Aluminum Temper Guide

Temper designation describes the metallurgical condition of aluminum and can affect strength, hardness, formability, machining, bending, and final performance.

Why Temper Matters

Quick answer: Aluminum temper describes the material condition after processing. The same alloy can have different strength and forming behavior in different temper conditions.

Aluminum strip selection requires both alloy grade and temper condition. A material that performs well for deep drawing may not be suitable for a high-strength application, and a material selected for machining may not be suitable for severe forming.

General Temper Categories

Temper Category General Meaning Selection Consideration
O Annealed condition. Often considered where higher formability is required. Final suitability depends on alloy and process.
H Strain-hardened condition, commonly associated with non-heat-treatable alloys. Strength and formability vary by specific temper designation.
T Heat-treated condition, commonly used for heat-treatable alloys. Verify fabrication, machining, bending, welding, and final-performance requirements.
Temper terminology should be verified against the applicable material standard and exact product specification. Do not rely only on simplified website definitions.

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