Principal elements that are alloyed with pure aluminium to improve its tensile strength and hardness are copper, silicon, manganese, zinc, magnesium and nickel.
Copper is the main hardening element for aluminium alloy by the addition of a small percentage of magnesium, which improves the hardness and strength after heat treatment. Similarly, the addition of a small percentage of manganese and nickel to an aluminium alloy further improves the qualities.
Silicon is the next alloying element which in combination with magnesium forms a hard compound that is largely responsible for the hardness.
The addition of manganese prevents the formation of coarse crystalline structure during heat treatment.
Popular aluminium alloys are duralumin, hindalium, magnalium and Y-alloy.
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