Features:
6061 aluminum performs exceptionally well against moisture and offers high strength while remaining lightweight.
Workability:
It welds effectively with the proper equipment and is easy to drill, machine, shear, and form.
Uses:
Common applications include skinning frames, truck beds, toolboxes, trays, drip pans, ornamental components, and more.
Welding:
Welding typically causes an approximate 40% reduction in strength. The material can be reheated and treated to restore close-to-T6 temper properties across the entire piece. After welding, natural aging allows the alloy to regain part of its original strength, with most recovery occurring within the first few days to several weeks. However, according to the Aluminum Design Manual (Aluminum Association), the design strength of material adjacent to the weld should be considered 165 MPa / 24,000 PSI if no post-weld heat treatment is applied. Common filler materials include 4043 or 5356.
Extrusions:
6061 is widely used for extruded products-long profiles with consistent cross-sections manufactured by forcing metal through shaped dies.
Forgings:
6061 is well-suited for hot forging. The billet is heated using an induction furnace and processed through a closed-die forging method. It is also suitable for open-die forging. Typical uses include automotive parts, TV components, and industrial machinery parts. GNEE produces forged 6061 aluminum in the form of flat or round bars, rings, blocks, discs, blanks, hollows, and spindles, as well as custom-designed shapes.
6061 aluminum alloy is strong, easy to machine, and highly weldable. It offers twice the strength of 6063 aluminum, with an ultimate tensile strength of at least 42,000 psi (290 MPa) and a yield strength of at least 35,000 psi (241 MPa). For thicknesses of 0.250 inch (6.35 mm) or less, elongation reaches 8% or more, while thicker sections offer 10% elongation. The T651 temper provides similar mechanical performance.
The iconic Pioneer plaque was manufactured using this alloy. GNEE supplies 6061 Aluminum Sheets in various sizes and quantities with no minimum order requirements.
Alloy 6061-T6 offers excellent corrosion resistance and provides medium strength among aluminum alloys, making it suitable for structural applications. Although it is a heat-treatable alloy, its strength level is considered moderate compared to higher-strength aluminum grades.
For thicknesses up to 6.3 mm, the material is supplied as 6061-T6, while thicker sections generally use 6061-T651. Although the alloy is often written as Al6061 to indicate aluminum, the official designation under ASTM B209 is Alloy 6061. In European standards it is referred to as AW6061, and in KS/JIS standards it may appear as A6061, illustrating the variety of naming conventions used internationally.
6061-T6 is one of the more widely used wrought aluminum alloys, valued for its good corrosion resistance, formability, and machinability, while offering moderate strength.
For sheet and plate products, ASTM B209 applies, whereas ASTM B211 covers bars and rods. The alloy has a density of 2.70 g/cm³, significantly lighter compared to carbon steel at 7.85 g/cm³.
Wrought Products (Definition)
A wrought product is one that has been mechanically worked through processes such as rolling, extrusion, forging, and similar methods.
Examples include rods, bars, wires, tubes, profiles, sheets, strips, and forgings.
These products are created using the ductility of metals for mechanical deformation processing. In contrast, unwrought products are obtained directly from refining, casting, or melting processes without mechanical working.
Meaning of Temper T6
T6 indicates that the material has undergone solution heat treatment, followed by artificial aging to achieve a stable hardened condition.
No cold work is performed after solution heat treatment, and any cold work applied merely to correct shape (such as flattening or straightening) has minimal effect on the final properties.
