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››There are two types of medium-strength aluminum alloys - work hardening (5xxx series) aluminum alloys and precipitation hardening (6xxx series).

5xxx Series. The major alloying element in 5xxx series aluminum alloys is magnesium and usually also contains some manganese as a secondary alloying elements. 5xxx series aluminum alloys can not be hardened by heat treatment. They can be hardened only by plastic deformation called work hardening or strain hardening. Magnesium is considerably more effective than manganese as a hardener, about 0.8% Mg being equal to 1.25% Mn, and it can be added in considerably higher quantities.

TABLE 1. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 5083 AND 5086 ALUMINUM ALLOYS.

*A = Excellent. B = Good. C = Fair. D = Poor

6xxx Series. Two major alloying elements in the 6xxx series aluminum alloys are silicon and magnesium approximately in the proportions required for formation of magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), thus making them heat treatable. Although not as strong as most 2xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys, 6xxx series alloys have good formability, weldability, machinability, and corrosion resistance, with medium strength.

TABLE 2. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 6061 AND 6066 ALUMINUM ALLOYS.

*A = Excellent. B = Good. C = Fair. D = Poor

Forming processes for medium-strength aluminum alloys:
• Casting：This is a traditional and popular process for aluminum alloys forming. According to
   the mold materials, the casting process can be divided into sand casting, ceramic mold
   casting, metal mold casting and so on. According to the way of liquid metal flow into the
   mold, the casting process also can be divided into gravity casting, die casting (Liquid metal
   is pressured and flows into the mold), centrifugal casting(The pressure push metal flow into
   mold come from centrifugal force.).

• Extrusion： A preheat billet is pushed or drawn through a die of the desired cross-section.
   Because the billet is forced only by compressive and shear stress, extrusion can create very
   complex cross-sections and deform a high strength but brittle alloys. With different
   temperature, extrusion can be divided into cold extrusion and hot extrusion.

• Forging：A process to deform and shape the alloys between two pieces of molds. With
   different die design and process, the forging process can be divided into open-die forging,
   close-die forging, rolling forging, ring rolling and so on. According to the temperature, the
   forging process can be divided into cold forging and hot forging.

• Press：Press is a process very similar to forging. There is also two pieces of molds to shape
   the alloys. The main difference between them is the press usually is to work sheet and plate
   materials, but the forging is to work bulk materials.