ALUMINUM 6061 MATERIAL PROPERTIES

Aluminum 6061 is one of the most versatile of the heat treatable aluminum alloys. Aluminum 6061 is the major alloy in 6000 Series and possesses good formability and high corrosion resistance with medium strength. Aluminum 6061 contains approximately 95.8 - 98.6 % aluminum with 0.8 - 1.2% magnesium and 0.4 - 0.8 % silicon . Aluminum 6061 has been used in a wide range of applications such as heavy-duty structures requiring good corrosion resistance, railroad cars and pipelines. Alloying content of 6061 is given in the following chart.

Aluminum 6061 Content (% by weight)
Content Wt. % Content Wt. %
Aluminum 95.8 - 98.6 Iron Max 0.7
Silicon 0.4 - 0.8 Copper 0.15 - 0.40
Manganese Max 0.15 Chromium 0.04 - 0.35
Magnesium 0.8 - 1.2 Zinc Max. 0.25
Titanium Max. 0.15 Others Max. 0.15

Some of the important temper designations of aluminum 6061 are T6 and T4 and these are summarized below.

  • T6 temper is solution heat treated and then artificially aged.
  • T651 temper is solution heat treated, stress relieved by stretching then artificially aged.
  • T4 temper is solution heat-treated and naturally aged.
  • T451 temper is solution heat treated, stress relieved by stretching and naturally aged.
  • Some of the characteristics of aluminum 6061-T6/T651 and 6061-T4/T451 are summarized below.
Aluminum 6061 Characteristics
Characteristic Al 6061-T6, T651, T6510 Al 6061-T4, T451, T4510
General resistance to corrosion Rated B (Can be used in industrial atmospheres without protection)
Stress-corrosion cracking Rated A (No known instance of failure in service or in laboratory tests.) Rated B (No known instance of failure in service; limited failures in laboratory tests for short transverse specimens)
Workability (Cold) Rated C (Ratings are A through D) Rated B (Ratings are A through D)
Machineability Rated C (Ratings are A through E)
Gas Welding Rated B (Weldable with special techniques)
Brazeability, Arc, Resistance Spot and Seem Welding Rated A (Generally weldable by all commercial procedures and methods)

Aluminum 6061 Mechanical Properties:

Material Properties of Aluminum:

Reference:

  • MMPDS-01, Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (2003)
  • AA-FMA-17, The Aluminum Association, Forming and Machining Aluminum (1988)
  • AA-38, The Aluminum Association, Structural Design with Aluminum (1987)