The Aluminum Association Wrought Alloy and Temper Designation System

Abstract The Aluminum Association is the ANSI secretariat to the H35.x standards to which aluminum products are specified. The Association, through the activity of the Technical committee on Product Standards (TCPS), manages this system and registers new aluminum alloys and tempers in accordance with ANSI H35.1. Registration of new alloys and minimum mechanical property values listed in temper registration are the first and extremely important steps in a standardization activity which includes Aerospace Materials Specification and ultimately inclusion in MMPDS. An example of a road map for an aluminum product is provided. This system dating back over 60 years provides the marketplace with reliable information that enables engineers to confidently design aluminum components and assemblies to safely meet their design criteria with efficient and effective solutions. It also facilitates the recycling and reuse of this important metal at the end of its original intended life. This presentation will describe the function of the TCPS and the criteria required for new aluminum alloys and tempers to be registered. That system provides reliable design parameters that enable architects, engineers and designers in all market segments to confidently design components, assemblies and entire structures that can fully utilize the attributes of the myriad of aluminum alloys and tempers that are available.