2011A - AlCu6BiPb(A) Aluminium Bar & Rod (DIN, WNR)

Product Description

EN AW-2011 (historically designated as AlCu6BiPb or AlCuBiPb under older DIN standards) is known as a premier "free-machining alloy." It is specifically engineered for high-speed automatic lathe and CNC machining production environments.

Nomenclature & System Mapping

The inclusion of the "A" suffix (EN AW-2011A) denotes the European standard variant, which aligns tightly with traditional German industrial standards (DIN) and material numbers:

• Chemical Designation (DIN / EN): AlCu6BiPb or AlCu6BiPb(A)

• Numerical Designation (EN): EN AW-2011

• WNr. (Werkstoffnummer): 3.1655

• US Standard (AA): 2011

Chemical Composition (Weight %)

The defining characteristic of this 2000-series alloy is the deliberate addition of Bismuth (Bi) and Lead (Pb). These low-melting-point elements act as internal chip-breakers during cutting operations, allowing machines to run at much higher feed rates without generating continuous, tangled ribbons.

⚠️ Regulatory Note: Due to tightening global environmental and health restrictions (such as EU REACH and RoHS regulations regarding lead content), many applications requiring a free-machining aluminum are migrating from 2011 to lead-free alternatives like EN AW-2030 or EN AW-6026.

Typical Mechanical Properties (T3 vs. T8 Tempers)

For long products like round bars and hex rods, the material is typically supplied in T3 (solution heat-treated, cold-worked, and naturally aged) or T8 (solution heat-treated, cold-worked, and artificially aged) conditions to optimize strength and stiffness before machining:

Performance Characteristics

• Machinability: Outstanding. It ranks at the top of all aluminum alloys for ease of cutting, offering minimal tool wear, low cutting resistance, and exceptional surface finishes.

• Anodizing / Coating: Fair to good for protective hard-coating, though the high copper content can limit the brightness and clarity of decorative clear anodizing.

• Corrosion Resistance: Relatively poor. Like most high-copper aluminum alloys, AlCu6BiPb is vulnerable to galvanic and atmospheric corrosion. Machined components used in outdoor or harsh environments typically require post-process surface protection.

• Welding: Unsuitable. The presence of lead and bismuth creates a high susceptibility to hot cracking, making it a strictly mechanical-fastening alloy.