Aluminum 7150 · temper · default condition
Aluminum 7150-T651
Properties of the T651 condition, compared with the other 7150 tempers.
Standard peak-aged, low-residual-stress plate temper for machined aerospace structure.
What is 7150-T651?
7150-T651 is 7150 in the T651 temper — standard peak-aged, low-residual-stress plate temper for machined aerospace structure. 7150-T651 has a yield strength of 572 MPa (83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). 7150-T651 has a density of 2.82 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of aluminum grades. It melts at 477°C (891 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 572 MPa (83 ksi), better than 98% of aluminum grades
- Easy to machine — 72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 32/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
7150-T651 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 7150-T651 — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 7150 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
7150-T651 has a density of 2.82 g/cm³ (0.102 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of aluminum grades. It melts at 477°C (891 °F).
Mechanical12
7150-T651 has a yield strength of 572 MPa (83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
7150-T651 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 130 W/m·K (75.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 65% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
7150-T651 conducts electricity at 33 % IACS, worse than 57% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is poor (32/100), worse than 94% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 7150-T651 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability7
7150-T651's machinability is very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability poor (20/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 7150 tempers and conditions
7150 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 7150 overview.
- T651DefaultStandard peak-aged, low-residual-stress plate temper for machined aerospace structure.572 MPa yield · 175 HB
- T77511Extruded stringers/frames needing high strength together with good exfoliation and SCC resistance.586 MPa yield · 172 HB
- T6Maximum strength condition for parts where SCC exposure and residual stress are controlled by design.579 MPa yield · 175 HB
- T6151Near-peak aged plate temper giving slightly better toughness/exfoliation behaviour than T651 at almost the same strength; used on upper wing skins.565 MPa yield · 170 HB
- T7751Choose when short-transverse SCC and exfoliation resistance must be improved while keeping ~90 % of peak strength.517 MPa yield · 160 HB
Working with 7150-T651
Is 7150 easy to machine?
Machines very freely with sharp polished-flute carbide tooling, high speed and copious coolant; watch part distortion from residual stress in thick plate — prefer stretched (T651/T7751) stock and symmetric roughing passes.
Can 7150 be welded?
Not weldable by conventional MIG/TIG (hot cracking and severe HAZ strength loss); join by riveting, bolting or bonding — friction stir welding is feasible with qualified parameters.
Can 7150 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in the freshly quenched W condition or before aging; peak-aged plate has very limited cold formability and large minimum bend radii.
What surface finishes work on 7150?
Chromic or sulfuric anodize plus epoxy primer is the standard aerospace protection; shot peening and clad or Alclad layers improve fatigue and exfoliation resistance.
7150 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 | ≤ 0.12 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Cu | 1.9 – 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Mg | 2 – 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Zn | 5.9 – 6.9 | 6.4 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.06 | — |
| Zrdispersoid former, suppresses recrystallisation | 0.08 – 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
7150-T651 — frequently asked
What is 7150-T651 used for?
7150-T651 is typically used for upper wing skins, spar caps and wing stringers, machined aerospace fittings, fuselage frames and bulkheads, high-load structural brackets and thick-plate machined airframe components. In short: premium 7xxx; higher strength than 7075.
What is the yield strength of 7150-T651?
7150-T651 has a typical yield strength of 572 MPa (83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) — stronger than 98% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 7150-T651 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (72/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades). Machines very freely with sharp polished-flute carbide tooling, high speed and copious coolant; watch part distortion from residual stress in thick plate — prefer stretched (T651/T7751) stock and symmetric roughing passes.
Can 7150-T651 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Not weldable by conventional MIG/TIG (hot cracking and severe HAZ strength loss); join by riveting, bolting or bonding — friction stir welding is feasible with qualified parameters.
What surface finishes work on 7150-T651?
Chromic or sulfuric anodize plus epoxy primer is the standard aerospace protection; shot peening and clad or Alclad layers improve fatigue and exfoliation resistance.
Can 7150-T651 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in the freshly quenched W condition or before aging; peak-aged plate has very limited cold formability and large minimum bend radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 7150-T651?
7150-T651 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.
What is the difference between 7150-T651 and 7150-T7751?
T651 is the default condition — standard peak-aged, low-residual-stress plate temper for machined aerospace structure. T7751: choose when short-transverse SCC and exfoliation resistance must be improved while keeping ~90 % of peak strength. Yield strength is 572 MPa in T651 versus 517 MPa in T7751.
Can FabDigit make parts in 7150-T651?
Yes — 7150-T651 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
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- MMPDS-17 Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization — Battelle/FAA (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.19: Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- AMS 4252 / AMS 4306 series (7150 plate and extrusion) — SAE International (2018)
- High-strength 7xxx aerospace plate and extrusion data — Alcoa / Arconic / Constellium (2020)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.