Aluminum 2098
AA 2098 · UNS A92098
2098 (UNS A92098) is a third-generation Al-Cu-Li plate alloy in the 2000-series family, strengthened by copper and lithium additions with zirconium for grain control and supplied in T3/T351 and T8-type tempers.
Reference datasheet — 2098 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the T851 condition
2098 tempers and conditions
2098 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. T851 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition for maximum forming or intermediate mill processing before re-solution treatment. | 140 | 265 | 17 | 70 HB | 38 % IACS |
T3, stress relieved by stretching | Stress-relieved plate/sheet stock for machining or forming ahead of final artificial ageing; low residual stress and stable dimensions. | 290 | 400 | 15 | 112 HB | 29 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and naturally aged | Sheet condition supplied for forming/stretch operations that will be finished by artificial ageing to a T8 temper. | 300 | 410 | 14 | 115 HB | 28 % IACS |
T851Default T8, stress relieved by stretching | Default aerospace plate condition: low residual stress for heavy machining of bulkheads and ribs with peak-aged strength. | 490 | 525 | 8 | 150 HB | 30 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Slightly de-rated ageing practice used when damage tolerance and toughness are traded against a small strength loss. | 495 | 535 | 9 | 150 HB | 31 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Standard peak-strength sheet temper for fuselage skins and panels where strength plus fatigue-crack-growth resistance dominate. | 505 | 545 | 8 | 155 HB | 30 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Choose when maximum yield strength in thin sheet is required and toughness demands are moderate. | 520 | 555 | 7 | 158 HB | 32 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Highest-strength registered sheet condition; used where static strength governs and ductility/toughness margins are large. | 535 | 570 | 6 | 165 HB | 33 % IACS |
What is 2098?
2098 (UNS A92098) is a third-generation Al-Cu-Li plate alloy in the 2000-series family, strengthened by copper and lithium additions with zirconium for grain control and supplied in T3/T351 and T8-type tempers. Engineers select it for aerospace structure where the strength-to-weight ratio matters: in the default temper it reaches 490 MPa yield and 525 MPa tensile with 8% elongation at 150 HB, mainly as rolled plate for machined structural parts. Limits are low weldability (score 25), restricted formability (25), moderate corrosion resistance (40) and a 120 °C maximum service temperature, so protective coatings and mechanical or friction-stir joining are required. 2024-T351 plate is the nearest conventional alternative when Li-alloy cost or availability is an issue. 2098 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of aluminum grades. It melts at 545°C (1,013 °F). 2098 has a yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 525 MPa (76.1 ksi) — stronger than 95% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
What is 2098 used for?
- Aircraft plate for machined structure
- Structural fittings
- Wing skin and rib components
- Machined bulkheads and frames
- Lightweight aerospace brackets
- Fuselage substructure plate
Advantages
- High strength — 490 MPa (71.1 ksi), better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 35 MPa·√m (31.9 ksi·√in), better than 91% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 75% of aluminum grades
2098 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2098-T851; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
2098 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of aluminum grades. It melts at 545°C (1,013 °F).
Mechanical13
2098 has a yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 525 MPa (76.1 ksi) — stronger than 95% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
Thermal6
2098 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.3 µm/m·K (12.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2098 conducts electricity at 30 % IACS, worse than 73% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2098 takes about 215 MJ of energy and emits 13.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability7
2098's machinability is good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 2098 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 2098
Is 2098 easy to machine?
Machines like 2024-T851 with sharp carbide, high speed and flood coolant; Li/Zr constituents are mildly abrasive and thin machined webs can distort unless a stress-relieved (T351/T851) plate is used.
Can 2098 be welded?
Fusion welding is crack- and porosity-sensitive because of Li oxidation; friction-stir welding or mechanical fastening (rivets/bolts) is the normal joining route.
Can 2098 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in T3/T351 then age to T8-type tempers; peak-aged material has limited bend ductility and marked anisotropy between L and LT directions.
2098 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cu | 3.2 – 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Liprincipal density-reducing addition | 0.8 – 1.3 | 1.05 |
| Mg | 0.25 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Agpromotes fine T1/Ω-type precipitation | 0.25 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Zrgrain-structure control | 0.04 – 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.12 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each)others total 0.15 max | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 2098?
Alkaline clean and deoxidize, then chromic/sulfuric or tartaric-sulfuric anodize plus epoxy primer; conversion coating alone is inadequate for chloride service and bare surfaces should not be left unprotected.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on aluminum parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 2098 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A92098
How much does 2098 cost?
2098 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
2098 — frequently asked
What is 2098 used for?
2098 is typically used for aircraft plate for machined structure, structural fittings, wing skin and rib components, machined bulkheads and frames, lightweight aerospace brackets and fuselage substructure plate. In short: third-generation Al-Cu-Li plate; high strength-to-weight ratio; machines like 2024-T851.
What is the yield strength of 2098?
2098 has a typical yield strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 525 MPa (76.1 ksi) — stronger than 95% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 2098 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades). Machines like 2024-T851 with sharp carbide, high speed and flood coolant; Li/Zr constituents are mildly abrasive and thin machined webs can distort unless a stress-relieved (T351/T851) plate is used.
Can 2098 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Fusion welding is crack- and porosity-sensitive because of Li oxidation; friction-stir welding or mechanical fastening (rivets/bolts) is the normal joining route.
What surface finishes work on 2098?
Alkaline clean and deoxidize, then chromic/sulfuric or tartaric-sulfuric anodize plus epoxy primer; conversion coating alone is inadequate for chloride service and bare surfaces should not be left unprotected.
Can 2098 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in T3/T351 then age to T8-type tempers; peak-aged material has limited bend ductility and marked anisotropy between L and LT directions.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2098?
2098 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 2098-T851 and 2098-O?
T851 is the default condition — default aerospace plate condition: low residual stress for heavy machining of bulkheads and ribs with peak-aged strength. O: softest condition for maximum forming or intermediate mill processing before re-solution treatment. Yield strength is 490 MPa in T851 versus 140 MPa in O.
How much does 2098 cost?
2098 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
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 and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (Al-Li alloy chapters) — Battelle/FAA (2023)
- Third-generation Al-Li plate and sheet product data — Alcoa / Arconic / Constellium (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.