1000-, 3000-, and 5000-series aluminum alloys stand up to salt water, chemicals, and weather better than other types of aluminum. They're also the easiest to form and weld, so they're often made into storage tanks, architectural trim, awnings, and fan blades.

With strength that’s comparable to carbon steel at a fraction of the weight, these aluminum alloys are widely used to make structures, shafts, and molds. High-strength aluminum includes 2000- and 7000-series alloys, QC-10, and Metapor.