7075 alloy has been the standard workhorse 7XXX series alloy within the aerospace industry. It was the first successful Al-Zn-Mg-Cu high strength alloy using the beneficial effects of the alloying addition of chromium to develop good stress-corrosion cracking resistance in sheet products. Although other 7XXX alloys have since been developed with improved specific properties, alloy 7075 remains the baseline with a good balance of properties required for aerospace applications.
2024 alclad sheet in the T3 temper was the first Al-Cu-Mg alloy to have a yield strength approaching 50,000-psi and generally replaced 2017-T4 (Duralumin) as the predominant 2XXX series aircraft alloy. With its relatively good fatigue resistance, especially in thick plate forms, aluminum alloy 2024 continues to be specified for many aerospace structural applications Aluminum Alloy 2024 is available in bare and alclad sheet and plate product forms in the annealed state and several tempers of T3, T4, and T8 types.