Aluminum 2027-T4
Temper
AA 2027 · UNS A92027
T4 = solution heat treated and naturally aged
Used when parts are formed after solution treatment and no stretch relief is applied.
Values for the T4 condition
Other 2027 tempers and conditions
2027 is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at 2027.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition for deep forming or heavy machining before solution heat treatment. | 100 | 220 | 20 | 50 HB | 47 % IACS |
As fabricated | Mill stock intended for further heat treatment; no mechanical property guarantees. | 160 | 280 | 16 | 75 HB | 40 % IACS |
T4This page Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Used when parts are formed after solution treatment and no stretch relief is applied. | 300 | 450 | 18 | 122 HB | 30 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and naturally aged | Sheet/thin-plate damage-tolerant condition where the cold work is not a controlled stretch. | 335 | 470 | 16 | 130 HB | 30 % IACS |
T351Default T3, stress relieved by stretching | Standard damage-tolerant plate temper for fuselage panels and lower wing skins — best toughness/FCG combination. | 340 | 475 | 15 | 132 HB | 30 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, stretched, minor straightening, naturally aged | Extruded stringer/frame condition where residual stress must be low and shape tolerance tight. | 365 | 490 | 13 | 138 HB | 30 % IACS |
T8, stress relieved by stretching | Pick when higher yield strength, better thermal stability and improved intergranular corrosion resistance are needed at some cost in toughness. | 425 | 490 | 8 | 142 HB | 38 % IACS |
What is 2027-T4?
2027-T4 is 2027 in the T4 temper — used when parts are formed after solution treatment and no stretch relief is applied. 2027-T4 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 73 GPa (10.6 Msi). 2027-T4 has a density of 2.77 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of aluminum grades. It melts at 502°C (936 °F). T351 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T4 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 45 MPa·√m (41 ksi·√in), better than 100% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 18%, better than 86% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), better than 77% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 33/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
2027-T4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2027-T4; 21 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 2027 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
2027-T4 has a density of 2.77 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 71% of aluminum grades. It melts at 502°C (936 °F).
Mechanical13
2027-T4 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 73 GPa (10.6 Msi).
Thermal6
2027-T4 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 120 W/m·K (69.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 80% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.9 µm/m·K (12.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2027-T4 conducts electricity at 30 % IACS, worse than 73% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (33/100), worse than 91% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2027-T4 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 8%.
Manufacturability7
2027-T4's machinability is good (66/100, better than 66% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 2027-T4
Is 2027 easy to machine?
Machines well in T351/T851 with sharp carbide tooling, high speed and flood coolant; long chips need chipbreakers, and residual-stress-driven distortion is minimized by using stretched (T3x1/T8x1) plate.
Can 2027 be welded?
Not recommended for fusion (arc) welding due to hot cracking; join by riveting, bolting, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding with post-weld corrosion protection.
Can 2027 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or freshly solution-treated (T4/W) condition, ideally within a few hours or after refrigeration; T351 plate tolerates only mild bending with generous radii.
What surface finishes work on 2027?
Alkaline clean + chromate/chromate-free conversion coating or chromic/sulfuric anodize plus primer for service; avoid bare exposure in marine or chloride environments.
2027 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Silow-impurity, damage-tolerant chemistry | ≤ 0.12 | 0.05 |
| Ferestricted to limit coarse constituent particles | ≤ 0.15 | 0.07 |
| Cu | 3.9 – 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Mg | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Zrdispersoid former for grain-structure control | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
2027-T4 — frequently asked
What is 2027-T4 used for?
2027-T4 is typically used for aircraft fuselage plate, wing structural members and ribs, machined bulkheads and frames, fatigue-critical fittings from thick plate, wing skin and stringer stock and floor beams and seat-track supports. In short: fatigue-tuned 2024 alternative; damage-tolerant fuselage plate; good-machining aerospace 2000 series.
What is the yield strength of 2027-T4?
2027-T4 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 2027-T4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (66/100, better than 66% of aluminum grades). Machines well in T351/T851 with sharp carbide tooling, high speed and flood coolant; long chips need chipbreakers, and residual-stress-driven distortion is minimized by using stretched (T3x1/T8x1) plate.
Can 2027-T4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not recommended for fusion (arc) welding due to hot cracking; join by riveting, bolting, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding with post-weld corrosion protection.
What surface finishes work on 2027-T4?
Alkaline clean + chromate/chromate-free conversion coating or chromic/sulfuric anodize plus primer for service; avoid bare exposure in marine or chloride environments.
Can 2027-T4 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or freshly solution-treated (T4/W) condition, ideally within a few hours or after refrigeration; T351 plate tolerates only mild bending with generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2027-T4?
2027-T4 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 2027-T351 and 2027-O?
T351 is the default condition — standard damage-tolerant plate temper for fuselage panels and lower wing skins — best toughness/FCG combination. O: softest condition for deep forming or heavy machining before solution heat treatment. Yield strength is 340 MPa in T351 versus 100 MPa in O.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS-17 Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization — Battelle/FAA (2022)
- Damage-tolerant 2000-series aerospace plate and extrusion product data — Alcoa/Arconic; Constellium (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.