The melting point of aluminum (pure, elemental Al) is 660.3°C (1,220.5°F). This is why aluminum is frequently utilized in foundries, die casting, and recycling because of its low melting point. It is easily melted and re-used as aluminum melting temperature as compared to steel. That, however, complicates the welding and other fabrication processes since the metal is to be heated delicately. Aluminum is also a hard high melting oxide forming material over its surface, and as such; the process also needs to be controlled as much as the precise temperature is known. In selecting alloys, pour temperatures, and prevention of defects, engineers and foundry workers must know how to select alloys based on melting points and ranges.
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What Is the Melting Point of Aluminum? The Definitive Answer
Pure aluminum melts at 660.3 °C (1,220.5 °F). That is 933.47 K. This figure is among the fundamental characteristics of element 13 (Al) and it remains the same with very pure material. Aluminum is in nearly never pure form in the industry. The majority of products are aluminum alloys and alloys melt at numerous temperatures. These are melted between the solid point and the liquid point. So, discussing the melting of aluminum in factories, engineers consider the type of alloys and their melting range and not a single number of 660.3 0 C.
Aluminum Melting Temperature: Pure vs Alloy Variations
Pure aluminum melts sharply at 660.3°C, but most alloys have a melting range because composition changes the phase diagram. The two key temperatures are:
- Solidus: where melting starts (first liquid forms)
- Liquidus: where melting is complete (fully liquid)
The inclusion of alloying elements, e.g. silicon, copper or magnesium, tends to decrease the melting temperature than pure aluminum. This effect is commonly referred to as melting point depression in common parlance.
This is the reason why melting behavior may be utilized as a crude measure of purity: when a metal melts over a narrow temperature span, then it is probably purer. In case of a broader melting range, it could be having more impurities or more complicated alloy.
| Material | Purity / Composition | Melting Point / Range (°C) | Melting Point / Range (°F) |
| Pure Aluminum | 99.9% Al | 660.3°C | 1220.5°F |
| Commercial Pure (1100) | 99.0% Al min | 643°C – 657°C | 1190°F – 1215°F |
(Values aligned with the alloy-range discussion and purity note in the references.)
Common Aluminum Melting Point Ranges for Alloys (2024, 6061, 7075)
The majority of the engineering aluminum is characterized by the alloy series (2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx, etc.). The families result in trade-off of strength, corrosion resistance, machinability and casting/welding behavior and the aluminum melting temperature range is also altered.
- 2xxx series (Cu): commonly lower melting range; more sensitive to hot cracking in certain processing routes.
- 6xxx series (Mg/Si): widely used structural family (6061 is a flagship).
- 7xxx series (Zn): high strength (often aerospace), but melting range can be significantly depressed relative to pure aluminum.
- 4xxx series (Si): commonly used as welding filler due to lower melting characteristics (conceptual role noted in industry practice; melting-range concept supported by references).
| Alloy Grade | Major Element | Melting Range (°C) | Melting Range (°F) |
| 2024 | Copper | 500 – 635 | 935 – 1180 |
| 6061 | Mg / Si | 580 – 650 | 1080 – 1205 |
| 7075 | Zinc | 475 – 635 | 890 – 1175 |
| 3003 | Manganese | 640 – 655 | 1190 – 1210 |
Factors Affecting Aluminum Melting: Purity, Pressure, and Impurities
Although melting point of aluminum is commonly given as a single value, actual behavior of melting changes with the state of the material:
- Impurities & inclusions: The Thyssenkrupp classifies impurities as being able to make the melting point fluctuate through a broader temperature gradient and a broader fluctuation is an indication of impurity presence.
- Oxidation (the oxide skin problem): Aluminum quickly forms an Aluminum oxide on its surface and the oxide has a much higher melting point (it has been reported to be at a higher temperature at about 2,000 C). This is the reason why, practically, the oxide may be left solid as the aluminum below it turns into liquid, and this has a direct bearing on welding, dross, and cleanliness of the melt.
- Pressure: The Thyssenkrupp reference also mentions that such factors as applied pressure may also affect melting (inclusive to practically relevant high-pressure processes).
