24 July 2021 6000 Series Aluminum Alloy
6061 Aluminum Alloy Plate
6061 aluminum is a heat-strengthened alloy with good formability, weldability, machinability, and medium strength. It can still maintain good operability after annealing. The main alloying elements of 6061 aluminum are Magnesium and silicon form the Mg2Si phase. If it contains a certain amount of manganese and chromium, it can neutralize the bad effects of iron; sometimes a small amount of copper or zinc is added to increase the strength of the alloy without significantly reducing its corrosion resistance; there is a small amount of conductive materials In order to offset the adverse effects of titanium and iron on electrical conductivity; zirconium or titanium can refine the grain and control the recrystallized structure; in order to improve the machinability, lead and bismuth can be added. Mg2Si is solid-dissolved in aluminum, which makes the alloy have artificial age hardening function.
6061 (Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation A96061) is a precipitation-hardened aluminium alloy, containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements. Originally called "Alloy 61S", it was developed in 1935. It has good mechanical properties, exhibits good weldability, and is very commonly extruded (second in popularity only to 6063). It is one of the most common alloys of aluminum for general-purpose use.
6061 aluminium alloy is a medium to high strength heat-treatable alloy with a strength higher than 6005A. It has very good corrosion resistance and very good weldability although reduced strength in the weld zone. It has medium fatigue strength. It has good cold formability in the temper T4, but limited formability in T6 temper. Not suitable for very complex cross sections.
It is commonly available in pre-tempered grades such as 6061-O (annealed), tempered grades such as 6061-T6 (solutionized and artificially aged) and 6061-T651 (solutionized, stress-relieved stretched and artificially aged).
Chemical Composition:
| Chemical Element | Weight % |
|---|---|
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.0 - 0.15 |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.0 - 0.70 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.80 - 1.20 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.40 - 0.80 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.15 - 0.40 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.0 - 0.25 |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.0 - 0.15 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.04 - 0.35 |
| Other (Each) | 0.0 - 0.05 |
| Others (Total) | 0.0 - 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Balance |
Mechanical Properties:
| Mechanical Properties | Metric | English | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness, Brinell | 95 | 95 | AA; Typical; 500 g load; 10 mm ball |
| Hardness, Knoop | 120 | 120 | Converted from Brinell Hardness Value |
| Hardness, Rockwell A | 40 | 40 | Converted from Brinell Hardness Value |
| Hardness, Rockwell B | 60 | 60 | Converted from Brinell Hardness Value |
| Hardness, Vickers | 107 | 107 | Converted from Brinell Hardness Value |
| Tensile Strength, Ultimate | 310 MPa | 45000 psi | AA; Typical |
| 24.0 MPa @Temperature 371 °C | 3480 psi @Temperature 700 °F | ||
| 32.0 MPa @Temperature 316 °C | 4640 psi @Temperature 601 °F | ||
| 51.0 MPa @Temperature 260 °C | 7400 psi @Temperature 500 °F | ||
| 131 MPa @Temperature 204 °C | 19000 psi @Temperature 399 °F | ||
| 234 MPa @Temperature 149 °C | 33900 psi @Temperature 300 °F | ||
| 290 MPa @Temperature 100 °C | 42100 psi @Temperature 212 °F | ||
| 310 MPa @Temperature 24.0 °C | 45000 psi @Temperature 75.2 °F | ||
| 324 MPa @Temperature -28.0 °C | 47000 psi @Temperature -18.4 °F | ||
| 338 MPa @Temperature -80.0 °C | 49000 psi @Temperature -112 °F | ||
| 414 MPa @Temperature -196 °C | 60000 psi @Temperature -321 °F | ||
| Tensile Strength, Yield | 276 MPa | 40000 psi | AA; Typical |
| 12.0 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 371 °C | 1740 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 700 °F | ||
| 19.0 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 316 °C | 2760 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 601 °F | ||
| 34.0 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 260 °C | 4930 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 500 °F | ||
| 103 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 204 °C | 14900 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 399 °F | ||
| 214 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 149 °C | 31000 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 300 °F | ||
| 262 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 100 °C | 38000 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 212 °F | ||
| 276 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 24.0 °C | 40000 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature 75.2 °F | ||
| 283 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -28.0 °C | 41000 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -18.4 °F | ||
| 290 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -80.0 °C | 42100 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -112 °F | ||
| 324 MPa @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -196 °C | 47000 psi @Strain 0.200 %, Temperature -321 °F | ||
| Elongation at Break | 17 % @Temperature -28.0 °C | 17 % @Temperature -18.4 °F | |
| 17 % @Temperature 24.0 °C | 17 % @Temperature 75.2 °F | ||
| 18 % @Temperature -80.0 °C | 18 % @Temperature -112 °F | ||
| 18 % @Temperature 100 °C | 18 % @Temperature 212 °F | ||
| 20 % @Temperature 149 °C | 20 % @Temperature 300 °F | ||
| 22 % @Temperature -196 °C | 22 % @Temperature -321 °F | ||
| 28 % @Temperature 204 °C | 28 % @Temperature 399 °F | ||
| 60 % @Temperature 260 °C | 60 % @Temperature 500 °F | ||
| 85 % @Temperature 316 °C | 85 % @Temperature 601 °F | ||
| 95 % @Temperature 371 °C | 95 % @Temperature 700 °F | ||
| 12 % @Thickness 1.59 mm | 12 % @Thickness 0.0625 in | AA; Typical | |
| 17 % @Diameter 12.7 mm | 17 % @Diameter 0.500 in | AA; Typical | |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 68.9 GPa | 10000 ksi | AA; Typical; Average of tension and compression. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tensile modulus. |
| Notched Tensile Strength | 324 MPa | 47000 psi | 2.5 cm width x 0.16 cm thick side-notched specimen, Kt = 17. |
| Ultimate Bearing Strength | 607 MPa | 88000 psi | Edge distance/pin diameter = 2.0 |
| Bearing Yield Strength | 386 MPa | 56000 psi | Edge distance/pin diameter = 2.0 |
| Poissons Ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 | Estimated from trends in similar Al alloys. |
| Fatigue Strength | 96.5 MPa @# of Cycles 5.00e+8 | 14000 psi @# of Cycles 5.00e+8 | completely reversed stress; RR Moore machine/specimen |
| Fracture Toughness | 29.0 MPa-m½ | 26.4 ksi-in½ | KIC; TL orientation. |
| Machinability | 50 % | 50 % | 0-100 Scale of Aluminum Alloys |
| Shear Modulus | 26.0 GPa | 3770 ksi | Estimated from similar Al alloys. |
| Shear Strength | 207 MPa | 30000 psi | AA; Typical |
Thermal Properties:
| Thermal Properties | Metric | English | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTE, linear | 23.6 µm/m-°C @Temperature 20.0 - 100 °C | 13.1 µin/in-°F @Temperature 68.0 - 212 °F | AA; Typical; average over range |
| 25.2 µm/m-°C @Temperature 20.0 - 300 °C | 14.0 µin/in-°F @Temperature 68.0 - 572 °F | ||
| Specific Heat Capacity | 0.896 J/g-°C | 0.214 BTU/lb-°F | |
| Thermal Conductivity | 167 W/m-K | 1160 BTU-in/hr-ft²-°F | AA; Typical at 77°F |
| Melting Point | 582 - 651.7 °C | 1080 - 1205 °F | AA; Typical range based on typical composition for wrought products >= 1/4 in. thickness. Eutectic melting can be eliminated by homogenization. |
| Solidus | 582 °C | 1080 °F | AA; Typical |
| Liquidus | 651.7 °C | 1205 °F | AA; Typical |