T6511 / T6510
Extruded tube, solution treated, stretched and aged. Best for machined structural parts.
Aerospace tube · 2xxx series
2014 / 2014A Aerospace Aluminium Tube
2014 tube is a high-strength aluminium-copper tube used where a hollow section must carry high loads: struts, actuator bodies, torque tubes and machined sleeves. In T6 and T6511 it reaches about 480 MPa tensile strength, well above 6061 tube. Metline supplies 2014 and 2014A seamless drawn and extruded tube, certified to ASTM, AMS and EN specifications, to aerospace and engineering buyers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2014 / 2014A
- Tempers
- O, T4, T6, T6510, T6511
- OD
- about 6 – 250 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B210 · B241 · AMS 4153
What is 2014 aerospace tube?
Aluminium alloy 2014 contains about 4.4 % copper with silicon, manganese and magnesium. In tube form it gives one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios available in a seamless aluminium hollow, which is why it is chosen for structural tubes and thick-walled sleeves rather than for fluid lines.
Two production routes are used. Extruded seamless tube is pierced or extruded over a mandrel from a hollow billet, then heat-treated, stretched and aged to T6510 or T6511; it covers larger diameters and heavy walls. Drawn seamless tube starts from extruded tube and is cold drawn through dies over a plug to closer tolerances and a finer surface, then heat-treated to T4 or T6.
Because 2014 has limited corrosion resistance and poor fusion weldability, it is rarely used for hydraulic or fuel lines, where 6061-T6, 2024-T3 (to AMS 4086/4088) or stainless steel are standard. Its strength makes it a good fit for machined structural tube: landing-gear and actuator parts, struts and links, where the tube is protected by anodising or paint.
2014 and 2014A composition (wt %)
| Element | 2014 (AA / ASTM) | 2014A (EN AW-2014A) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 3.9 – 5.0 | 3.9 – 5.0 | Main strengthening element (Al2Cu precipitates) |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.50 – 1.2 | 0.50 – 0.9 | Speeds the ageing response; the "Si" in AlCu4SiMg |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 1.2 | 0.40 – 1.2 | Grain control and toughness |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.20 – 0.8 | 0.20 – 0.8 | Adds to precipitation hardening |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.7 max | 0.50 max | Impurity; lower Fe improves toughness |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.10 max | 0.10 max | Impurity |
| Nickel (Ni) | — | 0.10 max | Impurity |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.25 max | 0.25 max | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.15 max | 0.15 max (Ti + Zr 0.20) | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | Remainder |
Mechanical and physical properties
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation | Brinell hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed) | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 97 MPa / 14 ksi | 18 % | 45 HB |
| T4, T451 | 427 MPa / 62 ksi | 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 20 % | 105 HB |
| T6, T651, T6511 | 483 MPa / 70 ksi | 414 MPa / 60 ksi | 13 % | 135 HB |
| Temper and wall / diameter (ASTM B221) | Min. tensile strength | Min. yield strength | Min. elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| T4, T4510, T4511 – all sizes | 345 MPa / 50 ksi | 240 MPa / 35 ksi | 12 % |
| T6, T6510, T6511 – up to 12.5 mm | 415 MPa / 60 ksi | 365 MPa / 53 ksi | 7 % |
| T6, T6510, T6511 – 12.5 to 19 mm | 440 MPa / 64 ksi | 400 MPa / 58 ksi | 7 % |
| T6, T6510, T6511 – 19 mm and over (area to 160 cm²) | 470 MPa / 68 ksi | 415 MPa / 60 ksi | 7 % |
Extruded-tube minimums from ASTM B221 / B241; drawn tube to ASTM B210 has its own table by wall thickness. Confirm with the certificate.
Physical properties of 2014 (T6 unless noted)
- Density
- 2.80 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 73 GPa (10.6 Msi)
- Melting range
- about 507 – 638 °C
- Thermal conductivity
- about 154 W/m·K (T6); about 190 W/m·K (O)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 40 % IACS (T6); about 50 % IACS (O)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
Tube tempers
T6
Drawn or extruded tube aged to full strength without stretching. Common for drawn tube.
T4
Naturally aged; better for bending, flaring and swaging, and can be aged to T6 afterwards.
O
Annealed tube for heavy forming before heat treatment.
Specifications and equivalents
Tube specifications
- ASTM B210
- Drawn seamless tube
- ASTM B241
- Seamless pipe and seamless extruded tube
- ASTM B221
- Extruded tube (including structural hollow sections)
- AMS 4153 / AMS-QQ-A-200/2
- 2014 extrusions including tubing, T6510/T6511
- EN 754-7 / EN 755-7
- Seamless drawn and extruded tube, EN AW-2014 / 2014A
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / UNS | 2014 / A92014 | Basis of ASTM and AMS specifications |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2014 (AlCu4SiMg); EN AW-2014A (AlCu4SiMg(A)) | 2014A has tighter Si and Fe limits |
| German Werkstoff | 3.1255 | AlCuSiMn in older DIN usage |
| ISO | AlCu4SiMg | ISO 209 |
| Japan (JIS) | A2014 | JIS H4000 / H4040 / H4140 |
| France (old NF) | AU4SG | Still seen on older drawings |
| China (GB) | 2A14 (close equivalent) | Similar chemistry; check limits before substituting |
Size range and weight per metre
Supply range
- Outside diameter
- about 6 – 250 mm (1/4 – 10 in); larger on enquiry
- Wall thickness
- about 0.9 – 25 mm (0.035 – 1.0 in) depending on OD and route
- Length
- 3 – 6 m standard, including 12 ft and 24 ft imperial lengths; cut pieces to order
- Tolerances
- ANSI H35.2 for ASTM/AMS orders; EN 754-7 / 755-7 for EN orders
Weight per metre of round tube is π × (OD − t) × t × 2.80 / 1000 kg, with OD and wall t in mm. The examples include common imperial aircraft-tube sizes converted to millimetres.
