As early as 1943, aluminum plates had already been applied in the aerospace industry. Especially in structural components such as fuselage, wings, skins, and reinforcements, aluminum alloys have been widely used thanks to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and good machinability. Among them, the most common grades are 7075, 2024, and 2A12.

While 2024 and 2A12 aluminum plates are similar, they also have differences. Let’s explore in detail.

2024 Aircraft Aluminum Plate

2024 aluminum plate is a classic representative of the Al-Cu-Mg series alloys, and one of the earliest hard aluminum alloys to be widely applied in the world. Its key feature can be summarized in one word: high strength.

Especially after heat treatment, its yield strength and tensile strength reach very high levels, enough to withstand the tremendous stress encountered by aircraft during flight.

Advantages: Excellent strength-to-weight ratio, ideal for fuselage skins, wing ribs, frames, and other load-bearing components.

Disadvantages: Relatively poor corrosion resistance, especially prone to intergranular corrosion in salt spray environments. To protect it, 2024 is often clad with pure aluminum (e.g., 1050 or 1070), forming Clad 2024, commonly known as “Alclad 2024.”

2A12 Aircraft Aluminum Plate

The 2A12 aluminum plate may sound less familiar internationally, but it plays a crucial role in China’s aerospace industry. Its composition is very close to that of 2024 aluminum, and it is often regarded as a localized equivalent of 2024.

This means that in terms of performance, it stands on par with 2024, offering outstanding strength and hardness.

Advantages: Provides excellent strength to meet the rigorous demands of aircraft structural parts.

Disadvantages: Like 2024, 2A12 also has relatively weak corrosion resistance and requires surface protection for extended service life.

2024 vs. 2A12 Aircraft Aluminum Plates

1. Chemical Composition & Properties

2024 Aluminum Plate: Higher copper content (3.8–4.9%), magnesium (1.2–1.8%), manganese (0.3–0.9%), resulting in high strength and good plasticity.

2A12 Aluminum Plate: Similar Cu and Mg content, but slightly higher silicon content, leading to differences in properties and applications.

2. Mechanical Properties

2024 Aluminum: Widely used in aerospace for its high strength and good fatigue resistance. At temperatures above 125°C, its strength even surpasses that of 7075 aluminum.

2A12 Aluminum: Tensile strength ~470 MPa, yield strength ~325 MPa.

3. Processing & Heat Treatment

2024: Good formability in hot, annealed, and freshly quenched states. Heat treatment strengthening is significant, but requires strict control of processes.

2A12: High strength and hardness, but slightly less ductile compared to 2024.

Both alloys are prone to cracking during welding, though special techniques can make welding possible. Riveting is a common alternative.

4. Aerospace Applications

2024 Aluminum Plate: Aircraft parts, rocket components, automotive structural parts, and other high-performance applications.

2A12 Aluminum Plate: Aircraft parts, armor plates, mechanical components, and other high-strength applications.

Globally, large aircraft structures rely primarily on high-strength 2xxx series alloys (2024, 2224, 2324, 2424, 2524, etc.) and ultra-high-strength 7xxx series alloys (7075, 7475, 7050, 7150, 7055, 7085, etc.).

How to Choose the Right Aerospace Aluminum Plate

When choosing between 2024 and 2A12, the decision should be based on specific application requirements and standards to achieve optimal performance and efficiency.

Other considerations include safety and environmental performance, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

For high stress/strain resistance, 7075 may be the better choice.

For high fatigue resistance in cyclic loading, 2024 is more suitable.

Aircraft Aluminum Plate Price

The price of aircraft aluminum plates is influenced by many factors, including alloy grade, width, thickness, length, aluminum ingot price, processing costs, shipping, and market fluctuations.

Therefore, it is difficult to provide a fixed price. The most effective way is to contact us directly. We offer one-on-one professional consultation to provide accurate quotations and technical support tailored to your needs.