What Are Al 6061 t6 Properties

Among aluminum alloys, 6061 T6 aluminum alloy stands out as one of the most widely used materials in industrial applications due to its balanced performance. It's found in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, electronic equipment, and building structures. What are al 6061-t6 properties?

1. Mechanical Properties

Tensile Strength: After T6 treatment, its tensile strength can reach over 276 MPa (compared to approximately 110 MPa for ordinary 6061-O state), enabling it to withstand significant tensile loads and meet the load-bearing requirements of most structural components.

Yield Strength: It is approximately 241 MPa, meaning the material can resist strong external impacts before permanent deformation, reducing the risk of deformation during use.

Elongation: Maintained at 10%-14%, compared to high-strength steel (which often has an elongation below 5%), it possesses both high strength and good toughness, making it less prone to brittle fracture under sudden external forces.

This combination of "high strength + high toughness" makes it suitable for both load-bearing components (such as mechanical supports) and applications requiring a certain level of impact resistance (such as automotive crash beams).

2. Corrosion Resistance

Aluminum alloys inherently possess a certain degree of corrosion resistance, and 6061 T6's corrosion resistance is further enhanced through natural oxidation or surface treatment:

Natural Corrosion Resistance: In dry, clean environments, a dense oxide film (Al₂O₃) forms on the material surface, effectively isolating it from air and moisture and preventing corrosion of the internal matrix;

Harsh Environments: In humid, salt-spray environments (such as marine or chemical environments), surface treatments such as anodizing and spraying can further enhance corrosion resistance and extend service life;

Comparative Advantages: While 6061 T6's corrosion resistance is slightly inferior to pure aluminum (such as 1-series), it is far superior to the high-strength 2-series (duralumin) and 7-series (super-duralumin), offering excellent value for money in terms of balance between strength and corrosion resistance.

3. Machining Performance

Machining Performance: The material has moderate hardness (approximately 95HB Brinell hardness), making it less prone to tool sticking during cutting and achieving a smooth surface finish. It is suitable for machining complex parts (such as precision gears and electronic casings).

Forming Performance: 6061 aluminum sheet can undergo cold working processes such as extrusion, forging, and bending, and can be manufactured into profiles of various cross-sections (such as aluminum alloy square tubes and irregular profiles) to meet different structural design requirements.

Welding Performance: When using processes such as TIG welding, the weld joint strength can reach more than 80% of the base material strength. Furthermore, after welding, local aging treatment can restore some of the strength, making it suitable for manufacturing large structural components that require splicing (such as shelves and frames).

4. Lightweight

The density of 6061 T6 is approximately 2.7 g/cm³, only 1/3 that of steel (approximately 7.8 g/cm³), but its strength reaches the level of ordinary low-carbon steel. Replacing steel with it in the manufacture of parts can significantly reduce overall weight – for example, using 6061 T6 aluminum alloy in car bodies can reduce weight by 15%-20%, thereby reducing fuel consumption; in the aerospace field, it can improve the payload capacity and range of aircraft. Welcome to inquire 6061 aluminum price from us directly.