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Alloys tempers :
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The temper or delivery state:
It exists several processes to harden a metal:
The first one is to mix the initial metal with other compounds, generally metallical compounds, to make the alloys.
The second one is to work harden the metal (pure or alloyed) by cold forming. That's true for all metals or alloys
whatever they are.
More a metal is formed, more it hardens until it breaks.
When a metal is formed, it is so "hard", then it has no longer its "flexibility" and its deformation ability. For giving back
its "flexibility" and for softening it, just heat up it and bake. The metal or the alloy is so in its softer state called
annealing and symbolized by the letter "O".
When an annealed metal is cold deformed, it work-hardens proportionnally to the increasing quantity of deformation
and work hardening until it cannot be longer deformed.
Between these two states, there are several intermediate work hardening conditions.
Work hardening condition:
The work hardening conditions are symbolized by the letter "H" followed by the figure 1 and a figure that represents
the work hardening quantity, indicating the hardness level.
Between the work hardening condition "O" and the total work hardening one, there are three intermediate states.
For the aluminum alloys, the total work hardening condition is symbolized by H18 and the intermediate states H12,
H14, H16.
For the copper alloys, the total work hardening condition is symbolized by H14, and the intermediate states : H11,
H12, H13.
Partially annealed:
The intermediate work hardening conditions are obtained from an annealed metal by a partial work hardening. To
obtain the corresponding mechanical characteristics to these states, it exists an other process: from a totally work
hardening condition, the product is reheated at a lower temperature than the one of the work hardening.
These states are so symbolized by the letter "H" followed by the figure 2 instead of the figure 1. For example: H21,
H22, H23
Stabilized conditions:
The products obtained by work hardening of which the state is symbolized by H1x, keep internal stresses during that
deformation process, they are "fibrous". That may be prejudicial to their use. To eliminate these stresses, they are
put in a low temperature furnace for making them a stress relief and stabilization treatment. That treatment does not
very much modify the mechanical characteristics obtained during the work hardening process.
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very much modify the mechanical characteristics obtained during the work hardening process.
The states obtained in this way are symbolized by the letter "H" followed by the figure 3 instead of the figure 1, and
followed by the same figure that the one in the work hardening condition in which they were before that treatment. For
example: H31, H32, H33
The third process to harden an alloy can be used only for some alloys; for the aluminum, only the alloys from series
2000, 6000 and 7000 can be hardened by this way that is called age hardening.
The age hardening consists of doing a serial heating and cooling to the product.
Firstly, the product is put during a short time at a high temperature: it is the solution treatment, then it is immediately
cooled : it is the quenching. At this stage, the alloy is soft and for hardening it, it must either keep it at an ambient
temperature during some days (it is the aging), or accelerate that aging by putting it at a low temperature during a
quite long time (it is the artificial ageing).
The strain hardening and the age hardening can, of course, be combined for these alloys; they can so reach very
strong mechanical characteristics.
The delivery states for the products having had an age hardening treatment are symbolized by the letter "T" followed
by one or several figures depending if they are aged or artificial aged, simply quenched or strain hardened after
quenching.
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Aluminum tempers :
Initial states:
F : Without treatment: no age hardening or strain hardening control has been used and no properties limit has been
given.
O : Annealing: it is applied to the wrought products that are annealed to obtain the lowest mechanical resistance
state. It is also applied to the cast products that are annealed for increasing their ductility and their size stability. The
letter O can be followed by a figure. O1 : Annealed at a high temperature and slow cooling - O2: Special heat
treatment - O3 : Homogenized.
H : Strain hardening (only wrought alloys): it is applied to the products of which the resistance is increased by strain
hardening, with or without added heat treatments that decrease the resistance.
T : Heat treatments to obtain a stable state other than F, O or H with or without added strain hardening.
W : Solution treatment : that unstable temper is applied only to the alloys that spontaneously age at an ambient
temperature after a heat treatment. The designation is used when the aging period is indicated, for example: W 1/2
h.

