Aluminum 2A90
GB 2A90
2A90 (LD9) is a heat-resistant Al-Cu-Ni forging alloy in the GB 2000-series family, supplied in O, T4 and T6 for engine and turbine-adjacent parts that need strength at temperature.
Reference datasheet — 2A90 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 T6 condition
2A90 tempers and conditions
2A90 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Use the annealed state for forging blanks or wherever maximum plasticity (18% elongation, 60 HB) is required before re-solution treating and ageing to final strength. | 90 | 180 | 18 | 60 HB | 45 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Choose solution heat treated and naturally aged stock as the intermediate state when parts must still be formed or straightened after quenching and are artificially aged afterwards. | 200 | 340 | 15 | 95 HB | 32 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Specify solution heat treated and artificially aged for finished parts needing the best strength and thermal stability at room temperature and 150–250 °C; elongation falls to 10%. | 300 | 410 | 10 | 120 HB | 37 % IACS |
What is 2A90?
2A90 (LD9) is a heat-resistant Al-Cu-Ni forging alloy in the GB 2000-series family, supplied in O, T4 and T6 for engine and turbine-adjacent parts that need strength at temperature. Default T6 values are 410 MPa tensile, 300 MPa yield, 10% elongation, 120 HB (71 HRB), 140 W/m·K and service to about 200 °C. Weldability (22), formability (25) and corrosion resistance (33) are low, the forging temperature window is narrow, and the Al-Cu-Ni hard phases wear tooling. 2A70 or 2618 are the nearest alternatives for the same duty. 2A90 has a density of 2.8 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of aluminum grades. It melts at 510°C (950 °F). 2A90 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).
What is 2A90 used for?
- Engine forgings
- High-temperature structural parts
- Hot-extruded sections for engine hardware
- Machined turbine-adjacent fittings
- Forged brackets near hot sections
- Compressor and accessory components
Advantages
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 90% 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 — 22/100, worse than 83% of aluminum grades
2A90 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2A90-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
2A90 has a density of 2.8 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of aluminum grades. It melts at 510°C (950 °F).
Mechanical15
2A90 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 74 GPa (10.7 Msi).
Thermal6
2A90 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 140 W/m·K (80.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 21.8 µm/m·K (12.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2A90 conducts electricity at 37 % IACS, better than 58% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (33/100), worse than 91% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2A90 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability7
2A90's machinability is good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (22/100); 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. 2A90 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 2A90
Is 2A90 easy to machine?
Cutting in T6 is good with clean chip breaking, but the Al-Cu-Ni hard phases wear tooling. Use PCD or diamond-coated tools, high spindle speeds and plenty of emulsion coolant.
Can 2A90 be welded?
TIG and MIG welding show a strong hot-cracking tendency and soften the joint, so the alloy is generally not fusion welded. Use bolting, riveting, or friction and resistance welding, with re-solution treatment and ageing afterwards where required.
Can 2A90 be formed, bent or molded?
Suited to hot forging and hot extrusion at 380–460 °C; the temperature range is narrow and needs tight control. Cold bending and cold heading in T6 are poor, so cold form in O or T4.
2A90 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 | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Feforms heat-resistant phase with Ni | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Cu | 3.5 – 4.5 | 4 |
| Mnimpurity limit | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Mg | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Nimain heat-resistance strengthening element | 1.8 – 2.3 | 2 |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Others (each)individual other element | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total)total of other elements | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 2A90?
Sulfuric or hard anodizing gives a dark grey film; for cosmetic parts use conversion coating plus primer and paint. In marine environments the high-copper base needs full coating or alclad protection.
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 2A90 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- GB (China)
- LD9
How much does 2A90 cost?
2A90 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.
2A90 — frequently asked
What is 2A90 used for?
2A90 is typically used for engine forgings, high-temperature structural parts, hot-extruded sections for engine hardware, machined turbine-adjacent fittings, forged brackets near hot sections and compressor and accessory components. In short: heat-resistant 2000-series forging alloy; strength near 200 °C; narrow forging window.
What is the yield strength of 2A90?
2A90 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is 2A90 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades). Cutting in T6 is good with clean chip breaking, but the Al-Cu-Ni hard phases wear tooling. Use PCD or diamond-coated tools, high spindle speeds and plenty of emulsion coolant.
Can 2A90 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (22/100). TIG and MIG welding show a strong hot-cracking tendency and soften the joint, so the alloy is generally not fusion welded. Use bolting, riveting, or friction and resistance welding, with re-solution treatment and ageing afterwards where required.
What surface finishes work on 2A90?
Sulfuric or hard anodizing gives a dark grey film; for cosmetic parts use conversion coating plus primer and paint. In marine environments the high-copper base needs full coating or alclad protection.
Can 2A90 be formed, bent or molded?
Suited to hot forging and hot extrusion at 380–460 °C; the temperature range is narrow and needs tight control. Cold bending and cold heading in T6 are poor, so cold form in O or T4.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2A90?
2A90 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 2A90-T6 and 2A90-O?
T6 is the default condition — specify solution heat treated and artificially aged for finished parts needing the best strength and thermal stability at room temperature and 150–250 °C; elongation falls to 10%. O: use the annealed state for forging blanks or wherever maximum plasticity (18% elongation, 60 HB) is required before re-solution treating and ageing to final strength. Yield strength is 300 MPa in T6 versus 90 MPa in O.
How much does 2A90 cost?
2A90 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
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.