Basic information of 6061 aluminum alloy
The heat treatment of 6061 aluminum alloy can strengthen the alloy, and it has good formability, weldability, and machinability. It also has medium strength and can maintain good strength after annealing. The main alloying elements of 6061 aluminum alloy are magnesium and silicon, and they form Mg2Si phase. If it contains a certain amount of manganese and chromium, it can neutralize the bad effect of iron; sometimes a small amount of copper or zinc is added to improve the strength of the alloy without significantly reducing its corrosion resistance; there is also a small amount of copper in the conductive material to offset the adverse effects of titanium and iron on conductivity; zirconium or titanium can refine the grains and control the recrystallization structure; in order to improve the machinability, lead and bismuth can be added. The melting temperature of 6061 aluminum alloy is 582~652℃, and the old brand number is LD30.
Chemical composition of 6061 aluminum alloy (GB/T 3190-2008)
| Element | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Cr | Zn | Ti | Al |
| Content(%) | 0.4~0.8 | 0.7 | 0.15~0.40 | 0.15 | 0.8~1.2 | 0.04~0.35 | 0.25 | 0.15 | margin |
Thickness and mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy sheet and strip (GB/T 3380-2006)
| Supply status | Sample status | Thickness mm |
Tensile strength Rm/MPa | Elongation after break % |
| 0 Annealed state |
0 | 0.4~1.5 | ≤150 | 14 |
| 1.5~3.0 | 16 | |||
| 3.6~6.0 | 19 | |||
| 6.0~12.5 | 16 | |||
| 12.5~25 | 16 | |||
| T42 | 0.4~1.5 | 205 | 12 | |
| 1.5~3.0 | 14 | |||
| 3.6~6.0 | 16 | |||
| 6.0~12.5 | 18 | |||
| 12.5~40 | 15 | |||
| T62 | 0.4~1.5 | 290 | 6 | |
| 1.5~3.0 | 7 | |||
| 3.6~6.0 | 10 | |||
| 6.0~12.5 | 9 | |||
| 12.5~40 | 8 | |||
| T4 Natural aging after solution treatment |
T4 | 0.4~1.5 | 205 | 12 |
| 1.5~3.0 | 14 | |||
| 3.6~6.0 | 16 | |||
| 6.0~12.5 | 18 |
| T6 Solid solution treatment and artificial aging |
T6 | 0.4~1.5 | 290 | 6 |
| 1.5~3.0 | 7 | |||
| 3.6~6.0 | 10 | |||
| 6.0~12.5 | 9 | |||
| F free processing state | F | 2.5~150 | --- | --- |
6061 Aluminum Alloy Bar Dimensions and Mechanical Properties (GB/T 3191-2010)
| Supply status | Sample status | Diameter mm |
Tensile strength Rm/MPa | Elongation after break % |
| T6 | T6 | ≤150 | 260 | 9 |
| T4 | T4 | 180 | 14 |
Typical uses of 6061 Aluminum Alloy
- 1. Application of plates and strips is widely used in decoration, packaging, construction, transportation, electronics, aviation, aerospace, weapons and other industries.
- 2. Aluminum for aerospace is used to make aircraft skins, fuselage frames, beams, rotors, propellers, fuel tanks, wall panels and landing gear struts, as well as rocket forging rings, spacecraft wall panels, etc.
- 3. Aluminum for transportation is used for body structural materials of automobiles, subway vehicles, railway passenger cars, and high-speed passenger cars, doors and windows, shelves, automobile engine parts, air conditioners, radiators, body panels, wheels and ship materials.
- 4. Aluminum for packaging All-aluminum cans are mainly used as metal packaging materials in the form of thin plates and foils to make cans, lids, bottles, barrels, and packaging foils. Widely used in packaging of beverages, food, cosmetics, medicines, cigarettes, industrial products, etc.
- 5. Aluminum for printing is mainly used to make PS plates. Aluminum-based PS plates are a new type of material in the printing industry, used for automated plate making and printing.
- 6. Aluminum for architectural decoration Aluminum alloys are widely used in building frames, doors and windows, ceilings, decorative surfaces, etc. due to their good corrosion resistance, sufficient strength, excellent process performance and welding performance. Such as various building doors and windows, aluminum profiles for curtain walls, aluminum curtain wall panels, profiled plates, patterned plates, color coated aluminum plates, etc.
- 7. Aluminum for electronic appliances is mainly used in various busbars, wiring, conductors, electrical components, refrigerators, air conditioners, cables and other fields.
Heat treatment process
- 1) Rapid annealing: heating temperature 350~410℃, holding time between 30~120min depending on the effective thickness of the material, air or water cooling.
- 2) High temperature annealing: heating temperature 350~500℃, when the finished product thickness is ≥6mm, the holding time is 10~30min, when <6mm, heat through, air cooling.
- 3) Low temperature annealing: heating temperature 150~250℃; holding time is 2~3h; air or water cooling.
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