Hardening by strain hardening (series 1000, 3000, 5000):

Hardness level
Annealed
1/8 hard
1/4 hard
1/2 hard
3/4 hard
4/4 hard

Strain hardened tempers

O
H11
H12
H13
H14
H15
H16
H17
H18

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Partially annealed
-

Stabilized tempers
H31

H22

H32

H24

H34

H26

H36

H28

H38
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extra hard

H19

In addition, it exists other strain hardened tempers:

H111 : annealed and lightly strain hardened (less than H11) for example by extension or by planishing,
H116 : is applied to alloys 5000 of which the magnesium content is higher than 4 % et for which the mechanical
characteristics limits and a exfoliated corrosion resistance is specified.
Age hardening (series 2000, 4000, 6000, 7000) :
The alloys from the families 2000, 6000 and 7000 can be hardened by heat solution treatment and quenching
followed by an age hardening that is made:
- either at the ambient temperature (artificial or natural aging),
- or by heating (temper or accelerate aging or artificial aging).
Thanks to these treatments, they reach their maximale characteristics; in addition, it is possible to combine the strain
hardening and the hardening by heat solution treatment, quenching and natural or artificial aging.
The solution treatment, heat treatment at high temperature, can be made in a furnace but for some alloys (especially
the alloys from the family 6000), it can be made during a process of hot working.
Processes
Quenching + natural aging
Quenching + strain hardening + natural aging
Quenching + artificial aging
Quenching + under-aging
Quenching + over-aging
Quenching + over-aging desensitizing to the corrosion
under stress
Quenching + over-aging desensitizing to the exfoliating
corrosion
Quenching + strain hardening + artificial aging
Quenching + artificial aging + strain hardening

Treatment in furnace
T4
T3
T6
T61
T66

Hot working
T1
T2
T5
T51
T56

T73

T76

T8
T9

T10
-

T51, T56 : standardized state only in the European standard NF EN 515 (October 1993).
T10 : standardized state only in the French standard NF A 02-006 (November 1985) that is cancelled and replaced
by the European standard.
The quenching that follows the heat solution treatment introduces in a lot of products some internal stresses that
deform them and that may damage to some processes; so, the products are stress relieved by extension, by
compression or by both of them; the designation of the corresponding states is obtained by adding after the above
mentioned figures following the letter "T", the following figures:
Txx51 ou Txx510 : stress relief by extension with no added straightening after the extension.
Txx511 : stress relief by extension followed by a straightening.
Txx52 : stress relief by compression.
Txx54 : stress relief by combined extension and compression.
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Old tempers designations according to NFA:

The old tempers designation according to NFA is defined as follows:
The letter X followed by three figures (ex X616)
The first figure represents the working out process:
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Figure 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Process
Forged
Die forged
Hot extruded
Hot rolled
Cold rolled
Cold drawn
Cold wiredrawn

The second figure represents the treatment:

Figure 2
0
1
3
4

Transformation
None
Annealed
Quenched + artificial aged
Quenched + natural aged

The third figure represents the hardness level:

Figure 3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6

Hardness
Without hardness indication
hard
hard
hard
Hard
Extra hard
Straightened or planished

Example X446 : Hot rolling + quenching + planishing + natural aging

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Tempers of wrought coppers and alloys of coppers:

According to NF A 02- 008:
Hardness levels
Annealed
1/4 hard
1/2 hard
3/4 hard
4/4 hard
spring

Strain hardened
tempers
O
H11
H12
H13
H14
H15
H16
H17

Partially annealed

Stress relief states

H21
H22
H23
H24

H31
H32
H33
H34

Some alloys may be hardened by heat treatment; the corresponding states although listed in the standard NF A 02www.euralliage.com/tableauetatmetfr_english.htm

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008 are rarely used; the following terms are preferred:

TR : quenched - artificial aged
TE : quenched - strain hardened
TER : quenched - strain hardened - artificial aged
TRE : quenched - artificial aged - strain hardened
These alloys are lightly alloyed coppers such as CuCr, CuCrZr, CuFe, CuCo (TER or TRE), CuNiSi (TER), CuBe2,
CuCoBe and some cupro-nickels ( TE or TER).
Non tempering tempers (Copper with beryllium):
Quality
Soft quenchend temper

