What is aluminium 6061?
6061 is a versatile, highly machinable, medium-to-high strength heat-treatable American wrought aluminium alloy. Aluminium 6061 is primarily composed of aluminium, magnesium and silicon.
We recommend using 6082 which has replaced 6061 in many applications and is a more cost effective and readily available alternative.
UK equivalent
Please note: the UK equivalent of 6061 Aluminium is 6082. 6082 is comparatively new, has replaced 6061 in many applications and is recommended for use by Penta Precision. Please see our 6082 materials page for further information.
Similar or obsolete designation and trade names
The most common temper is T6.
Other tempers include
- F – As fabricated
- 0 – Annealed to obtain lower strength temper
- T1 – Cooled from an elevated shaping process and naturally aged
- T4
- T4511 – Solution heat treated and naturally aged
- T51 – Cooled from an elevated shaping process and artificially aged
- T6511 – Solution heat treated and artificially aged
Other designations include
- Al6061
- UNS A96061
- ISO AlMg1SiCu
- AD-33 (Russia)
- AA6061-T6
- AA6061-T651
- 6061T6
- Alloy 61s
- AMS 4027
- ASTM B 209
- ASME SB 209
Main attributes
- Excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion and seawater exposure
- Good weldability, with strength reduction in weld zones unless re‑heat treated
- Medium fatigue strength suitable for structural and engineering use
- Available in sheet, plate, extrusions and bar forms
- Good surface finish, toughness, and machinability
Common applications
- Bridges
- Fasteners & hardware
- Truck frames
- Rail cars & coaches
- Hulls of larger yachts
- Aircraft structures & fittings
- Appliance & household items
- Marine & offshore equipment
- Bicycle components & frames
- Gears & driveshafts
- Valves & pumps
- Heat exchangers, heatsinks & coolers
- Hydraulics & pneumatics
- Piping, tubing, & fittings
- Packaging & containers
Finishing & treatments
Aluminium 6061 responds well to both sulphuric and hard anodising. Standard chromate and non‑chromate conversion coatings such as Alochrom 1000/1200 and Iridite NCP may also be applied.
UK stock sizes
Aluminium 6061 is not widely held in UK stock. Penta Precision typically uses 6082 as a functional equivalent due to better availability and shorter lead times.
Technical properties
Physical properties (6061‑T6)
| Property | Value |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
| Thermal Conductivity | ≈ 166 W/m·K |
| Thermal Expansion | ≈ 24 × 10‑6/K |
| Electrical Resistivity | ≈ 0.040 × 10‑6 Ω·m |
Mechanical properties (6061‑T6)
| Mechanical Properties | Value |
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus | 69 GPa |
| Elongation at Break | 10% |
| Fatigue Strength | 96 MPa |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.33 |
| Shear Modulus | 26 GPa |
| Shear Strength | 210 MPa |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS) | 310 MPa |
| Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof) | 270 MPa |
| Hardness Brinell | 93 HB |
6061 T6 extrusion mechanical properties
Extrusions up to 200mm Diam. & A/F, 5mm WT for Tube and Prof
| Mechanical Properties | Value |
| Proof Stress | 240 Min MPa |
| Tensile Strength | 260 Min MPa |
| Hardness Brinell | 95 HB |
6061 temper mechanical properties
| Temper | Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa) | 0.2% Proof Strength (MPa) | Hardness Brinell
(500kg load, 10mm ball) | Elongation 50mm dia (%) |
| 0 | 11–152 | 65–110 | 30–33 | 14–16 |
| T1 | 180 | 95–96 | - | 16 |
| T4 | 179 min | 110 min | - | - |
6061 T6 thermal properties
| Thermal Properties | Value |
| Latent Heat of Fusion | 400 J/g |
| Melting Completion (Liquidus) | 650°C |
| Melting Onset (Solidus) | 580°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 170 W/m·K |
| Thermal Expansion | 24 µm/m·K |
6061 T6 electrical properties
| Electrical Properties | Value |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume | 43% IACS |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weights (Specific) | 140% IACS |
Other 6061 T6 properties
| Other Properties | Value |
| Base Metal Price | 9.5% relative |
| Calomel Potential | ‑740 mV |
| Density | 2.7 g/cm³ |
| Embodied Carbon | 8.3 kg CO₂/kg material |
| Embodied Energy | 150 MJ/kg |
| Embodied Water | 1180 L/kg |
Typical chemical composition
Typical 6061 chemical composition (weight %)
| Weight (%) | Manganese | Iron | Copper | Magnesium | Silicon | Zinc | Chromium | Titanium | Aluminium | Other (Each) | Others (Total) |
| min. | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.15 | 0.80 |
Notes for designers
Although 6061 is reputable for general machining, Penta normally recommends 6082 as a preferred UK‑stocked equivalent with comparable performance and shorter delivery.
In the UK, 6082 is more readily available, cost effective, and offers excellent machinability with standard tooling.
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