T3
Solution treated, cold drawn and naturally aged. The standard temper for aircraft hydraulic and structural tube.
Aerospace tube · drawn seamless
2024 Drawn Seamless Aluminium Tube for Aircraft
2024-T3 drawn seamless tube is the high-strength aluminium tube of aircraft hydraulic and structural systems: about 480 MPa typical tensile strength, good fatigue performance and a fine drawn surface. It is ordered to AMS 4086 for hydraulic lines and AMS 4088 for general tubing. Metline supplies 2024 tube in O, T3 and T4, in imperial and metric sizes, certified to AMS, ASTM and federal specifications, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 2024 (Al-Cu-Mg)
- Tempers
- O, T3, T4 (T3511 extruded)
- OD
- about 3 – 150 mm drawn
- Standards
- AMS 4086 · AMS 4088 · ASTM B210
What is 2024 aircraft drawn tube?
Drawn seamless tube starts as an extruded hollow, which is then cold drawn through a die over a mandrel or plug in several passes. Drawing sets precise outside diameter and wall thickness, improves the surface and, for 2024-T3, adds the cold work that gives the temper its strength.
2024-T3 means the tube is solution heat-treated, cold worked by drawing or straightening, and naturally aged. It offers higher strength than 6061-T6 tube with better fatigue resistance, which suits aircraft hydraulic lines, where pressure pulses load the tube in fatigue, and structural tubes such as struts and control rods. Where the tube must be bent or flared heavily, it is formed in O temper and heat-treated afterwards, or 6061-T6 or 5052 tube is chosen for lower-pressure lines.
Because 2024 has lower corrosion resistance than 6xxx alloys, tube is normally anodised or chemically conversion-coated and painted after fabrication, and installed with attention to dissimilar-metal contact at fittings.
2024 composition (wt %)
| Element | 2024 (AA / ASTM, EN AW-2024) | 2A12 (GB, close equivalent) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 3.8 – 4.9 | 3.8 – 4.9 | Main strengthening element |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.2 – 1.8 | 1.2 – 1.8 | With Cu forms the Al2CuMg (S-phase) precipitates |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30 – 0.9 | 0.30 – 0.9 | Grain control, toughness |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.50 max | 0.50 max | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.50 max | 0.50 max | Impurity; low Fe improves toughness |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.10 max | — | Impurity |
| Nickel (Ni) | — | 0.10 max | Impurity |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.25 max | 0.30 max | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.15 max | 0.15 max | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 | 0.05 / 0.10 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | Remainder | About 90.7 – 94.7 % |
Mechanical and physical properties of 2024 tube
Drawn 2024-T3 tube to ASTM B210 and AMS 4088 typically carries minimum properties of about 440 MPa (64 ksi) tensile and 290 MPa (42 ksi) yield for common wall thicknesses, with elongation depending on wall. Typical values by temper are shown below.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation | Brinell hardness | Shear strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 76 MPa / 11 ksi | 20 % | 47 HB | 125 MPa |
| T3 | 483 MPa / 70 ksi | 345 MPa / 50 ksi | 18 % | 120 HB | 283 MPa |
| T4, T351 | 469 MPa / 68 ksi | 324 MPa / 47 ksi | 19 – 20 % | 120 HB | 283 MPa |
| T6 | 476 MPa / 69 ksi | 393 MPa / 57 ksi | 10 % | 125 HB | 283 MPa |
| T81, T851 | 483 MPa / 70 ksi | 448 MPa / 65 ksi | 6 % | 128 HB | 296 MPa |
Typical values from Aluminum Association and ASM data. Minimum values for your size are those in the order specification.
Physical properties of 2024
- Density
- 2.78 g/cm³ (0.100 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 73 GPa (10.6 Msi)
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.33
- Fatigue strength (5×10⁸ cycles, T3/T4)
- about 138 MPa
- Melting range
- about 502 – 638 °C
- Thermal conductivity
- about 121 W/m·K (T3/T4); about 151 W/m·K (T8)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 30 % IACS (T3/T4); about 38 % IACS (T8)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.2 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
Tube tempers
T4 / T42
Solution treated and naturally aged without controlled cold work; T42 when the user heat-treats from O.
O
Annealed for bending, flaring and swaging before heat treatment.
T3510 / T3511
Extruded tube that is stretched; used for larger diameters and heavier walls.
