T851 / T81
Solution treated, cold-worked (stretched for plate) and artificially aged. The common choice for welded tanks and structure: good strength, stress-corrosion resistance and stability.
Weldable high-temperature Al-Cu plate
2219 Aluminium Sheet & Plate
2219 is a 6 % copper aluminium alloy that, unusually for a 2xxx grade, is readily weldable and keeps useful strength from cryogenic temperatures up to about 300 °C. That combination made it a standard material for rocket fuel and oxidiser tanks. Metline supplies 2219 sheet and plate in T351, T62, T851 and T87, certified to ASTM B209 and AMS-QQ-A-250/30, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2219 (Al-6Cu-Mn-Zr-V)
- Tempers
- O, T351, T62, T851, T87
- Service range
- about −250 to 300 °C
- Standards
- ASTM B209 · AMS-QQ-A-250/30
What is 2219 aluminium?
2219 contains 5.8 – 6.8 % copper with small additions of manganese, zirconium, vanadium and titanium, and almost no magnesium. The lack of magnesium is what makes it different: it avoids the hot-cracking behaviour of 2024 and 2014, so 2219 can be fusion welded with 2319 filler and still deliver good joint strength.
Its other strengths are temperature range and toughness. The alloy retains strength better than most aluminium alloys between about 150 and 300 °C, and it becomes stronger and stays tough at cryogenic temperatures, which suits liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen tanks. It was used for the first stage of the Saturn V rocket and for the original Space Shuttle external tank, and it is still widely used in launch vehicles, cryogenic vessels and supersonic aircraft structure.
The price of these properties is moderate absolute strength (lower than 2024 or 7075 at room temperature), relatively high density at 2.84 g/cm³, and the corrosion sensitivity common to copper-rich alloys.
2219 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.20 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.30 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | 5.8 | 6.8 | Main strengthening element |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.20 | 0.40 | Grain structure and elevated-temperature strength |
| Magnesium (Mg) | — | 0.02 | Kept very low for weldability |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.02 | 0.10 | Grain refiner |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.05 | 0.15 | Elevated-temperature stability |
| Zirconium (Zr) | 0.10 | 0.25 | Controls recrystallisation, aids weldability |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Aluminum Association limits used by ASTM B209 and AMS specifications. Actual analysis is shown on the mill certificate.
2219 mechanical and physical properties by temper
Typical room-temperature values below are from published Aluminum Association / ASM data. Specified minimums vary with thickness and are given in the order specification.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2219-O | 172 MPa / 25 ksi | 76 MPa / 11 ksi | 18 % |
| 2219-T31 / T351 | 359 MPa / 52 ksi | 248 MPa / 36 ksi | 17 % |
| 2219-T37 | 393 MPa / 57 ksi | 317 MPa / 46 ksi | 11 % |
| 2219-T62 | 414 MPa / 60 ksi | 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 10 % |
| 2219-T81 / T851 | 455 MPa / 66 ksi | 352 MPa / 51 ksi | 10 % |
| 2219-T87 | 476 MPa / 69 ksi | 393 MPa / 57 ksi | 10 % |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.84 g/cm³ (0.103 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 73.8 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- about 120 W/m·K (T8 tempers)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 30 % IACS (T8 tempers)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 22.3 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- about 543 – 643 °C
Choosing a 2219 temper
T87
About 7 % cold work before ageing, giving the highest strength. Used for sheet and plate in aerospace structure.
T62
Solution treated and aged by the user, typically after forming O-temper material or after welding and re-heat-treating an assembly.
T351 / T37
Stretched or cold-worked, naturally aged. Often ordered as a starting condition for forming and subsequent ageing.
O
Annealed for severe forming such as spinning dome segments.
Welded condition
As-welded joints in T8 tempers typically retain roughly 60 – 70 % of parent tensile strength; post-weld ageing can recover part of the loss.