| OD × wall (mm) | ID (mm) | kg per metre |
|---|---|---|
| 6.35 × 0.89 | 4.57 | 0.043 |
| 9.53 × 1.24 | 7.05 | 0.090 |
| 12.7 × 1.65 | 9.4 | 0.160 |
| 19.05 × 2.11 | 14.83 | 0.314 |
| 25.4 × 3.18 | 19.04 | 0.622 |
| 38.1 × 3.18 | 31.74 | 0.977 |
| 50.8 × 6.35 | 38.1 | 2.483 |
| 76.2 × 6.35 | 63.5 | 3.902 |
| 101.6 × 12.7 | 76.2 | 9.931 |
| 152.4 × 19.05 | 114.3 | 22.346 |
Testing and inspection
- Tensile tests per lot to the governing specification
- Conductivity and hardness to confirm heat treatment
- Eddy-current or ultrasonic inspection of tube on request
- OD, ID, wall, ovality and straightness checks
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate with chemistry and properties
Fabrication guidance
Machining
Excellent. Bore and turn with sharp carbide tools and steady support for thin walls.
Bending and swaging
Use T4 or O temper and age afterwards; T6 tube cracks at tight radii.
Joining
Threaded ends, swaged fittings, pins and adhesive bonding. Avoid fusion welding.
Protection
Anodise inside and out where possible, or conversion-coat and prime. Seal ends.
Applications
- Landing-gear and actuator sleeves and cylinders machined from heavy-wall tube
- Structural struts, braces and torque tubes
- Flight-control push-pull tubes where high stiffness and strength are needed
- Missile bodies and launcher tubes
- High-strength sporting and industrial tube parts
For hydraulic, fuel and pneumatic lines, specify a dedicated line-tube material such as 2024-T3 to AMS 4086 or 6061-T6 to AMS 4083 rather than 2014.
2014 tube compared with 2024 tube
| Property | 2014-T6 | 2024-T3 |
|---|---|---|
| Main alloying | Cu with high Si, Mn, Mg | Cu with higher Mg (1.2 – 1.8 %) |
| Typical tensile / yield | ~483 / 414 MPa | ~483 / 345 MPa |
| Fatigue and toughness | Fair | Better |
| Typical tube use | Machined structural tube | Drawn hydraulic and structural tube |
| Weldability | Poor | Poor |
Both alloys need corrosion protection and neither is fusion-welded in structure. Choose 2014 for higher yield strength in machined parts, and 2024 for fatigue-loaded tube and hydraulic lines.
How to order
- SpecifyAlloy, temper, OD, wall (or ID), length and quantity; drawn or extruded route if specified.
- Name the standardASTM B210, B241, B221, AMS 4153, EN 754-7 / 755-7 or your customer specification.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance, test scope, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your port or site.
- Process and inspectTubes are cut, deburred, capped and checked for size and straightness.
- Document and shipEach lot ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate traceable to the heat and lot, plus a packing list. Material is packed in seaworthy wooden cases with moisture protection; third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
References and standards
- ASTM B210 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B241 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube
- SAE AMS 4153 – Aluminum Alloy Extrusions, 2014-T6510 / T6511
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
2014 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) tube: FAQ
Is 2014 tube used for aircraft hydraulic lines?
Rarely. Hydraulic lines use materials with dedicated line-tube specifications, such as 2024-T3 to AMS 4086 or 6061-T6. 2014 tube is used for structural and machined parts.
What is the difference between drawn and extruded 2014 tube?
Drawn tube is cold drawn from extruded tube to tighter tolerances and a smoother surface, usually in smaller sizes. Extruded tube covers larger sizes and heavy walls, typically in T6511.
Can 2014 tube be bent?
Yes in O or T4, with generous radii, followed by ageing to T6. T6 tube has limited ductility and may crack in tight bends.
Is 2014 stronger than 6061 tube?
Yes. Typical yield strength is about 414 MPa against 276 MPa for 6061-T6, but 6061 has much better corrosion resistance and weldability.
Do you supply imperial aircraft tube sizes?
Yes. Tube can be supplied in inch OD and wall sizes, such as 1/2 in × 0.065 in, as well as metric sizes.
Need 2014 or 2014A tube?
Send the size, temper, specification and quantity for a delivered quotation.