The Aluminum Melting Process: From Solid to Liquid
Although the melting temperature of aluminum is rather low, foundries are still faced with large amounts of energy input and quality fines in melting.
- Latent heat of fusion: An interesting point of reference point is the energy of the phase-change latent heat of a substance of solid to liquid, say, aluminum has a latent heat of a few hundred kg. This is important to furnace sizing and to calculate the melt-rate.
- Clean melting: Practice The focus of industrial melting is to reduce contamination, control oxidation/dress and to control the pickup of gases. Hydrogen porosity is a typical flawing agent of drivers, and is the reason why the concept of degassing is so prevalent in the practice of molten aluminum.
- Crucible and contamination control: Process options seek to prevent undesired pickup of tooling/material contact, particularly where recycled feedstock is employed (Gabrian says that recycled aluminum may introduce impurities in the process that cause changes in melting range and performance variability).
Industrial Applications: Why Aluminum’s Low Melting Point Matters
The melting behavior of aluminum is one of the reasons that it is the most common domineering element in a number of high-throughput manufacturing paths:
- Recycling efficiency: Recycling is one of the strongest aspects of aluminum processing, where sustainability takes priority and the material can be melted and reused repeatedly with minimal waste.
- Die casting & complex shapes: The knowledge of die casting alloys shows that the ability of alloying elements to reduce the melting point and produce an interval of melting temperatures is crucial in fill and solidification control during the casting process.
- Extrusion (below melting): Hot working of many aluminum products is done below melting point, where fabrication and processing heat significantly affect material properties, causing property changes even when the metal remains in a solid state.
Related products: Solitaire Overseas manufactures bimetallic products using an aluminum outer layer in extruded finned tubes, showing aluminum’s role in heat-transfer equipment manufacturing.
Comparison: Aluminum vs Other Metals (Steel, Copper, Titanium)
A quick melting-point comparison helps explain where aluminum is ideal and where it becomes a risk:
| Metal | Melting Point (°C) | Key Difference vs Al |
| Aluminum | 660.3 | Baseline |
| Carbon Steel | ~1425–1540 | More than 2× higher |
| Copper | ~1085 | Significantly higher |
| Titanium | ~1668 | Refractory-level heat resistance |
The disadvantage of aluminum in high heat exposure situation is that it is less safe due to lower melting point, which favors castability and recyclability. The melting point of aluminum is less than such metals as copper and iron.
Casting and Welding: Working with Aluminum’s Melting Temperature.
It is at this point that the practical story on the melting of aluminum comes into play.
- Welding problem-oxide vs metal: Aluminum oxide melts at approximately 2,000 deg C, whereas the aluminum mixed with the oxide melts at approximately 660 deg C. This is one of the reasons why welding is hard: the oxide may not melt during fusion and interfere with the fusion process unless cleaning, shielding and process parameters are adjusted properly.
- Casting temperatures: Foundries will commonly pour above the liquidus to assure sufficient flow. Normal pour temperatures usually range at about 700-750degC; commonly depending on the alloy and the process goals (guideline of your brief). The reason behind this is to have mold fill, control viscosity and minimize misruns- yet still control oxidation and gas pick up.
| Process | Typical Working Temp | Reason |
| Sand Casting | 700–750°C | Ensure mold filling |
| Die Casting | 650–700°C | Prevent die erosion |
| Hot Extrusion | 350–500°C | Plastic deformation (no melting) |
The Bottom Line
The melting point of scientific aluminum is 660.3deg C, although industry performance hinges on the knowledge of alloy melting temperature, particularly in large quantities of alloys such as 6061 and 7075. The alloying lowers melting temperatures and forms solidus/liquidus windows which determine the casting, heat treatment safety margins and weldability. Another aspect that is important is to regulate the oxidation: the aluminum oxide may still be solid when the base metal has melted, which makes it difficult to melt and to weld. Alloy selection and construction of more stable foundry processes are other results of engineers who do not regard the temperature of aluminum melting as a number, but as a process window.
Solitaire Overseas is a supplier of certified aluminum alloys in 2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx series with full documentation of melting range and traceability of material. Our technical division offers alloy selection advice that will suit your casting, welding and fabrication needs that will guarantee maximum operation in various thermal processing tasks.
