM B209; EN AW-2024 in EN 573-3 is equivalent. Alclad sheet is clad with a 1xxx or 7072 layer, typically a few per cent of the thickness on each side.
2024 mechanical and physical properties by temper
Typical values are shown. Specified minimums depend on thickness, product (bare or Alclad) and direction, and are listed in ASTM B209, AMS 4037 or EN 485-2.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Brinell hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-O | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 76 MPa / 11 ksi | 20 % | 47 HB |
| 2024-T3 sheet | 483 MPa / 70 ksi | 345 MPa / 50 ksi | 18 % | 120 HB |
| 2024-T4 / T351 | 469 MPa / 68 ksi | 324 MPa / 47 ksi | 19 – 20 % | 120 HB |
| 2024-T851 plate | 483 MPa / 70 ksi | 448 MPa / 65 ksi | 6 % | 128 HB |
| Alclad 2024-T3 sheet | 448 MPa / 65 ksi | 310 MPa / 45 ksi | 18 % | — |
Physical properties (T3, typical)
- Density
- 2.78 g/cm³ (0.100 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 73.1 GPa (10,600 ksi)
- Shear strength
- 283 MPa (41 ksi)
- Fatigue strength (5×10⁸ cycles)
- 138 MPa (20 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- about 121 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- about 30 % IACS
- Melting range
- about 502 – 638 °C
2024 tempers: T3, T4, T351, T851 and O
T351
Solution heat-treated, stretched 1.5 – 3 % and naturally aged. The standard plate temper for machined parts, with low residual stress.
T4 / T42
Solution heat-treated and naturally aged without the cold work; T42 indicates heat treatment by the user from O or F material.
T851
T351 plate artificially aged. Higher yield strength, better resistance to stress corrosion and better stability at moderately elevated temperatures, but lower elongation and toughness.
O
Annealed for forming. Parts are formed and then heat-treated to T42 or T62.
Alclad
Any sheet temper with protective cladding. Choose it for exposed skins; use bare sheet where the surface will be machined or chemically milled.
2024 standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Sheet and plate standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 2024, Alclad 2024 | ASTM B209 |
| Aerospace (SAE) | 2024-T3 sheet / T351 plate | AMS 4037; AMS-QQ-A-250/4 (bare), AMS-QQ-A-250/5 (Alclad) |
| UNS | A92024 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2024 / AlCu4Mg1 | EN 485-2, EN 573-3; EN 4000-series aerospace standards |
| German Werkstoff | 3.1355 | DIN EN 485 |
| ISO | AlCu4Mg1 | ISO 6361 |
| Japan (JIS) | A2024P | JIS H4000 |
| China (GB) | 2024 / 2A12 (close) | GB/T 3880, GB/T 3190 |
2024 sheet and plate sizes and weights
Supply range
- Sheet
- 0.3 – 6 mm, bare or Alclad, T3 / T4 / O; 1220 × 2440, 1250 × 2500, 1500 × 3000 mm and 48 × 144 in
- Plate
- 6 – 150 mm, T351 and T851; wider and thicker plate on mill order
- Cut pieces
- Saw-cut blocks and blanks to drawing
- Inspection
- Ultrasonic testing to AMS-STD-2154 for plate on request
2024 weighs 2.78 kg per m² per millimetre:
| Thickness (mm) | kg per m² | 1220 × 2440 mm (kg) | 1500 × 3000 mm (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.39 | 4.1 | 6.3 |
| 1 | 2.78 | 8.3 | 12.5 |
| 1.6 | 4.45 | 13.2 | 20.0 |
| 2 | 5.56 | 16.6 | 25.0 |
| 3 | 8.34 | 24.8 | 37.5 |
| 4 | 11.1 | 33.1 | 50.0 |
| 5 | 13.9 | 41.4 | 62.5 |
| 6 | 16.7 | 49.7 | 75.1 |
| 8 | 22.2 | 66.2 | 100.1 |
| 10 | 27.8 | 82.8 | 125.1 |
| 12 | 33.4 | 99.3 | 150.1 |
| 16 | 44.5 | 132.4 | 200.2 |
| 20 | 55.6 | 165.5 | 250.2 |
| 25 | 69.5 | 206.9 | 312.8 |
| 30 | 83.4 | 248.3 | 375.3 |
| 40 | 111.2 | 331.0 | 500.4 |
| 50 | 139.0 | 413.8 | 625.5 |
| 80 | 222.4 | 662.0 | 1000.8 |
| 100 | 278.0 | 827.6 | 1251.0 |
Machining, forming, joining and protection
Machining
Very good in T351 and T851 with carbide tools; chips break well. T851 machines slightly better and holds tolerance with less distortion.
