Where to Buy 7050-T7451 Aluminum Plate (AMS 4050)
By Jyn Erso
Three suppliers stock 7050-T7451 aluminum plate: NOX METALS, OnlineMetals.com, which carries it to 7 inches thick and cites AMS 4050, and Yarde Metals. Everyone else in the field either does not carry it or does not feature it. That makes 7050 a narrow market but not an uncontested one, so the thing to compare is not who has the metal, it is who can document its melt source, who will tell you when it ships, and who will cut it to the size you actually need. This post covers what 7050 is for, who stocks it, and the questions that separate the three.
In Short
- →Three of the nine major suppliers stock 7050-T7451: NOX METALS, OnlineMetals.com, and Yarde Metals.
- →OnlineMetals stocks it to 7 inches thick and cites AMS 4050, ASTM B594, and BSS-7055. This is a genuinely competitive alloy, not an open field.
- →McMaster-Carr, Speedy Metals, Metals Depot, and buymetal.com do not carry it. Clinton Aluminum does not feature it.
- →7050 exists for one reason: thick-section aerospace structure where 7075 loses too much strength through the thickness and stress corrosion cracking is the failure mode you are designing against.
- →T7451 is an overaged, stress-relieved temper. That stress relief is why it machines to shape without moving, and it is the whole point of buying T7451 rather than T651.
- →Buy on documentation and ship date, not availability. All three sources have the metal.
Who Actually Stocks It
Verified against public pages in August 2026.
| Supplier | 7050-T7451 | Thickness | Spec cited | Certs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOX METALS | Yes | 0.25 to 6 inches, cut to any rectangle | AMS 4050 | Mill certs, heat number, lot traceability on every order. DFARS available |
| OnlineMetals.com | Yes | To 7 inches | AMS 4050, ASTM B594, BSS-7055 | Free MTR by checkbox |
| Yarde Metals | Yes | Unpublished | Unpublished | AS9100 Rev D, certs via portal login |
| Clinton Aluminum | Not featured | n/a | n/a | ISO 9001:2015 |
| McMaster-Carr | No | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Speedy Metals | No | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Metals Depot | No | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Alro Steel | Unpublished | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| buymetal.com | No | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Why 7050 Exists When 7075 Already Does
7050 is not a general upgrade over 7075. It is a specific answer to a specific problem: what happens to a 7xxx alloy when the section gets thick.
- Hardenability through thickness. 7075 quenches well in thin sections and progressively less well as the section grows, so the core of a thick 7075 plate is weaker than the surface. 7050 is formulated to hold properties deeper into the section.
- Stress corrosion cracking resistance. In the T7451 overaged temper, 7050 is markedly more resistant to SCC than 7075-T651, which is why it appears on structural parts with long service lives in humid or marine environments.
- Fracture toughness. 7050-T7451 generally carries better toughness than 7075-T651 at comparable strength, which matters on damage-tolerant designs.
- The trade: 7050 costs more, is stocked by fewer suppliers, and in thin sections gives you very little that 7075 would not. Below about 1 inch, ask whether you actually need it.
What T7451 Means and Why You Care
The temper designation is doing real work here and it is the reason machinists specifically ask for T7451 rather than any 7050.
- T7 is an overaged condition. You give up some peak strength relative to T6 in exchange for substantially better stress corrosion cracking resistance.
- The 51 suffix means stress relieved by stretching. Residual stress from quenching has been mechanically relieved before you get the plate.
- That stress relief is why T7451 holds its shape as you machine it. Removing material from a stressed plate lets it move, and on a large thin-walled part that movement is the difference between a good part and scrap.
- T7451 was formerly designated T73651 and T7651 on older prints. If you are working from a legacy drawing, that is the same material.
The Five Questions for a 7050 Order
All three sources have the metal, so these are what actually differ.
- Does the cert state melt source, and does it tie to my heat number? On a defense flow-down this is the whole requirement, and none of the three publicly market melt-source documentation except us.
- What spec will the cert reference? AMS 4050 is the usual callout for 7050-T7451 plate. Confirm it matches your print.
- What thickness can you actually cut, and what is the saw tolerance at that thickness? A 6 inch cut is a different operation from a 1 inch cut.
- When does it ship? Only one of the three will give you a per-line date before you order.
- Is there a certified drop in my size? On flexible dimensions this is usually the cheapest 7050 available anywhere, because the paperwork is identical and the metal is already cut.
When to Buy Elsewhere, or Buy Something Else
- Your program requires an AS9100-certified distributor: Yarde Metals holds AS9100 Rev D and we do not.
- You need it above 6 inches thick: OnlineMetals publishes stock to 7 inches, which is thicker than we cut.
- You need a small piece of thin 7050 for a prototype and certification does not matter: OnlineMetals with no minimum and no cut fees is simpler.
- Your section is under 1 inch and SCC is not a design driver: specify 7075-T651 instead and save real money. 7050 in thin sections is frequently over-specification.
7050-T7451 is a narrow market with three real sources, and availability is not the differentiator people assume it is. Compare on whether the certification states melt source, whether anyone will commit to a ship date, and what the saw will hold at your thickness. And before you order, check whether your section is thick enough to need 7050 at all, because in thin sections 7075-T651 does the same job for less money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who sells 7050-T7451 aluminum plate?
Of the nine major suppliers we surveyed in August 2026, three: NOX METALS, OnlineMetals.com, which stocks it to 7 inches and cites AMS 4050, and Yarde Metals. McMaster-Carr, Speedy Metals, Metals Depot, and buymetal.com do not carry it.
What is the difference between 7050 and 7075?
7050 holds its properties deeper into thick sections and, in the T7451 temper, resists stress corrosion cracking substantially better than 7075-T651. 7075 is stronger at peak temper in thin sections and is far more widely stocked and cheaper. Below roughly 1 inch, 7050 is often over-specification.
What spec is 7050-T7451 plate?
AMS 4050 is the usual aerospace callout for 7050-T7451 plate. You will also see ASTM B594 and airframer specs such as BSS-7055 referenced. Confirm the cert references the spec your print calls out.
What does T7451 mean?
T7 is an overaged temper trading peak strength for stress corrosion cracking resistance. The 51 means stress relieved by stretching, so residual quench stress has been mechanically relieved. That relief is why T7451 holds dimension as you machine it. It was formerly designated T73651 and T7651.
How thick does 7050 plate come?
It is produced in heavy sections because thick section performance is the reason the alloy exists. NOX METALS stocks 0.25 to 6 inches and cuts to any rectangle. OnlineMetals publishes stock to 7 inches. For heavier sections, ask a supplier directly.
7050-T7451, AMS 4050
Price 7050 cut to your size.
0.25 to 6 inches, any rectangle, with mill certs and heat numbers on every order. DFARS-compliant and domestic melt available.