Aerospace Alloy AMS Specification Reference (Common Grades)
Buyers and receiving inspectors constantly translate between an alloy name and the AMS specification that governs the purchased form. This table lists the pairings that appear most often on aerospace drawings.
| Alloy / condition | Product form | AMS specification | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
2024-T3 | Sheet and plate, clad or bare | AMS 4037 | Aluminum |
6061-T6 | Sheet and plate | AMS 4027 | Aluminum |
6061-T6 | Bar, rod and wire | AMS 4117 | Aluminum |
7075-T6 | Sheet and plate | AMS 4045 | Aluminum |
7075-T651 | Plate | AMS 4045 | Aluminum |
7075-T73 | Extrusion | AMS 4166 | Aluminum |
Ti-6Al-4V annealed | Sheet, strip and plate | AMS 4911 | Titanium |
Ti-6Al-4V annealed | Bar and forgings | AMS 4928 | Titanium |
17-4PH (H1025 and others) | Bar, forgings and rings | AMS 5643 | Stainless steel |
15-5PH | Bar, forgings and rings | AMS 5659 | Stainless steel |
304 / 304L | Sheet and strip | AMS 5513 | Stainless steel |
304 | Bar | AMS 5639 | Stainless steel |
4130 | Sheet, strip and plate | AMS 6350 | Low alloy steel |
4340 | Bars, forgings and tubing | AMS 6414 | Low alloy steel |
Inconel 718 | Bar, forgings and rings | AMS 5662 | Nickel alloy |
Inconel 718 (solution treated) | Sheet, strip and plate | AMS 5596 | Nickel alloy |
Inconel 625 | Bar, forgings and rings | AMS 5666 | Nickel alloy |
Inconel 625 | Sheet, strip and plate | AMS 5599 | Nickel alloy |
Waspaloy | Bar and forgings | AMS 5706 | Nickel alloy |
Specification numbers are widely used references. Revision letters, product form and condition must be confirmed against the current SAE AMS document and the drawing before purchase.
Link material specs to your ERP material master
Optional: we can discuss mapping specification and certificate data into your ERP.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the lookup
Search by alloy (for example 7075), by product form (plate, bar, sheet) or by AMS number. The result tells you which specification family is commonly cited. Use it to sanity check a purchase order line, to prepare receiving inspection plans, or to build a material master cross reference in your ERP. Export to Excel for a sortable copy.
- Match alloy, temper and form together
- Confirm the revision letter on the drawing
- Check certification requirements on the PO
What an AMS specification controls
An AMS document sets chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat treatment, testing and quality requirements for a defined product form. A mill certificate should reference the specification and show actual test values. The same alloy purchased as sheet and as bar sits under different documents, which is why form matters.
Receiving and traceability
AS9100 clause 8.5.2 expects traceability from material receipt through to the finished part. Record the heat or lot number, the certification reference and the specification revision on the receiving transaction. Where counterfeit risk applies, verify the certificate against the distributor chain and test material when the risk assessment calls for it.
Common mistakes
Accepting a certificate that cites the wrong form, ignoring temper differences, and treating a similar commercial grade as equivalent are the common errors. Equivalence needs engineering approval, not a buyer decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AMS the only aerospace material standard?
No. Many programs also cite ASTM, MIL, AMS-QQ or customer proprietary material specifications. The drawing or purchase order decides which one applies.
Can I substitute a similar alloy?
Only with engineering and customer approval where required. Compositions and heat treatments that look similar can differ in properties that matter for certification.
Do the AMS numbers ever change?
Numbers are stable but revision letters change and some specifications are cancelled or superseded, so check the current SAE document before buying.
What should the mill cert show?
Specification and revision, heat or lot number, chemical analysis, mechanical test results, and the manufacturer identity, as the purchase order and specification require.
We can help link your material master, specification revision and certificates inside the ERP so receiving checks happen automatically.
Related Tools
Aerospace Special Process Specification Reference
Lookup of common aerospace special processes and the AMS, ASTM, AWS and MIL specifications usually cited on drawings and purchase orders.
Aerospace & DefenseAerospace Lot Traceability Record JSON Generator
Builds a structured JSON record linking material heat, certificate, specification, work order and serial numbers for AS9100 traceability.
Aerospace & DefenseAerospace External Provider Flowdown Checklist
Checklist of items to include on aerospace purchase orders so external providers receive process, quality, record and regulatory requirements.
Aerospace & DefenseCounterfeit Parts Risk Assessment (AS5553)
A 10-question assessment of your counterfeit electronic parts exposure, aligned to AS5553 and DFARS counterfeit prevention requirements, with a risk band and mitigation plan.
More Aerospace & Defense tools
See all- AS9102 Form 1 Part Number Accountability Template
- AS9102 Form 3 Characteristic Accountability Worksheet
- FOD Prevention Program Checklist
- Aerospace Key Characteristics Worksheet
- AS9102 Form 2 Product Accountability Template
- Nadcap Special Process Supplier Approval Tracker
- Aerospace Material Review Board Disposition Template
- Aerospace Delta FAI Trigger Worksheet
- Aerospace Supplier OTD and Quality Rating Calculator