2017 Aluminium Wire Rod for Rivets
2017 aluminium wire rod is the feedstock for "D" solid rivets and other cold-headed Al-Cu-Mg fasteners. Supplied in O, H13 or T4 from about 1.6 to 10 mm diameter, it reaches roughly 380 MPa tensile and 225 MPa shear strength after solution treatment. This guide covers its chemistry, properties, tolerances and the driving rules that set it apart from 2117.
- Alloy
- 2017 (Al-Cu-Mg-Si)
- Supply tempers
- O · H13 · T4
- Diameter
- 1.6 – 10 mm
- Shear (T4)
- ≥ 225 MPa
What is 2017 rivet wire?
2017 was the original "duralumin" alloy, the copper-magnesium aluminium that made all-metal aircraft possible. Today its main wire use is for solid rivets marked with a raised dot (code D) and for cold-headed screws and pins that need more strength than 2117 can give.
The alloy contains about 4 % copper with smaller amounts of magnesium, manganese and silicon. After solution treatment and quenching it is soft enough to head, then naturally ages to the T4 condition. Once driven, the upset rivet is in the T3 condition: T4 plus the cold work of driving.
The trade-off is time. 2017 hardens noticeably within an hour or so of quenching, so rivets are either driven promptly or held in cold storage. Many aerospace users now specify 2117 or 7050 rivets instead, but 2017 remains widely used in general engineering, vehicle bodies and European designs, often in its 2017A form.
2017 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Limit | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 3.5 – 4.5 | Main strengthening element (Al2Cu) |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.40 – 0.8 | Adds age-hardening response |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 1.0 | Grain control and strength |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20 – 0.8 | Contributes to precipitation |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.7 | Impurity |
| Chromium (Cr) | ≤ 0.10 | |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Others each / total | ≤ 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium | Remainder |
Aluminum Association registered limits, as used in ASTM B316. The European grade EN AW-2017A has a slightly wider magnesium range; see the 2017A guide.
Mechanical properties of 2017 wire
| Supply temper | Tensile strength Rm | Yield Rp0.2 | Elongation | Shear strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | ≤ 240 MPa | — | — | Tested after heat treatment to T4 |
| H13 | 205 – 275 MPa | — | — | Tested after heat treatment to T4 |
| T4 (minimum) | ≥ 380 MPa | ≥ 220 MPa | ≥ 10 % | ≥ 225 MPa |
| T4 (typical) | about 425 MPa | about 275 MPa | about 22 % | about 260 MPa |
O and H13 wire is accepted on tensile strength in the supplied condition, and its shear strength is checked on samples solution treated to T4, because that is the condition the finished rivet will reach. Driven D rivets are commonly credited with about 262 MPa (38 ksi) ultimate shear.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.79 g/cm³
- Melting range
- about 513 – 640 °C
- Electrical conductivity (T4)
- about 34 % IACS
- Thermal conductivity (T4)
- about 134 W/m·K
Diameter tolerances and surface quality
Rivet wire is ordered to a tolerance class. The table shows the four classes commonly used for drawn rivet wire; class A (all-minus) suits header dies set for maximum diameter, while class C (symmetric) is the general choice.
| Diameter (mm) | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.6 | +0 / −0.015 | ±0.015 | ±0.015 | +0 / −0.04 |
| > 1.6 – 4.0 | +0 / −0.025 | +0.025 / −0.015 | ±0.025 | +0 / −0.05 |
| > 4.0 – 6.0 | +0 / −0.030 | ±0.025 | ±0.040 | +0 / −0.08 |
| > 6.0 – 10.0 | +0 / −0.040 | +0.050 / −0.025 | ±0.060 | +0 / −0.12 |
- Not allowed: cracks, laps, peeling, blisters, inclusions pressed into the surface, or corrosion
- Light scratches and bumps allowed only if their depth is within half of the minus tolerance
- Light drawing-lubricant residue is normally acceptable
Heading, heat treatment and driving
- HeadCold head rivets from O or H13 wire, which upsets without cracking.
- Solution treatHeat to the solution temperature set by the process specification (around 500 °C for 2017) and quench in water.
- Drive or chillDrive within about an hour, or store refrigerated to slow natural ageing.
- Age in placeThe rivet reaches full strength by natural ageing in the joint over the following days.
Typical riveting checks include an upsetting test, where a wire sample is compressed to a head of specified diameter and height without cracks, and a double-shear test to ASTM B565. Ask for both on the mill certificate.
Where 2017 rivet wire is used
- Aircraft structure: D rivets in spars, frames and fittings where higher shear than 2117 is needed
- Vehicle bodies and rail carriages: riveted sheet and extrusion joints
- Cold-headed screws and pins: where 2017 strength suits the load
- Machinery and instruments: light, strong fasteners where steel would add weight
2017 has limited corrosion resistance because of its copper content. Rivets are often anodised or chemically conversion coated and installed wet with sealant, especially in damp service.
2017 compared with 2117, 2024 and 2017A
| Property | 2117 | 2017 | 2024 | 2017A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical driven shear | about 207 MPa | about 262 MPa | about 283 MPa | similar to 2017 |
| Drive as received? | Yes (T4) | No, soon after quench | No, within minutes | No, soon after quench |
| Main market | Aerospace, general | General, legacy aerospace | Aerospace high-load | Europe, EN-based designs |
How to order
- Alloy and supply temperFor example 2017 in O, H13/H14 or T4, and the temper the finished rivet must reach.
- StandardASTM B316, EN 1301, GB/T 3195, AMS or your own specification, with the edition you work to.
- Diameter and toleranceNominal diameter and tolerance class, plus coil or cut-length form and coil weight.
- TestsShear strength, upsetting (heading) test, tensile, surface and dimensional checks to be shown on the certificate.
- DeliveryQuantity, packing (wrapped coils in wooden cases or on pallets), EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms and destination.
References and standards
- ASTM B316/B316M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivet and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- ASTM B565 – Shear Testing of Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivets and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- EN 1301-1/-2/-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: drawn wire (delivery conditions, properties, tolerances)
- FAA-H-8083-31 Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – Airframe (rivet identification and use)
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
2017 aluminium (aluminum) rivet wire: FAQ
What rivet code uses 2017 aluminium?
Code D in NASM rivet part numbers, identified by a raised dot on the head. The rivet is driven from T4 and ends up in T3.
How soon must 2017 rivets be driven after heat treatment?
Aviation practice is to drive them within about an hour of quenching, or to keep them refrigerated, because they harden by natural ageing. Follow your process specification for exact limits.
What is the shear strength of 2017 rivet wire?
Wire tested in T4 must reach at least 225 MPa shear strength; driven D rivets are typically credited with about 262 MPa.
Can 2017 rivet wire be supplied in coils?
Yes. It is normally supplied in coils sized for the heading machine, wrapped and packed in wooden cases or on pallets, or in straight lengths for larger diameters.
Is 2017 the same as 2017A?
Very close but not identical. 2017A is the European grade with a wider magnesium range and a combined Zr + Ti limit. Many drawings accept either, but check the specification.
Need 2017 rivet wire?
Tell us the temper, diameter, tolerance and quantity. We will reply with availability, certificates and a delivered price.
