Aluminum 6061-T5 square bar

Aluminum alloy 6061

Aluminum 6061  is a precipitation hardening alloy, which means that the particles are dispersed within the metal's grain structure, hindering its movement and strengthening during heat treatment, effectively increasing its strength and durability. Among the major alloying elements are silicon and magnesium, in addition to elements such as iron, copper, and zinc.

Developed in 1935, Aluminum 6061 is one of the most versatile aluminum alloy options. This is because they can be manufactured by many of the most frequently used technologies, offering excellent workability and a wide range of mechanical properties. 

Additionally, 6061 exhibits a high level of corrosion resistance and has excellent weldability. Aluminum 6061 is available in a variety of versions, including reinforced 6061-T6 and 6061-T651 grades and pre-strengthened 6061-O grades.

Overall, Aluminum 6061 is a good alloy choice for projects that require greater material strength or structural support. Some of the most common uses are the construction of aluminum cans for food and beverage packaging, construction of small utility boats, and construction of aircraft components such as fuselages and wings.

6061 is also used in making bicycle frames, motorcycles, firearms, and camera lenses.

Aluminum alloy 6063

Like aluminum 6061, 6063 aluminum alloy counts silicon and magnesium as alloying elements. Aluminum 6063 is widely known for its weldability, heat treatability, and corrosion resistance. The uses of aluminum 6063 are generally not as common as 6061, and its main uses fall within interior and exterior architectural applications. 

Another important feature of aluminum 6063 is that it is successfully used in custom aluminum extrusions. This alloy allows the creation of complex shapes with smooth surfaces, allowing it to be used for premium casework, angles, corners, coves, out corners, bars & visible elements. 

Facial nose and architectural trim. In addition to being used in window frames, door frames, roofs and signs, aluminum 6063 is also used in the fabrication of pipes and tubing and for furniture purposes. The specific mechanical properties of aluminum 6063 vary depending on its properties.

Alloy 6061 vs 6063

When comparing the two options of 6061 or 6063 aluminum, what is generally more important in terms of use of extrusion, strength or finish options? Aluminum alloy 6063 is commonly used in custom extrusions and has better properties for forming, mechanical performance. , 

and acceptance of anodized finish options. If your application requires a higher level of strength, most people will choose 6061 over 6063. For example, comparing aluminum alloys 6061 t6 and 6063 t6, the ultimate tensile strength of 6061 t6 is at least 42,000 psi, and the yield strength is: 

Minimum 35,000 psi. This compares to a 6063 t6 ultimate tensile strength of at least 28,000 psi and a yield strength of 23,000 psi.

How to Choose Between 6061 or 6063 Aluminum

When comparing 6061 or 6063 aluminum for a job, it ultimately comes down to what is most important to the integrity and longevity of the product you produce. Both score highly for formability, workability, and heat treatability, but there are a few areas where they offer a slight advantage. 

For example, when it comes to strength, 6061 alloy has an advantage over 6063. On the other hand, using 6063 in aluminum extrusion facilitates the manufacturing of complex architectural aluminum trims and profiles.

Aluminum is a highly valued material across industries due to its incredible durability and versatility. Because there are many different types of aluminum alloys, it is important to do thorough research before investing in a specific option. 

However, aluminum comes in a variety of shapes and grades, so choosing a grade of aluminum for a specific project can be a bit tricky. The grade you choose will depend on a variety of factors, including the level of corrosion resistance required, the overall strength of the aluminum, its formability, its weldability, etc. 

Determining how these factors rank against each other will help you best decide which aluminum to choose.

aluminum alloyThe physical properties exhibited are greatly influenced by the processing of Al products, and heat treatment plays an important role in the properties of aluminum materials. Forged aluminum alloys are often denoted as “T6”, which is a combination of the letters T + a number indicating the heat treatment conditions for the alloy.

A standardized system has been developed to specify these treatments. The common heat treatment codes for aluminum alloys are F, O, H, W and T, among which the H and T states are the most common. Today we will compare aluminum alloy grades 6063 T5 and T6 for further discussion.

