Aluminum 6063: Everything You Need to Know

What is Aluminum 6063?

Aluminum 6063 is a widely used aluminum alloy that belongs to the wrought aluminum-magnesium-silicon family. Its excellent extrudability and formability identify it. This alloy is commonly used in architectural applications, windows and door frames, and various structural applications. It is also applied in manufacturing complex shapes for the industry’s transportation, electronics, machinery, and consumer goods.

Chemical Composition of 6063

The chemical composition of Aluminum 6063 is as follows:

Magnesium (Mg) – 0.45-0.90%
Silicon (Si) – 0.20-0.60%
Iron (Fe) – 0.35% max
Copper (Cu) – 0.10% max
Zinc (Zn) – 0.10% max
Manganese (Mn) – 0.10% max
Titanium (Ti) – 0.10% max
Chromium (Cr) – 0.10% max
Vanadium (V) – 0.05% max
Other elements – 0.05% max

These elements play a significant role in defining the properties of Aluminum 6063. Magnesium and silicon, in particular, are crucial in achieving their impressive extrudability and formability.

Mechanical Properties of 6063

Aluminum 6063 exhibits excellent mechanical properties, making it a perfect fit for structural applications. It is one of the strongest alloys with an ultimate tensile strength of 170 MPa and a yield strength of 145 MPa. It has a minimum elongation of 12%, which shows a high degree of formability and flexibility. Aluminum 6063 also has excellent corrosion resistance and can withstand exposure to weather and water.

Physical Properties of 6063

In addition to its mechanical properties, Aluminum 6063 has excellent physical properties. Its density is 2.68 g/cm3, which means it is relatively lightweight compared to other commonly used metals. Aluminum 6063 also exhibits excellent thermal conductivity, which makes it an ideal choice for heat sinks and various electronic components. Its electrical conductivity is around 46.5–50.5 MS/m, comparable to pure Aluminum.

Differences Between Al 6061 and Al 6063

Aluminum 6061 and Aluminum 6063 are two of the most commonly used aluminum alloys with almost identical chemical compositions. However, there are some essential differences between them. For instance, Aluminum 6061 has higher strength, hardness, and machinability than Aluminum 6063. On the other hand, Aluminum 6063 has better extrudability and formability than Aluminum 6061. Aluminum 6061 is more suitable for applications that require higher strength and hardness, such as in aircraft frames. In contrast, Aluminum 6063 is ideal for architectural and structural applications due to its excellent formability and extrudability.

In Conclusion

In summary, Aluminum 6063 is a widely used aluminum alloy with excellent extrudability, formability, mechanical, and physical properties. Its chemical composition is carefully controlled to obtain its impressive properties. Although it has some similarities with Aluminum 6061, they differ significantly in their mechanical properties, making them suitable for different applications. As a materials engineer, knowledge of Aluminum 6063 is essential due to its broad range of applications.

Applications of Aluminum 6063

Aluminum 6063 is a widely used aluminum alloy known for its excellent extrudability and welding ability. This alloy comprises Aluminum, magnesium, and silicon, making it ideal for various applications. In this article, we will explore the different applications of Aluminum 6063, including its use in architectural applications, window frames, door frames, surface finish, and weldability.

Architectural Applications

Aluminum 6063 is a popular choice for architectural applications due to its lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties. This alloy is used to construct façades, skylights, and lighting fixtures in commercial and residential buildings. Its excellent aesthetic appeal also makes it ideal for interior design and decoration.

Window Frames

Window frames made from Aluminum 6063 offer numerous advantages, including high strength, excellent durability, and low maintenance requirements. This alloy is easy to fabricate, allowing for custom-made windows tailored to specific needs. Moreover, Aluminum 6063 window frames are lightweight, making them ideal for high-rise buildings.

Door Frames

Like window frames, door frames made from Aluminum 6063 are durable, lightweight, and easy to maintain. Additionally, this alloy offers excellent thermal insulation and weather resistance, making it ideal for use in exterior door frames. Its excellent weldability allows for producing complex door frames that can withstand heavy usage.

