Aluminum 7050
AA 7050 · UNS A97050, A07050 · EN AW-7050, AW 7050 · JIS A7050P · also ZG32A
7050 is a zirconium-bearing, heat-treatable Al-Zn-Cu-Mg alloy developed for thick sections — heavy plate, die and hand forgings and extrusions — with lower quench sensitivity than 7075.
7050 tempers and conditions
7050 is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 11 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
705.0-T1 (cast Al-Zn-Mg, as-cast and naturally aged) | Self-hardening Al-Zn-Mg sand/permanent-mold casting alloy 705.0 used as-cast and naturally aged, giving moderate strength without solution heat treatment plus good machinability and anodizing response. | 110 | 200 | 5 | 60 HB | 35 % IACS |
705.0-T5 (cast Al-Zn-Mg, artificially aged) | Casting alloy 705.0 given a low-temperature artificial age directly from the as-cast condition, raising strength and dimensional stability while keeping the alloy's good machinability, weldability and anodizing behaviour. | 125 | 225 | 8 | 65 HB | 35 % IACS |
Solution heat treated (unstable) | Transient condition used for forming/straightening immediately after quench; must be aged to a T7x temper and is not a delivery condition for service parts. | 220 | 380 | 18 | 90 HB | 32 % IACS |
Solution treated, stress-relieved by compression, T74 overaged | Standard condition for 7050 die and hand forgings needing low residual stress plus good short-transverse SCC resistance. | 434 | 496 | 10 | 135 HB | 40.5 % IACS |
Overaged between T73 and T76 | General overaged forging temper (former T736) where stretching/compression stress relief is not specified; good SCC resistance in the short-transverse direction. | 441 | 510 | 11 | 138 HB | 40.5 % IACS |
Extrusion, solution treated, stress-relieved by stretching, T73 overaged | Extruded shapes/bar where maximum SCC resistance and low residual stress are required and minor straightening is not permitted. | 462 | 510 | 10 | 140 HB | 40.5 % IACS |
Extrusion, T73510 plus minor straightening within tolerance | Same as T73510 but minor straightening after stress relief is allowed — the usual purchase condition for long extruded sections. | 462 | 510 | 10 | 140 HB | 40.5 % IACS |
T74, stress relieved by stretching | The workhorse condition for thick aerospace plate: best balance of strength, fracture toughness and SCC resistance, low residual stress so it stays flat during heavy machining. | 469 | 524 | 11 | 140 HB | 40.5 % IACS |
T76, stress relieved by stretching | Pick for thinner plate where higher strength is needed and good exfoliation resistance suffices; SCC resistance and toughness are lower than T7451. | 490 | 552 | 11 | 147 HB | 40 % IACS |
Extrusion, solution treated, stress-relieved by stretching, T76 overaged | Higher-strength extrusion temper with good exfoliation resistance; choose over T735xx when strength governs. | 490 | 538 | 10 | 146 HB | 40 % IACS |
Extrusion, T76510 plus minor straightening within tolerance | Commercial straightened version of T76510 for stringers, seat tracks and other high-strength extruded profiles. | 490 | 538 | 10 | 146 HB | 40 % IACS |
What is 7050?
7050 is a zirconium-bearing, heat-treatable Al-Zn-Cu-Mg alloy developed for thick sections — heavy plate, die and hand forgings and extrusions — with lower quench sensitivity than 7075. In the overaged T74/T76 tempers it combines high strength with higher fracture toughness and good resistance to stress-corrosion cracking, which is why it is specified for fuselage frames, bulkheads, wing spars and landing-gear fittings. It is not fusion weldable, cold formability is poor, corrosion resistance and anodized appearance are inferior to 5000/6000 series, and it is expensive and supplied mainly as thick plate and forgings. 7050 has a density of 2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of aluminum grades. It melts at 488°C (910 °F). 7050 has a yield strength of 469 MPa (68 ksi) and a tensile strength of 524 MPa (76 ksi) — stronger than 93% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 71.7 GPa (10.4 Msi).
What is 7050 used for?
