Aerospace AL · 7xxx
Aluminum 7178
Aluminum 7178 is an aerospace aluminum — compression aerospace alloy. Typical values: 540 MPa yield, 2.83 g/cm³, rated to 120 °C. Available for CNC machining, Sheet metal at FabDigit.
Properties
Typical room-temperature values for the default supply condition. Metric first, imperial in gray. The bars show where 7178 sits against the other 163 aluminum grades in the catalog.
Datasheet
| Yield strength | 540 MPa78 ksi |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 605 MPa88 ksi |
| Hardness | 165 HB |
| Density | 2.83 g/cm³0.102 lb/in³ |
| Specific strength (yield ÷ density) | 191 |
| Min service temp | -200 °C-328 °F |
| Max service temp | 120 °C248 °F |
| Electrical conductivity | 36 % IACS20.9 MS/m |
| Machinability | Very good80 / 100 |
| Weldability | Poor20 / 100 |
| Formability | Poor30 / 100 |
| ISO 513 machining group | N |
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Against other aluminum grades
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 7178 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to 7178. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Excellent80 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.1 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 350 / 420 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 8× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend30 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Not Recommend20 / 100 |
Conditions and tempers
How 7178 is supplied and what each state is for. The default is what FabDigit quotes unless your drawing says otherwise.
| Condition | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 Solution heat treated, artificially aged (T6) | Heavy load-bearing frames, high-stress parts, precision components | — | — | — | — |
Heat treatment and post-processing
Operations FabDigit's suppliers routinely run on 7178, ranked by how often they make sense for this grade.
Heat treatment
| Age T6 (Aluminum) | Solution + artificial age to peak strength |
|---|---|
| Age T651 (Aluminum) | T6 + stress relief stretch (plate) |
| Full Anneal | Restore ductility; relieve residual stress; coarsen grain |
| Stress Relief | Reduce residual stress without changing structure |
| Age T73 (Aluminum) | Over-age 7000 for SCC resistance |
Post-processing
| Manual Deburr | Deburrstandard |
|---|---|
| Edge Break (0.5mm) | Deburr |
| Glass Bead Blast | Blast |
| Laser Mark | Marking |
| Sand Blast | Blast |
| Vibratory Tumble | Tumble |
| CMM Inspection | Inspection |
| Masking | Masking |
| Tap After Finish | Finish Fix |
| FAI Report | Inspection |
Surface finishes for 7178
Coatings and treatments compatible with aluminum on the processes 7178 runs on. Pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing.
Passivation
- Electropolishing
Conversion Coating
- Anodizing Type II
- Chem Film (Alodine)
- Hard Anodize Type III w/ PTFE
- Hard Anodizing Type III
Plating
- Electroless Nickel (EN)
- Gold Plating
- Nickel Plating
- Silver Plating
Organic Coating
- Cerakote
- E-Coating
- Epoxy Coating
- Painting
- Powder Coating
- PTFE Coating
PVD Coating
- DLC
Marking / Decoration
- Chemical Etching
- Dot Peen Marking
- Electro-chemical Etching
- Embossing / Debossing
- Ink Stamping
- Laser Marking
- Mechanical Engraving
- Steel Stamping
- Vibro Engraving / Scribing
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 7178 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Aluminum Association
- AA7178
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AW-7178AW 7178
- Other
- AW7178
Stock forms
Raw-material forms FabDigit sources 7178 in.
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.