The temper naming system deals with material conditions known as tempers. The temper naming system is an extension of the alloy numbering system and consists of a series of letters and numbers that follow the alloy number and are separated by a hyphen. For example: 6061-T6, 6063-T4, 5052-H32, 5083-H112.
F Same manufacturing – suitable for products in the forming process that do not use special heat quenching or strain hardening condition control
O Annealing – for products that have been heated to create a minimum strength condition to increase ductility and dimensional stability
H Strain Hardening - For products whose strength is increased by cold working. Strain hardening can be followed by supplementary heat treatment, which can reduce strength to some extent. "H" is always followed by two or more digits
W Solution Heat Treatment - An unstable temper suitable only for alloys that have been naturally aged at room temperature after solution heat treatment
T Heat Treat - Other than F, O, or H, produces a stable temper. Applicable to products that have been heat treated, sometimes with strain hardening, to produce a stable temper. "T" is always followed by one or more digits
There are two subdivisions within basic temper nomenclature: one for "H" temper - strain hardening, and one for "T" temper - heat treatment nomenclature.