Symbol
TB

1/4 hard
1/2 hard
Hard

TD 2
TD 3
TD 4

Special alloys tempers:

TB00
TD01 to TD04
TX00
TS01 to TS04
TM00
TM02 to TM08

Annealing followed by the quenching

TB00 + strain hardening from 10 to 40 %
TB00 + Artificial ageing treatment
TD xx + Artificial ageing treatment
TB00 + Special artificial ageing treatment
The same than TM00 from a TDxx temper

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According to EN 1173 :
Generally, the designation of the tempers includes 4 alphanumeric characters:
The first character must be a capital letter that indicates a characteristic obligatory for pointing out:
Letter
A
B
D
G
H
M
R
Y

Characteristics
Stretching
Elastic bending limit
As-drawing, without mechanical characteristics specifications
Grain size
Hardness (Brinell or Vickers)
As-manufacturing, without mechanical characteristics specifications
Tensile strength
Conventional yield point at 0,2 %

The ranks 2 to 4 correspond to 3 figures showing the minimum value of the specified compulsory property (except for
D, G and M). For D and M, not any other character follows. For the properties of G, the 3 figures indicate the median
value of the obligatory property.
A fourth figure may also be added, for example for some high tensile strength alloys able to be treated at high
temperature.
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temperature.

If a stress relief treatment is necessary, the suffix S is added.

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According to ASTM B601:

Copper Temper Name

ASTM Code

1/8 Hard

H00

1/4 Hard

H01

1/2 Hard

H02

3/4 Hard

H03

Hard

H04

Extra Hard

H06

Spring

H08

Extra Spring

H10

Special Spring

H12

Ultra Spring

H13

Super Spring

H14

Extruded and Drawn

H50

Pierced and Drawn

H52

Light Drawn, Light Cold Rolled

H55

Drawn General Purpose

H58

Cold Heading and Forming

H60

Rivet

H63

Screw

H64

Bolt

H66

Bending

H70

Hard Drawn

H80

Medium Hard Drawn Electrical Wire

H85

Hard Drawn Electrical Wire

H86

As Finned

H90
As Manufactured Tempers

ASTM Code

As Sand Cast

M01

As Centrifugal Cast

M02

As Plaster Cast

M03

As Pressure Die Cast

M04

As Permanent Mold Cast

M05

As Investment Cast

M06

As Continuous Cast

M07

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As Hot Forged and Air Cooled

M10

As Forged and Quenched

M11

As Hot Rolled

M20

As Hot Extruded

M30

As Hot Pierced

M40

As Hot Pierced and Rerolled

M45

Cold Worked/Stress Relieved Tempers

ASTM Code

H01 Temper and Stress Relieved

HR01

H02 Temper and Stress Relieved

HR02

H04 Temper and Stress Relieved

HR04

H08 Temper and Stress Relieved

HR08

H10 Temper and Stress Relieved

HR10

As Finned

HR20

Drawn and Stress Relieved

HR50

Cold Rolled/Order Strengthened Tempers

ASTM Code

H04 Temper and Order Heat Treated

HT04

H08 Temper and Order Heat Treated

HT08

Correspondences of the tempers of copper alloys according to the standards:

According to NF A
Hardness level
Strain hardened
Annealed
O
1/4 hard
H11
1/2 hard
H12
3/4 hard
H13
4/4 hard
H14
H15
spring

According to EN 1173 According to EN 1173

(for pure coppers)
(for brass)

According DIN

R220

R300

F39

R240

R350

R290

R410

F45
F54
F59

H16

F69

H17

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Tempers of cast copper alloys:

Mold sand
Die casted
Pressure cast
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S
C
-

GS
GM
GP

Y 20
Y 30
Y 40
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-

GP

By continuous casting

CC

GC

Y 70

By centrifugation

CT

GZ

Y 80

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