T3
Solution treated, cold drawn, naturally aged. The standard drawn seamless tube temper for aircraft and high-stress parts.
High-strength aerospace tube
2024 Aluminium Round Tube
2024 aluminium round tube is a copper-alloyed, heat-treatable tube with roughly 50 % more strength than 6061-T6 and excellent fatigue resistance, which is why it is used for aircraft struts, control rods and other highly stressed tubular parts. It is supplied mainly as drawn seamless tube in T3 to AMS 4088 and ASTM B210, and as extruded tube in T3511. Metline supplies 2024 round tube with full certification, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2024 (Al-Cu-Mg)
- Tempers
- O, T3, T3511, T4, T42
- Process
- Drawn seamless, extruded
- Standards
- AMS 4088 · ASTM B210 · B221
What is 2024 aluminium round tube?
2024 is the classic aircraft alloy of the 2xxx series, strengthened by about 4.4 % copper and 1.5 % magnesium. In tube form it combines high tensile strength, a stiff section and very good resistance to fatigue crack growth, so it is chosen for tubes that are loaded repeatedly.
The common condition for drawn tube is T3: solution heat-treated, cold worked by the drawing process, then naturally aged at room temperature. Drawing after solution treatment adds strength and gives tight dimensional control and a smooth surface, which matters for push-pull rods, hydraulic actuator parts and struts that slide in bushes. Extruded 2024 tube is supplied in T3511 (stress-relieved by stretching, with minor straightening allowed) for larger diameters and thicker walls.
The trade-off for that strength is corrosion behaviour. Copper-rich 2024 has the lowest general corrosion resistance of the common structural alloys and should be protected by anodising (often chromic or sulphuric acid), conversion coating and primer in service. It is also not suitable for fusion welding. Where welding or marine exposure matters more than fatigue strength, 6061 or 5xxx tube is the better choice.
2024 chemical composition (wt %)
Registered Aluminum Association limits, also used by EN 573-3 for EN AW-2024 (AlCu4Mg1). The mill certificate reports the actual analysis.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity; lower levels improve toughness |
| Copper (Cu) | 3.8 | 4.9 | Main strengthening element (Al2CuMg precipitates) |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 | 0.9 | Strength and grain control |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.2 | 1.8 | Works with copper to raise strength and natural-ageing response |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.25 | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.15 | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Mechanical properties of 2024 round tube
Design to the specified minimums of the order specification. For drawn tube these depend mainly on wall thickness (elongation rises with wall); for extruded tube they depend on the section thickness band.
| Temper / product | Basis | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O, drawn tube | Typical | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 76 MPa / 11 ksi | 20 % |
| T3, drawn seamless tube | Specified minimum (ASTM B210 / AMS 4088) | 441 MPa / 64 ksi | 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 10 – 16 % (by wall) |
| T3 / T4, general | Typical | 469 – 483 MPa / 68 – 70 ksi | 324 – 345 MPa / 47 – 50 ksi | 18 – 20 % |
| T3511, extruded tube (thin sections) | Specified minimum (ASTM B221) | About 395 MPa / 57 ksi | About 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 12 % |
Extruded 2024 minimums increase for thicker sections. Exact limits by wall or section band are shown in the current edition of the order specification and on the mill certificate.
Physical properties of 2024 (typical)
- Density
- 2.78 g/cm³ (0.100 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 73.1 GPa (10,600 ksi)
- Shear strength (T3)
- 283 MPa (41 ksi)
- Fatigue strength (T3, 5×10⁸ cycles)
- 138 MPa (20 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity (T3)
- 121 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (T3)
- 30 % IACS
- Thermal expansion (20 – 100 °C)
- 23.2 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- 502 – 638 °C
2024 tube tempers explained
T3511
Extruded tube, solution treated, stretched for stress relief with minor straightening, naturally aged. For larger and thicker tube that will be machined.
T4 / T42
Solution treated and naturally aged without controlled cold work. T42 is the condition achieved when the user heat-treats from O.
O
Annealed for bending, flaring and forming; parts are then heat-treated to T42 by the user.
T8 tempers
Artificially aged after cold work for higher yield and better stress-corrosion resistance, available on request for specific programmes.
Specifications and equivalents
| System | Designation | Tube specification |
|---|---|---|
| SAE AMS | 2024-T3 drawn seamless | AMS 4088; AMS-WW-T-700/3 (formerly WW-T-700/3) |
| ASTM / ASME | 2024 | ASTM B210 (drawn seamless), B221 and B241 (extruded), B483 (drawn general purpose) |
| UNS | A92024 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2024 (AlCu4Mg1) | EN 754-2, EN 755-2; aerospace EN 2000-series |
| German Werkstoff | 3.1355 | — |
| Japan (JIS) | A2024 | JIS H4080 |
Sizes and weight per metre
Drawn seamless 2024 tube is normally ordered in fractional-inch outside diameters and decimal-inch walls; extruded tube in larger diameters and metric sizes. Weight below uses a density of 2.78 g/cm³.