Forming
Form in O or freshly quenched W temper; T3 accepts only moderate bends (about 2.5 – 4 × t radius depending on thickness).
Joining
Riveting and bolting are standard. Fusion welding causes hot cracking and severe strength loss; friction-stir welding is used in some aerospace applications.
Corrosion
Bare 2024 needs protection: Alclad sheet, anodising, conversion coating and primer. T3/T351 can be sensitive to stress corrosion in the short-transverse direction of thick plate; T851 improves this.
Applications of 2024 sheet and plate
- Aircraft structure: fuselage skins, lower wing skins, stringers, bulkheads and fittings
- Machined parts: high-strength fittings, gears, shafts, hydraulic valve bodies
- Transport: truck wheels, structural parts under cyclic load
- Defence and space: airframe and launcher parts, missile components
- Fasteners and instruments: rivets, scientific and optical instrument parts
Compared with 7075, 2024 trades static strength for better fatigue and damage tolerance. For thick plate (above about 40 mm) where through-thickness toughness matters, consider the higher-purity variant 2124.
How to order 2024 sheet and plate
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (for example 2024-T351 or Alclad 2024-T3), thickness, size or drawing, quantity, specification (ASTM B209, AMS 4037, EN 485) and ultrasonic class if needed.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification, packing and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessSheets and plates are cut to size, film-protected or interleaved and inspected; plate is ultrasonically tested when specified.
- DocumentEach delivery carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with the cast analysis and mechanical results for the lot; third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
- ShipSheets are interleaved or film-protected, packed on pallets or in seaworthy wooden cases, and shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- ASTM B209 – Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
- SAE AMS 4037 – Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Plate, 2024-T3 / T351
- SAE AMS-QQ-A-250/4 – Aluminum Alloy 2024, Plate and Sheet
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- ASM Handbook, Volume 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
2024 aluminium (aluminum) sheet and plate: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 2024-T3 and 2024-T351?
T3 is the sheet temper (solution treated, cold-worked, naturally aged); T351 is the plate temper, where the cold work is a controlled 1.5 – 3 % stretch that relieves quench stresses. Typical strengths are very similar.
Is 2024 stronger than 6061?
Yes. 2024-T3 has about 483 MPa tensile and 345 MPa yield, against 310 and 276 MPa for 6061-T6. 6061 is far easier to weld and resists corrosion better.
What is Alclad 2024?
Sheet with a thin layer of pure aluminium or 7072 metallurgically bonded to each side. The cladding protects the copper-bearing core against corrosion, at the cost of slightly lower strength.
Can 2024 aluminium be welded?
Not by conventional MIG or TIG for structural parts. It is riveted or bolted; friction-stir welding is used in specialised aerospace work.
2024 or 7075: which should I choose?
7075-T6 is stronger in static loading; 2024-T3 has better fatigue and fracture toughness. Use 2024 for tension-loaded, fatigue-critical parts and 7075 for compression or highly stressed fittings.
Do you supply 2024 plate with ultrasonic testing?
Yes. Plate can be supplied ultrasonically tested to AMS-STD-2154 class requirements with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
Need 2024 sheet or plate?
Send temper, size, quantity and specification. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
