O (annealed)
Softest condition for severe cold heading. The fastener maker solution-treats and ages the finished parts.
High-strength rivet and fastener wire
2024 Aluminium Wire
2024 aluminium wire is a high-strength copper alloy wire used mainly to make solid rivets, cold-headed bolts and screws, pins and small machined parts for aircraft and engineering. In the T4 temper it reaches a typical shear strength of about 283 MPa, far above general-purpose aluminium wire. Metline supplies 2024 wire and rod in coils and straight lengths, drawn to size and certified, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2024 (Al-Cu-Mg)
- Tempers
- O, H13, T4, T42
- Diameter
- 1 – 12 mm wire; rod above
- Standards
- ASTM B211 · B316 · AMS-QQ-A-430
What is 2024 aluminium wire?
2024 is a heat-treatable aluminium-copper-magnesium alloy, one of the original high-strength aircraft alloys. As wire, it is drawn from extruded or rolled rod and supplied for cold heading, mainly into rivets and fasteners.
In aerospace, solid rivets made from 2024 are known as "DD" rivets. They are driven in the freshly solution-treated condition because 2024 age-hardens quickly at room temperature: once quenched, the rivets must be driven within a short time or kept refrigerated to delay ageing, which is why they are often called "ice-box" rivets. After driving they age naturally at room temperature and reach their full shear strength.
Outside aircraft, 2024 wire is cold-headed into high-strength bolts, screws and pins, and machined into small turned parts on automatic lathes. It is chosen when 5xxx or 6xxx wire is not strong enough and steel would be too heavy or cause galvanic problems in an aluminium assembly. Its main limitation is corrosion resistance: the copper content means parts are usually anodised, chromate-converted or primed.
2024 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Min | Max | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | 3.8 | 4.9 | Main strengthening element |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 | 0.9 | Grain control and strength |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.2 | 1.8 | Accelerates natural ageing; adds strength |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.10 | |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.25 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.15 | |
| Others each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium | Remainder |
Aluminum Association limits, matching EN AW-2024 (AlCu4Mg1) in EN 573-3.
Mechanical properties of 2024 wire
Wire for cold heading is often bought in the O or H13 condition and heat-treated by the fastener maker; the T4 values describe the finished rivet or fastener. Values are typical; specification minimums vary with diameter and are confirmed on the certificate.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Shear strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O, typical | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 76 MPa / 11 ksi | 20 % | 124 MPa / 18 ksi |
| T4 / T42, typical | 469 MPa / 68 ksi | 324 MPa / 47 ksi | 19 – 20 % | 283 MPa / 41 ksi |
| H13 | Lightly cold-worked condition for cold-heading stock; properties per specification | — | — | — |
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.78 g/cm³
- Elastic modulus
- 73.1 GPa
- Thermal conductivity (T4)
- about 121 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (T4)
- about 30 % IACS
- Thermal expansion
- 23.2 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- about 502 – 638 °C
2024 wire tempers
H13
Lightly drawn condition used as rivet and cold-heading stock, giving better straightness and feeding than O.
T4 / T42
Solution treated and naturally aged. T4 is heat-treated by the mill; T42 is heat-treated from O or F by the user.
Driven rivets
Rivets driven freshly quenched and then naturally aged reach full T4-level shear strength in service.
Standards and equivalents for 2024 wire
| System | Designation / standard | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM | B211 / B211M | Rolled or cold-finished bar, rod and wire |
| ASTM | B316 / B316M | Rivet and cold-heading wire and rod |
| Aerospace | AMS-QQ-A-430 | Aluminium alloy rod and wire for rivets and cold heading |
| Rivets | NASM20470 / MS20470 (DD), NAS series | Finished rivet standards that call for 2024 |
| UNS | A92024 | |
| Europe | EN AW-2024 (AlCu4Mg1), 3.1355 | EN 573-3 chemistry; EN 754-2 drawn rod |
| Japan | A2024W | JIS H4040 (rod, bar and wire) |
2024 wire sizes and weights
Supply range
- Diameter
- About 1 – 12 mm wire; larger sizes as drawn rod
- Shape
- Round standard; square, hexagonal and flat wire on request
- Supply form
- Coils (level-wound or loose), spools, or straight cut lengths
- Surface
- Bright drawn; lubricated for cold heading on request
- Tolerance
- To ASTM B211 / B316 or EN tolerance tables; tighter on request
Weight of round 2024 wire in kg per 1000 m = 0.785 × d² × 2.78, with d in mm.
