A heat-treatable moderate to high strength aluminum alloy with toughness greater than 6005A is 6061. Despite having less toughness in the weld zone, it offers excellent weldability and strong corrosion resistance. In addition, it is moderately resilient to tiredness. T4 temper offers good cold formability; T6 temper has limited formability. Ineffective for extremely detailed cross-sections. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494Metalmen has the largest inventory of Al 1100 plate and bar in North America. We can serve our customers with other Al alloys in foils , sheet, rod, channel, angle, tube and pipe.
Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers.
A-1 Alloys
San Diego, CA | 800-266-2569We can provide you with aluminum bars (half round, hex, rectangular, round, square, oil impregnated) plus we handle aluminum scrap disposal. We also perform sheet metal fabrication, cutting, slitting and shearing. Since 1978, A-1 Alloys has been in business. We are a division of ABC Metals, Inc.
Southern Tool Steel, Inc.
Hixson, TN | 800-487-6382Aluminum is among the specialty metals and plastics that we distribute. We don't regard the size, shape or quantity of an order as a requirement for fulfillment. Southern Tool Steel specializes in cut pieces of aluminum wire, aluminum sheet, aluminum pipe, aluminum plate, aluminum bar and tubing.
Industrial Alloys, Inc.
Indian Trial, NC | 800-772-6176Since 1983, Industrial Alloys, Inc. has delivered dependable service and high-quality stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and nickel alloy products in a variety of shapes. We provide custom metal fabrication services as well as drilling, plasma cutting, rolling, forming, welding, and bending services. As a complete metal service and distribution center, we consistently offer reliable quality materials that are properly processed and delivered to your requirements.
A popular type of alloyed aluminum is 6061 aluminum. After aluminum, silicon and magnesium make up the majority of their composition. This all-purpose metal can be extruded, annealed, cold worked and heat treated, and weldable. Instead of being cast, it is typically delivered in billet form.
The Production of 6061 Aluminum
The alloying procedure can start once the composition has been decided. First, billets are formed by cold processing that does not heat the metal at or above its recrystallization temperature after the pure aluminum is fused with magnesium and silicone. Then, it can be manufactured using various techniques, including rolling, extruding, and forging.
Following cold working, 6061 aluminum undergoes several heat-treating procedures, including annealing and solution heat treatments. These increase the metal's capacity to be worked, stabilize its physical characteristics, strengthen its mechanical qualities, and harden its surface. For 6061 aluminum, a common heat treatment technique is T61. This procedure enhances tensile strength and fatigue resistance.
Physical Properties of 6061 Aluminum
Type 6061 aluminum is a member of the 6xxx family of aluminum alloys, which includes materials where silicon and magnesium are the main alloying constituents. The second digit represents the level of base aluminum impurity control. If this second number is a "0," it means that most of the alloy is industrial aluminum with the same impurity levels as before and that no additional caution is required to tighten controls.
The fourth and third digits are only placeholders for specific alloy designations. Type 6061 aluminum has a nominal composition of 97.9% Al, 0.6% Si, 1.0% Mg, 0.2% Cr, and 0.28% Cu. Aluminum alloy 6061 has a density of 2.7 g/cm3. The 6061 aluminum alloy may be heat treated, is simple to shape, is weldable, and has strong corrosion resistance.
Mechanical Properties of 6061 Aluminum
How 6061 aluminum alloy is heat treated or strengthened through the tempering process affects its mechanical qualities. The strength ratings for the alloy will be derived from 6061-T6, a commonly used temper for the aluminum sheet and bar stock. Its moduli are 26 GPA, while its elasticity modulus is 68.9 GPA (3770 ksi).
This alloy is typically simple to weld together and easily deforms into most needed forms, making it a flexible production material. Yield and tensile strength are essential components when evaluating mechanical attributes. The yield strength describes the maximum stress required to distort the part in a specific loading configuration elastically.
On the other hand, the maximum stress a body can endure before breaking is known as its ultimate load. According to industry standard design procedures, the ultimate tensile strength is the most significant design restriction for static applications; nevertheless, it can be useful for some applications that require it. For example, the ultimate yield strength of 6061 aluminum alloy is 276 MPa (40000 psi), while its ultimate tensile strength is 310 MPa (45000 psi).
The capability of a substance to withstand being sheared by rival factions along a plane, much like scissor tears through paper, is known as shear strength. The paper fails "in shear" as the twin scissor blades come together due to the opposing forces acting on the paper's cross-sectional plane. This number is helpful in torsional uses (shafts, bars, etc.) when twisting might result in this type of shear stress on a material.
Applications of 6061 Aluminum
One of the various aluminum alloys that aluminum suppliers provide is aluminum 6061. As with other metals, aluminum is frequently alloyed with other substances to improve its properties. Excellent corrosion tolerance and a max tensile ratio are two advantages of 6061 aluminum. In addition to being utilized in manufacturing furniture, automobiles, aircraft, and a wide range of other commercial and consumer products, it can be produced into tubes, rods, and pipes. Among the heat-treated alloys, this is one of the more adaptable ones.
6061 aluminum is widely used in various industries, including automobiles, aerospace, engineering, and manufacturing. The manufacture of trucks and marine vessels, the building of pipelines, the fabrication of substantial structural components, and the construction of tanks can all include this type of aluminum. It is perfect for creating all sorts of items since it is simple to machine, cut, stamp, bend, spin, and drill. Due to its durability and outstanding corrosion resistance, it is frequently used for floors, ramps, and steps.