| OD (in) | Wall (in) | OD × wall (mm) | kg/m | lb/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 0.035 | 6.35 × 0.89 | 0.042 | 0.028 |
| 0.375 | 0.035 | 9.52 × 0.89 | 0.067 | 0.045 |
| 0.5 | 0.049 | 12.70 × 1.24 | 0.125 | 0.084 |
| 0.625 | 0.058 | 15.88 × 1.47 | 0.185 | 0.125 |
| 0.75 | 0.065 | 19.05 × 1.65 | 0.251 | 0.169 |
| 1 | 0.065 | 25.40 × 1.65 | 0.342 | 0.230 |
| 1 | 0.125 | 25.40 × 3.17 | 0.616 | 0.414 |
| 1.25 | 0.083 | 31.75 × 2.11 | 0.546 | 0.367 |
| 1.5 | 0.095 | 38.10 × 2.41 | 0.752 | 0.505 |
| 1.75 | 0.120 | 44.45 × 3.05 | 1.102 | 0.741 |
| 2 | 0.125 | 50.80 × 3.17 | 1.321 | 0.887 |
| 2.5 | 0.125 | 63.50 × 3.17 | 1.673 | 1.124 |
| 3 | 0.188 | 76.20 × 4.78 | 2.979 | 2.002 |
| 4 | 0.250 | 101.60 × 6.35 | 5.282 | 3.550 |
Supply range
- Drawn seamless
- Small-bore aerospace sizes up to medium diameters; walls roughly 0.46 – 12.7 mm (0.018 – 0.500 in) under AMS 4088
- Extruded
- Larger ODs and heavy walls in T3511 or T4
- Length
- Random or fixed lengths; cut pieces to drawing
- Testing
- Tensile per lot; eddy-current or ultrasonic inspection where the specification requires
Machining, joining and protecting 2024 tube
Machining
Machines well in T3 and T3511 with carbide tools, producing short chips and good finishes. Annealed material is gummy; machine in a heat-treated temper.
Welding
Not recommended for arc welding: hot cracking and a large loss of strength in the heat-affected zone. Use mechanical joints, adhesive bonding or friction processes.
Bending
T3 tube accepts moderate bends with mandrel support. For tight bends, form in O or freshly solution-treated (W) condition, then age.
Corrosion protection
Anodise (chromic, sulphuric or boric-sulphuric), apply conversion coating and primer, and seal tube ends. Avoid direct contact with carbon fibre or stainless steel without isolation.
Temperature
Retains strength better than 6061 up to about 120 – 150 °C; long exposure above that alters the naturally aged structure.
Inspection
Aerospace orders usually require traceability to heat lot, tensile results and, where specified, non-destructive inspection.
Where 2024 round tube is used
- Aircraft structure: wing and landing-gear struts on light aircraft, push-pull control rods, torque tubes, seat and cargo-system tubes
- Hydraulics and actuation: actuator housings, pistons and bushings machined from heavy-wall tube
- Motorsport: suspension links, roll and steering components where weight and fatigue strength matter
- Defence: launcher tubes, mast sections and equipment frames
- Precision engineering: spacers, sleeves and rollers machined from tube to save material
2024 tube compared with 6061 and 7075 tube
| Property | 6061-T6 | 2024-T3 | 7075-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 310 MPa | 483 MPa | 572 MPa |
| Typical yield strength | 276 MPa | 345 MPa | 503 MPa |
| Fatigue strength | 96 MPa | 138 MPa | 159 MPa |
| Corrosion resistance | Good | Fair (needs protection) | Fair |
| Weldability | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Typical use | General structures | Fatigue-loaded aircraft tube | Highest-strength tube |
2024 is preferred over 7075 where damage tolerance and fatigue crack growth resistance govern; 7075 where static strength governs. See also 7075 tube and 2024 vs 7075.
How to order 2024 round tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 2024-T3), OD and wall, length, quantity and the specification with revision (e.g. AMS 4088, ASTM B210).
- QuoteWe confirm availability, inspection requirements and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectDimensional and visual checks; non-destructive testing and third-party inspection on request.
- DocumentEN 10204 3.1 certificate with chemistry and tensile results and heat-lot traceability.
- ShipCapped ends and wooden crates for sea or air freight.
References and standards
- SAE AMS 4088 – Drawn Seamless Tubing, 2024-T3
- SAE AMS-WW-T-700/3 – Drawn Seamless Tube, 2024
- ASTM B210/B210M – Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B221 – Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- ASM International – Properties of Wrought Aluminium Alloys: 2024
2024 aluminium (aluminum) round tube: frequently asked questions
What does T3 mean on 2024 tube?
Solution heat-treated, cold worked and naturally aged. For drawn tube the cold work comes from the final drawing pass, which adds strength and gives accurate dimensions.
How strong is 2024-T3 drawn tube?
Specified minimums under ASTM B210 and AMS 4088 are about 441 MPa (64 ksi) tensile and 290 MPa (42 ksi) yield, with elongation of 10 – 16 % depending on wall. Typical values are higher, around 470 – 480 MPa tensile.
Can 2024 aluminium tube be welded?
Not by normal arc welding: it is prone to hot cracking and loses much of its strength near the weld. Use mechanical fastening, bonding or friction welding instead.
Is 2024 tube corrosion resistant?
Less so than 5xxx or 6xxx alloys because of its copper content. In service it is normally anodised or conversion coated and painted, and ends are sealed.
What is the difference between AMS 4088 and ASTM B210?
AMS 4088 is an aerospace specification specific to 2024-T3 drawn seamless tubing, with aerospace testing and traceability requirements. ASTM B210 is a general specification for drawn seamless tube covering many alloys and tempers.
Do you ship 2024 tube internationally?
Yes. Metline supplies 2024 tube worldwide from Mumbai, with mill certificates, capped ends and export crating.
Need 2024-T3 round tube?
Send size, specification, quantity and destination. We will confirm availability, certification and a delivered price.