- Aircraft bulkheads
- Fuselage frames
- Wing spars and ribs
- Landing-gear fittings
- Monolithic machined structural components
- Die and hand forgings for airframes
- Highly loaded military structural fittings
Advantages
- High strength — 469 MPa (68 ksi), better than 93% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 36 MPa·√m (32.8 ksi·√in), better than 93% of aluminum grades
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 40.5 % IACS, better than 76% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 18/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
7050 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
7050 has a density of 2.83 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 91% of aluminum grades. It melts at 488°C (910 °F).
Mechanical12
7050 has a yield strength of 469 MPa (68 ksi) and a tensile strength of 524 MPa (76 ksi) — stronger than 93% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 71.7 GPa (10.4 Msi).
Thermal6
7050 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 157 W/m·K (90.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.5 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
7050 conducts electricity at 40.5 % IACS, better than 76% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 7050 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
7050's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (18/100); formability poor (22/100).
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. 7050 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 7050
Is 7050 easy to machine?
Machines very freely in T74/T76 with sharp carbide, high speed and flood coolant/MQL; low residual stress of the ...51/...52 tempers is what makes deep pocket milling of monolithic parts practical.
Can 7050 be welded?
Not arc weldable (hot-cracking and severe HAZ SCC) — join by fasteners, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding with qualified procedures.
Can 7050 be formed, bent or molded?
Essentially a machining/forging alloy: form only in the W (as-quenched) or hot condition; cold bending in T7x risks cracking, use generous radii.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to 7050. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Excellent72 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.2 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 280 / 340 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 6× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair22 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Poor18 / 100 |
7050 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zn | 5.7 – 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Mg | 1.9 – 2.6 | 2.25 |
| Cu | 2 – 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Zrgrain-structure control instead of Cr | 0.08 – 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.12 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Cr | ≤ 0.04 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.06 | |
| Others (each)each | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total)total | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 7050?
Chromic/sulfuric or hard anodize plus primer for aerospace service; chemical conversion coating (Alodine/trivalent) is common, and the alloy takes paint well but gives a dull grey-yellow clear anodize.
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).
Passivation
Conversion Coating
PVD Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 7050 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A97050A07050
- Aluminum Association
- AA7050
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AW-7050AW 70503.4144AlZn6CuMgZr
- JIS
- A7050P
- Trade names
- ZG32A
How much does 7050 cost?
7050 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
7050 — frequently asked
What is 7050 used for?
7050 is typically used for aircraft bulkheads, fuselage frames, wing spars and ribs, landing-gear fittings, monolithic machined structural components and die and hand forgings for airframes. In short: crack resistant; heavy-duty aerospace.
What is the yield strength of 7050?
7050 has a typical yield strength of 469 MPa (68 ksi) and a tensile strength of 524 MPa (76 ksi) — stronger than 93% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is 7050 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades). Machines very freely in T74/T76 with sharp carbide, high speed and flood coolant/MQL; low residual stress of the ...51/...52 tempers is what makes deep pocket milling of monolithic parts practical.
Can 7050 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). Not arc weldable (hot-cracking and severe HAZ SCC) — join by fasteners, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding with qualified procedures.
What surface finishes work on 7050?
Chromic/sulfuric or hard anodize plus primer for aerospace service; chemical conversion coating (Alodine/trivalent) is common, and the alloy takes paint well but gives a dull grey-yellow clear anodize.
Can 7050 be formed, bent or molded?
Essentially a machining/forging alloy: form only in the W (as-quenched) or hot condition; cold bending in T7x risks cracking, use generous radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 7050?
7050 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 7050 cost?
7050 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 7050?
Yes — 7050 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — Registration Record of Alloys (composition of 7050) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B209 / AMS 4050 — 7050 plate mechanical properties — ASTM / SAE (2021)
- AMS 4107 / AMS 4108 — 7050 die and hand forgings — SAE International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- MMPDS-17 — Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization — Battelle/FAA (2022)
- 7050 aerospace plate datasheet — Alcoa / Arconic (2019)
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.