First of all, we need to know the aluminum alloy datasheet. Sheets of these alloys are usually associated with a temper designation to indicate the treatment used to produce the listed properties.

T temper variant designation of aluminum alloy

code	Details
T1	Cooling from high temperatures + aging naturally
T2	Cooling from high temperature + cold working + natural aging
T3	Heat treatment + cold processing + natural aging solution
T4	Heat treated solution + naturally aged to a substantially stable state
T5	Cooling + artificial aging in high temperature molding process
T6	Heat treatment + artificially aged solution
T7	Stabilized solution after heat treatment
T8	Artificially aged solution after heat treatment + cold processing
T9	Heat treatment + artificial aging + cold treatment
T10	Cooled from high temperature + artificially aged and then cold worked
TX51	Heat-treated solutions are stress relieved by stretching; do not straighten after stretching.
TX511	After heat treatment and stress relief by stretching, it is straightened and refined to meet dimensional tolerances.
TX52	Heat treated to relieve stresses and compressed to produce a permanent set of 1% to -5%

 

 As can be seen from the table above, T5 and T6 only have different heat treatment conditions, but at the same time, different heat treatments will produce some differences in the physical properties of 6063 aluminum alloy. Temper T5 refers to high temperature cooling, forming process and artificial aging condition, suitable for high temperature forming process after cooling, not cold working

(can be straightened, leveled, but does not affect the mechanical properties of the limit) ) and artificial aging Al-products. And T6 refers to the state of artificial aging after solution heat treatment, and is suitable for hot forming process after cold working, not cold working.

 

conditions	Tensile Strength (MPa)	Yield Strength (MPa)	Hardness (HW)	extension
6063T5	160	110	≥8.5	8 %
6063T6	205	180	≥11.5	8 %

For the two heat treatment systems (T5 and T6), T5 can meet the corresponding mechanical properties of T6. For example, aging temperature 6063 t5 205℃, aging time 1 hour: 6063 T6 solution heat treatment temperature of 515℃~525℃, water quenching (less than 35℃), aging temperature 175℃, aging time 8 hours.

Generally, 6063 T5 and T6 can be widely used in aerospace and communication fields, such as automatic mechanical parts, mold manufacturing, electronics and precision instruments, SMT, PC board solder carrier, etc. They have different definitions, mainly reflected in their mechanical properties, but there is no significant difference in 6063 alloy products. 

Generally, T5 can meet the basic requirements, and if there are high requirements for strength or hardness, T6 is a more ideal choice.

 

Mechanical Properties of 6061 Aluminum Versus 6063 Aluminum

	6061	6063
tensile strength	124-290 MPa	145–186 MPa
Yield strength	276 MPa/40000 psi	214 MPa/31000 psi
Fatigue strength	96.5 MPa/14000 psi	68.9 MPa/10000 psi
Hardness (Brinell)	95	73
Machinability	Good	Fair
Thermal conductivity	151-202 W/(m·K)	201-218 W/(m·K)

 

 

Nominal Chemical Compositions

Alloying Elements – Percent
Alloy	Mn	Fe	Mg	Si	Cu	Zn	Ti	Cr	Other (Each)	Others (Total)	Al
6061	0.0 – 0.15%	0.0 – 0.70%	0.80 – 1.20%	0.40 – 0.80%	0.15 – 0.40%	0.0 – 0.25%	0.0 – 0.15%	0.04 – 0.35%	0.0 – 0.05%	0.0 – 0.15%	Balance
6063	0.0 – 0.10%	0.0 – 0.35%	0.45 – 0.90%	0.20 – 0.60%	0.0 – 0.10%	0.0 – 0.10%	0.0 – 0.10%	0.0 – 0.10%	0.0 – 0.05%	0.0 – 0.15%	Balance

When comparing 6061 aluminum and 6063 aluminum, they appear very similar in characteristics. However, for applications in which higher strength and a finer finish are needed, 6063 may be a more suitable choice. To decide whether 6061 or 6063 is right for your project, contact our qualified team now. One of our representatives will help you make the best decision for you.

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