Aluminum 6061-T6 6061-T651 6061-T4 Alloy Properties

6061 Aluminum Alloy (Al 6061-T6, 6061-T651, 6061-T4)
Al-6061 is a versatile structural aluminum alloy originally developed in 1935. Today, GNEE supplies 6061 products in a variety of tempers, primarily including 6061-T4, T451, 6061-T6 and 6061-T651. As one of the most extensively used alloys, its major alloying components are magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si). The magnesium and silicon levels in 6061 are optimized to form magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si), making it a heat-treatable wrought alloy.

6061-T6 aluminum offers a minimum yield strength of 35 ksi (240 MPa), which is comparable to that of A36 carbon steel. Its strength, combined with a weight only one-third that of steel, makes it ideal for structural applications where static loading is a primary factor. Although 6061 has lower strength than 7000 series alloys (such as 7075) and 2000 series alloys (such as 2024), it is less affected by solution heat-treating and quenching variations.

Because 6061 aluminum can be easily extruded, GNEE provides it in many product forms, including sheets, strips, plates, bars, forgings, tubes, pipes, wires, extrusions, and structural profiles.

Aluminum 6061 demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical capabilities, formability, weldability, and machinability. It is well-suited for medium-to-high strength requirements and offers good toughness. Its applications span food and beverage containers, electronics and home appliances, architectural components, transportation equipment, and aerospace structures. Alloy 6082-widely used in Europe-has slightly higher strength but serves similar purposes as 6061.

The abbreviations Al-6061 and AA6061 refer to the same alloy. "Al" means aluminum, while "AA" represents Aluminum Association or Aluminum Alloy.

Aluminum Alloy 6061 Properties, Data Sheet & Specifications

The following sections summarize 6061 aluminum properties, including chemistry, physical characteristics, mechanical performance, hardness, machinability, welding behavior, heat-treating information, and more.

Chemical Composition

Aluminium 6061 chemical composition is listed in the following table.

Notes (various standards of 6061 aluminum):

ASTM B209: Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate.

ASTM B211: Rolled or Cold Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire.

ASTM B221: Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles and Tubes.

ASTM B210: Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes.

ASTM B308/B308M: AL 6061-T6 Aluminum Structural Profiles.

ASTM B241/B241M: Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube.

SAE AMS 4025: Sheet and Plate; Temper O; Annealed.

SAE AMS 4026: Sheet and Plate; Temper T4, T42, T451 (-T4 Sheet, -T451), Solution Heat Treated and Naturally Aged.

SAE AMS 4027: Sheet and Plate; Temper T6 Aluminum, T62, T651 (AL 6061-T6 Sheet, 6061T651 Plate) Solution and Precipitation Heat Treated.

SAE AMS 4117: Rolled or Cold Finished Bars, Rods, and Wire and Flash Welded Rings; (AL 6061-T6 Aluminum, 6061-T651).

6061 Aluminum Physical Properties
The physical properties of 6061 aluminum, as provided by GNEE, include key parameters such as density, melting point, coefficient of thermal expansion, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, electrical conductivity, and electrical resistivity.

Notes:

10⁻⁶·K⁻¹ = 10⁻⁶/K = 1 μm/m·°C

1 Ω·mm²/m = 1 μΩ·m

1 g/cm³ = 1 kg/dm³ = 1000 kg/m³

1 GPa = 1 kN/mm²

1 MPa = 1 N/mm²

The melting range provided applies to wrought 6061 aluminum products with a thickness of 6.35 mm (1/4 in.) or greater.

Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of aluminum 6061-T6 are listed in the tables below, which include yield strength (yield stress), ultimate tensile strength, shear strength, modulus of elasticity, young's modulus, and so on.

The mechanical parameters shown below are typical values for varied sizes, product shapes, and production methods, thus they cannot be guaranteed. They are solely used to compare alloys and tempering; they should not be defined as engineering requirements or used in design.

Mechanical Properties of Aluminum 6061-T6 in SAE AMS and ASTM Standard