2219 standards and designations
| System | Designation | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 2219, Alclad 2219 | ASTM B209 |
| Aerospace (SAE) | 2219 plate and sheet | AMS-QQ-A-250/30 |
| UNS | A92219 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2219 (AlCu6Mn) | EN 573-3 |
| China (GB) | 2219 / 2A16 (close) | GB/T 3880, GB/T 3190 |
| Welding filler | ER2319 / R2319 | AWS A5.10 |
2219 sheet and plate sizes and weights
Supply range
- Sheet
- 0.5 – 6 mm, O, T31, T37, T62, T81, T87
- Plate
- 6 – 150 mm, T351, T851, T87; heavy plate on mill order
- Formats
- Full mill plates or saw-cut blanks, rings and segments to drawing
- Inspection
- Ultrasonic testing to AMS-STD-2154 on request
Because 2219 is denser than most aluminium grades, it weighs 2.84 kg per m² per millimetre:
| Thickness (mm) | kg per m² | 1220 × 2440 mm (kg) | 1500 × 3000 mm (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.84 | 8.5 | 12.8 |
| 2 | 5.68 | 16.9 | 25.6 |
| 3 | 8.52 | 25.4 | 38.3 |
| 4 | 11.4 | 33.8 | 51.1 |
| 5 | 14.2 | 42.3 | 63.9 |
| 6 | 17.0 | 50.7 | 76.7 |
| 8 | 22.7 | 67.6 | 102.2 |
| 10 | 28.4 | 84.5 | 127.8 |
| 12 | 34.1 | 101.4 | 153.4 |
| 16 | 45.4 | 135.3 | 204.5 |
| 20 | 56.8 | 169.1 | 255.6 |
| 25 | 71.0 | 211.4 | 319.5 |
| 30 | 85.2 | 253.6 | 383.4 |
| 40 | 113.6 | 338.2 | 511.2 |
| 50 | 142.0 | 422.7 | 639.0 |
| 60 | 170.4 | 507.2 | 766.8 |
| 80 | 227.2 | 676.3 | 1022.4 |
| 100 | 284.0 | 845.4 | 1278.0 |
Welding, machining and forming 2219
Welding
Use ER2319 filler for TIG, MIG and plasma welding; electron-beam and friction-stir welding give the highest joint efficiencies. Qualify each procedure and test joint properties for your temper.
Machining
Machines well in T8 tempers with short chips; softer tempers are gummier.
Forming
Form in O or T3x tempers, then age to T6x or T8x. Spinning and stretch forming of tank domes is common.
Corrosion protection
Anodise, apply conversion coatings and primers, or use Alclad sheet for exposed service.
Applications of 2219 sheet and plate
- Space launch: propellant tanks for liquid oxygen and hydrogen, interstage and dome structure
- Cryogenics: pressure vessels and storage for liquefied gases
- Aerospace: supersonic aircraft skins and structure exposed to aerodynamic heating
- Defence: welded armour and structural parts (see our military pages)
- High-temperature parts: components working up to around 300 °C
For non-welded parts at room temperature, 2024 or 7075 offer more strength for the weight; choose 2219 when welding, cryogenic duty or elevated temperature is part of the requirement.
How to order 2219 plate
- SpecifyAlloy, temper, thickness, size or drawing, quantity, specification (ASTM B209, AMS-QQ-A-250/30 or customer specification), ultrasonic class and any weld-test requirement.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification, packing and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessPlates are cut to size, inspected and marked for traceability.
- 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-QQ-A-250/30 – Aluminum Alloy 2219, Plate and Sheet
- AWS A5.10 – Welding Consumables: Wires and Rods for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets)
- ASM Handbook, Volume 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
2219 aluminium (aluminum) plate: frequently asked questions
Why is 2219 weldable when 2024 is not?
2219 contains almost no magnesium, and its zirconium and copper levels reduce hot-cracking sensitivity. With 2319 filler it produces sound welds, whereas 2024 tends to crack and lose most of its strength.
What filler is used to weld 2219?
ER2319 (or R2319 rod), which matches the copper content and responds to post-weld ageing.
Is 2219 good for cryogenic service?
Yes. Its strength increases and toughness is retained at liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen temperatures, which is why it is used in rocket propellant tanks.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2219?
It retains useful strength up to around 300 °C, better than most aluminium alloys; long exposures still reduce strength, so design with elevated-temperature data.
What is the difference between 2219-T851 and T87?
T87 has more cold work before ageing (about 7 %), giving higher yield strength; T851 is stretched 1.5 – 3 % and is the more common plate temper.
Need 2219 sheet or plate?
Send temper, size, quantity and specification. We will confirm availability, certification and a delivered price.
