Aerospace
Bulkhead and wing attachment fittings, engine mounts, landing-gear supports, machined from 7050, 7075 or 2014 forgings.
Open-die forged plate and blanks
Aluminium Forged Plate & Hand-Forged Blanks
Aluminium forged plate is a flat, rectangular hand forging: a cast ingot worked between open dies until its grain structure is refined and its properties are more uniform than those of very thick rolled plate. Metline supplies forged plate and near-net blanks in 7075, 7050, 6061, 2014, 2024 and 5083 to ASTM B247 and AMS specifications, with ultrasonic inspection and mill certificates, to customers worldwide.
- Process
- Open-die (hand) forging
- Alloys
- 7075 · 7050 · 6061 · 2014 · 5083
- Tempers
- T6, T652, T7352, T7452, H112
- Standards
- ASTM B247 · ASTM B594 · AMS
What is aluminium forged plate?
Forged plate is made by heating an aluminium ingot or billet and compressing it repeatedly between flat or simple dies on a hydraulic press, rotating and upsetting it so that the metal is worked in more than one direction. The result is a slab or block with closed internal porosity, a refined grain structure and properties that vary less between the length, width and thickness directions than in a comparable thick rolled plate.
Rolling works the metal mainly in one plane, so very thick rolled plate can show a marked difference between longitudinal and short-transverse properties, and the centre of the plate receives less deformation than the surface. Forging lets the producer control the reduction in each direction, which is why heavy, highly stressed parts such as aircraft bulkhead fittings, landing-gear supports, press platens, mould bases and pressure-vessel flanges are often machined from forged rather than rolled stock.
In standards terms, forged plate is a type of hand forging (open-die forging), covered in North America by ASTM B247 and by alloy-specific SAE AMS documents. It is different from "forged-look" or "tooling plate" products, which are rolled or cast and then machined. When a drawing simply says "forged plate", confirm whether the designer needs a true forging or just a thick, stress-relieved plate; the cost difference is significant.
Forged plate vs rolled plate
| Aspect | Forged plate (hand forging) | Thick rolled plate |
|---|---|---|
| Deformation | Worked in several directions; reduction controlled by the forger | Worked mainly in the rolling plane |
| Short-transverse properties | Generally closer to longitudinal values | Lowest in the thickness direction, especially in thick plate |
| Internal soundness | Porosity closed by multi-directional working | Good, but centreline quality depends on total reduction |
| Thickness range | Very heavy sections and blocks possible | Limited by mill and quench capability |
| Shape | Rectangular, stepped or contoured near-net blanks | Flat rectangular plate only |
| Dimensional tolerance | Wider; machining allowance needed on all faces | Tighter; may be used with minimal machining |
| Cost | Higher per kg | Lower per kg |
The decision is rarely about tensile strength alone. For many parts below about 150 mm thick, stretched rolled plate such as 7075-T7351 or 7050-T7451 meets every requirement at lower cost. Forged plate earns its price when the part is very thick, needs guaranteed properties in all three directions, or has a stepped shape that would waste a large share of a rolled slab.
Alloys and tempers for forged plate
Forgings use their own temper designations. A "2" in the second digit after T (for example T652 or T7352) means the forging was compressed by about 1 – 5 % after quenching to relieve residual stress, the forging equivalent of the stretching that gives rolled plate its T651 temper. Order the forging temper, not the plate temper.
| Alloy | Common forging tempers | Character | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7075 | T6, T652, T73, T7352 | Very high strength; T73x for stress-corrosion resistance | Aircraft fittings, high-load machine parts, moulds |
| 7050 | T74, T7452 | High strength with low quench sensitivity and good SCC resistance in thick sections | Bulkheads, wing attachments, heavy structural fittings |
| 2014 | T6, T652 | High strength, good machinability, moderate corrosion resistance | Aircraft and truck structural forgings, heavy-duty parts |
| 2024 | T4, T351-type stress relieved | Good fatigue strength and toughness | Frames, connectors |
| 6061 | T6, T652 | Medium strength, weldable, corrosion resistant, excellent machinability | Flanges, mould bases, fixtures, vacuum and semiconductor parts |
| 5083 | O, H111, H112 | Non-heat-treatable; excellent seawater and cryogenic performance | Marine fittings, cryogenic flanges and tube sheets |
| 2618 / 2219 | T61, T6, T852 | Retain strength at elevated temperature | Compressor and engine parts, hot-service fittings |
Rolled-plate standards such as ASTM B209 or AMS 4045 (7075-T651 plate) do not cover forgings. For forged plate, the governing documents are ASTM B247 and the AMS specification for the alloy and forging type.
