Aluminum 2196
AA 2196 · UNS A92196
2196 (UNS A92196) is an Al-Cu-Li alloy of the 2000-series family used for sheet and extruded sections in T8-type tempers (T81, T851, T8511, T8611) after a T3511 intermediate condition.
Reference datasheet — 2196 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 T8511 condition
2196 tempers and conditions
2196 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. T8511 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As fabricated | Mill/as-extruded stock intended for subsequent solution treatment and ageing, not for structural use. | 250 | 380 | 12 | 100 HB | 16 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, stress-relieved by stretching, cold worked,… | Choose when parts must be formed, bent or machined before a final artificial ageing step. | 300 | 430 | 14 | 115 HB | 16 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked (≈1 % permanent set), artificially… | Sheet/light-gauge condition where only light cold work is applied before ageing. | 530 | 570 | 8 | 145 HB | 18 % IACS |
T8, stress relieved by stretching | Plate condition for machined structural parts needing low residual stress and stable dimensions. | 535 | 580 | 8 | 147 HB | 18 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Generic peak-aged designation quoted when the specific stretch/straighten sub-temper is not called out. | 545 | 585 | 8 | 148 HB | 18 % IACS |
T8511Default Solution heat treated, stress-relieved by stretching, cold worked,… | Standard commercial supply condition for 2196 extruded floor beams, stringers and stiffeners — peak strength with low residual stress. | 560 | 600 | 8 | 150 HB | 18 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, stretched with higher cold work, artificially… | Higher cold-work variant of T8511 used where extra yield strength is wanted at some loss of ductility/toughness. | 590 | 625 | 6 | 158 HB | 18.5 % IACS |
What is 2196?
2196 (UNS A92196) is an Al-Cu-Li alloy of the 2000-series family used for sheet and extruded sections in T8-type tempers (T81, T851, T8511, T8611) after a T3511 intermediate condition. It is specified for aerospace tanks and skins where weight saving and cryogenic toughness are both required, reaching 560 MPa yield and 600 MPa tensile with 8% elongation and 150 HB — the highest strength in this Al-Li set. Thermal conductivity is 95 W/m·K, electrical conductivity 18% IACS and maximum service temperature 150 °C. Fusion welding is not viable, corrosion resistance is moderate (35) and formability limited (30); 2198 sheet is the more formable alternative. 2196 has a density of 2.63 g/cm³ (0.095 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of aluminum grades. It melts at 540°C (1,004 °F). 2196 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
What is 2196 used for?
- Cryogenic tank sheet
- Fuselage skin
- Launch vehicle tank barrel panels
- Extruded stringers and stiffeners
- Integrally stiffened skin panels
- Aerospace structural sections
Advantages
- High strength — 560 MPa (81.2 ksi), better than 98% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 32 MPa·√m (29.1 ksi·√in), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 18 % IACS, worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of aluminum grades
- High embodied carbon — 14 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 35/100, worse than 85% of aluminum grades
2196 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2196-T8511; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
2196 has a density of 2.63 g/cm³ (0.095 lb/in³), lighter than 95% of aluminum grades. It melts at 540°C (1,004 °F).
Mechanical12
2196 has a yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
Thermal6
2196 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 95 W/m·K (54.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 98% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.5 µm/m·K (12.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2196 conducts electricity at 18 % IACS, worse than 100% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (35/100), worse than 85% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2196 takes about 230 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability6
2196's machinability is good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. 2196 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 2196
Is 2196 easy to machine?
Machines much like 2024-T851 with sharp carbide/PCD tools, high speed and flood coolant; Li-bearing chips are reactive — keep fines dry, avoid water-based mist and store swarf away from moisture.
Can 2196 be welded?
Not recommended for fusion welding (hot cracking, Li oxidation, porosity); join by riveting, bolting or friction stir welding, which is the qualified route for Al-Li cryotank structure.
Can 2196 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in T3511/T4 condition or hot form, then age; T8 tempers have limited stretch and strong anisotropy, so bend radii should be generous and grain direction respected.
2196 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | ≤ 0.12 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Cu | 2.5 – 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Mg | 0.25 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Li | 1.4 – 2.1 | 1.75 |
| Ag | 0.25 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Zr | 0.04 – 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each)each | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total)total | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 2196?
Use tartaric-sulfuric or chromic anodize plus chromate-free primer for aerospace corrosion protection; alkaline etch/desmut cycles must be controlled because Li- and Cu-rich phases dissolve preferentially.
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 2196 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A92196
How much does 2196 cost?
2196 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.
2196 — frequently asked
What is 2196 used for?
2196 is typically used for cryogenic tank sheet, fuselage skin, launch vehicle tank barrel panels, extruded stringers and stiffeners, integrally stiffened skin panels and aerospace structural sections. In short: highest strength Al-Li here; cryogenic tank sheet alloy; friction-stir weld route only.
What is the yield strength of 2196?
2196 has a typical yield strength of 560 MPa (81.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 2196 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades). Machines much like 2024-T851 with sharp carbide/PCD tools, high speed and flood coolant; Li-bearing chips are reactive — keep fines dry, avoid water-based mist and store swarf away from moisture.
Can 2196 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Not recommended for fusion welding (hot cracking, Li oxidation, porosity); join by riveting, bolting or friction stir welding, which is the qualified route for Al-Li cryotank structure.
What surface finishes work on 2196?
Use tartaric-sulfuric or chromic anodize plus chromate-free primer for aerospace corrosion protection; alkaline etch/desmut cycles must be controlled because Li- and Cu-rich phases dissolve preferentially.
Can 2196 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in T3511/T4 condition or hot form, then age; T8 tempers have limited stretch and strong anisotropy, so bend radii should be generous and grain direction respected.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2196?
2196 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 2196-T8511 and 2196-F?
T8511 is the default condition — standard commercial supply condition for 2196 extruded floor beams, stringers and stiffeners — peak strength with low residual stress. F: mill/as-extruded stock intended for subsequent solution treatment and ageing, not for structural use. Yield strength is 560 MPa in T8511 versus 250 MPa in F.
How much does 2196 cost?
2196 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) — Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum-Lithium Alloys: Processing, Properties and Applications — Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann (2014)
- Al-Li extrusion alloy data (2196 / 2099 / 2195 family) — Constellium / Arconic (2021)
- MMPDS-type typical mechanical property data for Al-Li products — Battelle/FAA (2022)
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.