What is temper in aluminum?
Temper describes the mechanical condition of aluminum after processing — how it was strengthened by work-hardening (-H) or heat treatment (-T). For example, 6061-T6 means the alloy 6061 in a T6 heat-treated temper.
Related Terms
6061 Aluminum(6061)
6061 is a heat-treatable aluminum alloy with excellent strength, machinability, and weldability. The go-to alloy for precision machined blanks, structural parts, and aerospace components.
5052 Aluminum(5052)
5052 is a non-heat-treatable aluminum alloy with excellent formability and corrosion resistance. It is the most common sheet and blank alloy for stamping and forming applications.
Annealing
Annealing is a heat treatment process that softens metal by heating it to a specific temperature and slowly cooling it. It relieves internal stress and improves ductility for forming.
Hardening and Tempering(H&T)
Hardening heats steel above its critical temperature and quenches it rapidly to increase hardness. Tempering then reheats it at a lower temperature to reduce brittleness while retaining strength.