Typical mechanical properties
The figures below are typical longitudinal values for forgings of moderate section, rounded from published handbook data. Guaranteed minimums in ASTM B247 and AMS specifications fall as section thickness increases and are lower in the short-transverse direction, so design to the specification table for the actual thickness.
| Alloy and temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7075-T6 / T652 | ≈ 570 MPa | ≈ 500 MPa | ≈ 10 % |
| 7075-T73 / T7352 | ≈ 500 MPa | ≈ 430 MPa | ≈ 12 % |
| 7050-T74 / T7452 | ≈ 510 MPa | ≈ 450 MPa | ≈ 11 % |
| 2014-T6 / T652 | ≈ 480 MPa | ≈ 415 MPa | ≈ 10 % |
| 6061-T6 / T652 | ≈ 310 MPa | ≈ 275 MPa | ≈ 12 % |
| 5083-H112 | ≈ 290 MPa | ≈ 150 MPa | ≈ 16 % |
A key point for buyers: the advantage of forged plate is uniformity and soundness, not a higher headline strength. A 7075 forging and a thin 7075-T651 plate have similar longitudinal strength. The difference appears in the centre of a 200 mm section and in the short-transverse direction, where the forging retains more of its properties.
Forged plate sizes and supply options
Supply options
- Forms
- Rectangular forged plate, forged blocks, stepped or contoured near-net blanks, discs and rings
- Thickness
- Typically from about 20 mm into very heavy sections; quoted to drawing
- Length and width
- Quoted by alloy and weight; large blanks available from qualified forges
- Surface
- As-forged, saw-cut, rough-machined or face-milled
- Machining allowance
- Agreed per face; typically several millimetres on as-forged surfaces
- Inspection
- Ultrasonic testing to ASTM B594 or AMS-STD-2154, class as specified
Size limits depend on the alloy, the press used and the quench capability for heat-treatable grades. Send your finished-part envelope and we will propose a blank size.
Forged plate weighs the same per volume as any wrought plate of the same alloy: about 2.70 kg/dm³ for 6061 and 5083 (5083 is about 2.66), 2.81 for 7075 and 2.83 for 7050. A 1000 × 500 × 100 mm blank in 7075 therefore weighs about 140 kg before machining. Use the weight calculator for other sizes.
Inspection and certification
- Ultrasonic testing: full-volume scanning to ASTM B594 or AMS-STD-2154; specify the acceptance class (for example A or AA) on the order.
- Mechanical testing: tensile tests in the directions your specification calls for, including short-transverse where required.
- Conductivity and hardness: used to verify heat treatment, particularly for 7xxx over-aged tempers.
- Grain flow and macro-etch: available on request for qualification lots.
- Documents: EN 10204 3.1 certificate with chemistry, mechanical results and heat-treatment lot; UT report; third-party inspection on request.
Where forged plate is used
Moulds and tooling
Large mould bases and blow-mould blocks where through-thickness soundness prevents porosity showing on machined cavities.
Heavy machinery
Press platens, carrier plates, gear blanks and heavily loaded brackets.
Energy and process
Flanges, tube sheets and cryogenic fittings in 5083 and 6061.
Marine
5083 and 6061 fittings, shaft supports and heavy deck hardware.
Semiconductor and vacuum
6061 forged blanks for chamber bodies where porosity-free material helps vacuum integrity.
How to order forged plate
- Define the partSend the finished-part drawing or envelope dimensions, alloy and forging temper, and the governing specification (ASTM B247, AMS or customer).
- Set inspectionState UT class, test directions, conductivity or hardness checks and any third-party inspection.
- Agree the blankWe propose blank size and machining allowance, with delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ProcessBlanks can be saw-cut or rough-machined before dispatch on request.
- ShipPacked on timber skids or in cases, with the EN 10204 3.1 certificate and UT report.
References and standards
- ASTM B247 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Die Forgings, Hand Forgings, and Rolled Ring Forgings
- ASTM B594 – Ultrasonic Inspection of Aluminum-Alloy Wrought Products
- AMS-STD-2154 – Inspection, Ultrasonic, Wrought Metals, Process for
- ANSI H35.1 – Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Aluminum (The Aluminum Association)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 14A – Metalworking: Bulk Forming (aluminium forging)
Aluminium (aluminum) forged plate: FAQs
Is forged plate stronger than rolled plate?
Not in the headline longitudinal strength. Its advantages are more uniform properties through the thickness, better short-transverse values and closed internal porosity, which matter most in very thick or fatigue-critical parts.
What does the temper T652 mean?
Solution heat-treated, stress-relieved by compressing the forging about 1 – 5 %, then artificially aged. It is the forging counterpart of the T651 temper used for stretched rolled plate.
Which standard covers aluminium forged plate?
ASTM B247 covers die forgings, hand forgings and rolled rings; aerospace orders usually add an alloy-specific AMS specification. Rolled-plate standards such as ASTM B209 do not apply.
Can forged plate be ultrasonically tested?
Yes. Full-volume UT to ASTM B594 or AMS-STD-2154 is normal for aerospace and mould-making forgings. Specify the acceptance class on your purchase order.
When should I use rolled plate instead?
When the section is within normal plate thickness and loads are mainly in the plane of the plate. Stretched 7075-T7351, 7050-T7451 or 6061-T651 plate is cheaper and has tighter dimensional tolerances.
Do you ship forged blanks internationally?
Yes. Metline supplies forged plate worldwide with export packing, certificates and shipping by sea or air.
Need forged plate or near-net blanks?
Send the drawing, alloy, temper and inspection class. We will propose the blank size and a delivered quotation.