Specifications
Common tube specifications
- AMS 4086
- 2024-T3 drawn seamless hydraulic tube
- AMS 4088
- 2024-T3 drawn seamless tube, wall about 0.46 – 12.7 mm
- AMS-WW-T-700/3
- 2024 drawn seamless tube (former federal WW-T-700/3), O and T3
- ASTM B210 / B210M
- Drawn seamless tube, aluminium and aluminium alloys
- ASTM B241 / B241M
- Seamless pipe and seamless extruded tube
- AMS 4152
- 2024-T3 extrusions, including tube
- EN 754-7
- Seamless drawn tube, EN AW-2024
| System | Designation |
|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / UNS | 2024 / A92024 |
| European (EN) | EN AW-2024 / AlCu4Mg1 |
| German Werkstoff / DIN | 3.1355 / AlCuMg2 |
| ISO | AlCu4Mg1 |
| France (old NF) | AU4G1 |
| Japan (JIS) | A2024 |
| China (GB) | 2A12 (close equivalent) |
Size range and weights
Supply range
- Drawn tube OD
- about 3 – 150 mm (1/8 – 6 in)
- Extruded tube OD
- larger diameters, to about 380 mm
- Wall thickness
- about 0.4 – 12.7 mm drawn; heavier walls extruded
- Length
- 3.66 m (12 ft), 4 m and 6 m standard; cut lengths on request
- Shape
- Round as standard; other shapes on enquiry
Weight per metre is π × (OD − t) × t × 2.78 / 1000 kg (mm). Common hydraulic sizes:
| OD × wall (mm) | ID (mm) | kg per metre |
|---|---|---|
| 6.35 × 0.71 | 4.93 | 0.035 |
| 9.53 × 0.89 | 7.75 | 0.067 |
| 12.7 × 0.89 | 10.92 | 0.092 |
| 15.88 × 1.24 | 13.4 | 0.159 |
| 19.05 × 1.24 | 16.57 | 0.193 |
| 25.4 × 1.65 | 22.1 | 0.342 |
| 31.75 × 1.65 | 28.45 | 0.434 |
| 38.1 × 2.11 | 33.88 | 0.663 |
| 50.8 × 3.18 | 44.44 | 1.323 |
| 76.2 × 6.35 | 63.5 | 3.874 |
Inspection and documentation
- Tensile tests per lot and hardness or conductivity checks
- Eddy-current inspection of hydraulic tube where the specification requires
- Flattening and flaring tests on samples
- OD, wall, ovality and straightness measurement
- Inside and outside surface inspection for scratches, die marks and pits
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate with chemistry, properties and lot traceability
Bending, flaring and protection
Bending
T3 tube bends on mandrel benders with adequate radius (commonly 3 × OD or more). Tighter bends are made in O and the tube is heat-treated afterwards.
Flaring and fittings
Flareless (swaged or bite-type) fittings are common on 2024 hydraulic tube; follow the fitting maker's tube-hardness limits.
Welding
Not fusion-welded; joints use mechanical fittings.
Protection
Anodise or conversion-coat; paint where exposed. Isolate from steel and copper fittings.
Applications
- Aircraft hydraulic pressure and return lines
- Fuel, oil and pneumatic lines on legacy aircraft
- Control rods, push-pull tubes and torque tubes
- Struts, braces and seat structures
- Racing and high-performance vehicle structures
What to check when buying 2024 tube
- SpecificationConfirm the exact AMS or ASTM document and revision your drawing cites; hydraulic tube is not interchangeable with general tube.
- Temper and sizeMatch temper, OD and wall to the design; specify imperial or metric clearly.
- CertificatesCheck the certificate lists chemistry, properties, specification and heat or lot number.
- Surface and dimensionsInspect for scratches and dents, and measure OD, wall and ovality on receipt.
- PackingTubes should arrive capped, separated and cased to prevent damage.
How to order
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, OD, wall, length and quantity.
- Name the standardAMS 4086, AMS 4088, AMS-WW-T-700/3, ASTM B210 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 inspected for size and surface.
- 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
- SAE AMS 4088 – Aluminum Alloy, Drawn, Seamless Tubing, 2024-T3
- SAE AMS 4086 – Aluminum Alloy Tubing, Hydraulic, Seamless, Drawn, 2024-T3
- ASTM B210 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
2024 aircraft aluminium (aluminum) tube: FAQ
What is the difference between AMS 4086 and AMS 4088?
Both cover 2024-T3 drawn seamless tube. AMS 4086 is specific to hydraulic tube with extra requirements suited to pressure lines; AMS 4088 covers general drawn tube.
Can 2024-T3 tube be bent?
Yes, with mandrel bending and adequate radius. For tight bends, form in O temper and heat-treat afterwards.
Is 2024 tube corrosion resistant?
Only moderately. It should be anodised or conversion-coated and painted, and isolated from dissimilar metals.
Is 2024 stronger than 6061 tube?
Yes. Typical tensile strength of 2024-T3 is about 483 MPa against 310 MPa for 6061-T6, with better fatigue strength.
Do you supply imperial hydraulic sizes?
Yes, for example 1/4 in × 0.028 in, 3/8 in × 0.035 in and 1/2 in × 0.035 in, as well as metric sizes.
Need 2024 drawn tube?
Send size, temper, specification and quantity for a delivered quotation.