| Diameter (mm) | kg per 1000 m | Metres per kg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.18 | 458.0 |
| 1.6 | 5.59 | 178.9 |
| 2 | 8.73 | 114.5 |
| 2.5 | 13.65 | 73.3 |
| 3 | 19.65 | 50.9 |
| 3.2 | 22.36 | 44.7 |
| 4 | 34.93 | 28.6 |
| 4.8 | 50.31 | 19.9 |
| 5 | 54.59 | 18.3 |
| 6 | 78.60 | 12.7 |
| 6.35 | 88.04 | 11.4 |
| 8 | 139.74 | 7.2 |
| 10 | 218.34 | 4.6 |
| 12 | 314.41 | 3.2 |
Inspection and certification
Rivet and cold-heading wire must be free of seams, laps and surface defects that would split during heading. Typical testing includes diameter and ovality checks along the coil, tensile tests, and for rivet wire, a heading or upset test and a driven-rivet shear test on samples after heat treatment.
Typical checks
- Dimensional
- Diameter and ovality at both coil ends and along the length
- Mechanical
- Tensile test; shear test after heat treatment for rivet wire
- Formability
- Upset (heading) test to the specification ratio
- Surface
- Visual and, for aerospace orders, eddy-current inspection
- Certificate
- EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate with lot traceability
Applications of 2024 wire
- Aircraft rivets: DD solid rivets for highly loaded structural joints
- Cold-headed fasteners: bolts, screws, studs and pins for aluminium assemblies
- Turned parts: small high-strength components made on automatic lathes
- Transport and defence: fasteners where weight and galvanic compatibility matter
- Sport and precision equipment: pins, axles and spoke nipples where strength is needed
2024 rivet wire vs 2117, 2017 and 5056
| Alloy | Rivet code | Typical shear strength | Heat treat before driving? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2117-T4 | AD | about 195 MPa | No | General aircraft riveting |
| 2017-T4 | D | about 260 MPa | Yes (or ice-box) | Higher-strength joints |
| 2024-T4 | DD | about 283 MPa | Yes (ice-box) | Highest-strength solid rivets |
| 5056-H32 | B | about 180 MPa | No | Joining magnesium and corrosion-sensitive parts |
2024 gives the strongest solid aluminium rivets, at the cost of extra handling. Where the joint load allows, 2117 is far easier to use.
How to order 2024 wire
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (for example 2024-H13 rivet wire, 4.0 mm), section size and wall thickness, length, quantity and the governing standard (ASTM B316, B211 or AMS-QQ-A-430). A drawing helps for cut parts.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessMaterial is cut to length, de-burred and, if you ask, bent, machined or finished before packing.
- DocumentEach shipment carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and tensile results, plus the packing list. Third-party inspection can be arranged.
- ShipBundled with end caps and interleaving or packed in seaworthy wooden cases, then shipped by sea or air.
References and standards
- ASTM B211/B211M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- ASTM B316/B316M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivet and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- SAE AMS-QQ-A-430 – Aluminum Alloy Rod and Wire, for Rivets and Cold Heading
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
2024 aluminium (aluminum) wire: frequently asked questions
What is 2024 aluminium wire used for?
Mainly for high-strength solid rivets (DD rivets) and cold-headed fasteners such as bolts, screws and pins, plus small turned parts.
Why are 2024 rivets called ice-box rivets?
After solution heat treatment, 2024 hardens at room temperature within a short time. Keeping rivets refrigerated delays this ageing so they stay soft enough to drive.
What is the shear strength of 2024-T4 rivet wire?
Typical shear strength is about 283 MPa (41 ksi), the highest of the common aluminium rivet alloys.
Is 2024 wire corrosion resistant?
Only moderately. The copper content lowers resistance, so 2024 fasteners are normally anodised, conversion coated or wet-installed with sealant.
In what form is 2024 wire supplied?
In coils, spools or straight lengths, in O, H13 or T4 temper, drawn to diameter and certified to ASTM, AMS or EN specifications.
Need 2024 wire?
Send diameter, temper, specification, quantity and destination, and we will reply with availability and a delivered price.