Surface Finish

The surface finish of Aluminum 6063 can be customized to suit specific needs. This alloy can be anodized, painted, or powder-coated to enhance its aesthetic appeal and corrosion resistance. Anodized Aluminum 6063 offers high durability, scratch resistance, and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use in outdoor applications.

Weldability of Aluminum 6063

Aluminum 6063 is known for its excellent weldability, making it popular in various industries, including construction, automotive, and aerospace. This alloy can be readily welded using different techniques, including TIG, MIG, and resistance welding. Its excellent weldability allows for the production of complex structures and joints, ensuring high-quality finished products.

In conclusion, Aluminum 6063 is an excellent alloy with numerous advantages, including strength, durability, corrosion resistance, and weldability. Its versatility and customizable surface finish make it ideal for various applications, including architectural, window, door, and surface finishes. Despite its many benefits, Aluminum 6063 has limitations, such as its relatively low strength compared to other alloys. However, its use has become widespread due to its excellent properties and the increasing need for lightweight and durable materials in modern applications.

Aluminum 6063 Alloy

Aluminum 6063 is a wrought aluminum alloy widely used in construction due to its excellent mechanical and physical properties. This alloy primarily comprises Aluminum, with small amounts of other elements such as silicon, magnesium, and copper. It has a 2.7 g/cm³ density, a melting point of 595-650°C, and a thermal conductivity of 201 W/(m*K). Aluminum 6063 is a non-heat-treatable alloy with good corrosion resistance and is easily formed, welded, and machined. Its most common applications include architectural and structural frameworks, and window and door frames.

Extrusion of Aluminum 6063

Extrusion is the process of shaping a material by forcing it through a die of a specific shape. Aluminum 6063 is easily extruded due to its good formability, low density, and excellent surface finish. There are two extrusion methods for Aluminum: hot extrusion and cold extrusion. Hot extrusion is used for materials that can tolerate high temperatures and require high pressures to force the metal through the die. On the other hand, cold extrusion is used for softer materials and does not require high temperatures or pressures. The extrusion process for Aluminum 6063 allows for creating complex shapes and designs, making it a preferred choice for constructing architectural and structural frameworks.

Temper and Temper 6063

Temper is a term used to describe the hardness of an aluminum alloy, which is achieved by applying heat treatment or strain hardening. Temper 6063 is a heat-treatable aluminum alloy that increases strength through the precipitation hardening process. It is available in several tempers, including T4 and T6. T4 temper is obtained by aging the material after cooling from the hot-working process, increasing strength and hardness. T6 temper is achieved by solution heat-treating or artificially aging the material, resulting in higher power and hardness than T4.

T6 and T4 Temper

T6 and T4 are two of aluminum alloys’ most commonly used heat treatment processes. T6 is a high-strength, low-ductility temper used for applications requiring high strength and durability, such as structural frameworks, aerospace components, and automotive parts. T4 is a medium-strength, high-ductility spirit commonly used for extrusions and other applications requiring flexibility over strength. T4 is less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking than T6. The choice of nature depends on the application and the required mechanical properties of the final product.

Melting Temperature of Aluminum 6063

The melting temperature of Aluminum 6063 is an essential factor to consider during the extrusion process. The melting point of Aluminum 6063 ranges from 595-650°C, making it a low-temperature alloy that can be easily extruded. However, it is essential to maintain a consistent temperature during the extrusion process to ensure a uniform finish and avoid defects such as cracking or warping. Other factors that can affect the extrusion process include the die design, the billet size, and the extrusion speed.

Aluminum Extrusions with High Tensile Strength

Aluminum extrusions made from 6063 alloys have a high tensile strength, which is the ability of the material to withstand tension without breaking. This makes them ideal for structural applications requiring high strength and durability, such as in the construction industry. The high tensile strength of aluminum extrusions makes them a popular choice for the automotive and aerospace industries, where weight reduction and fuel efficiency are crucial. In addition, aluminum extrusions have a high strength-to-weight ratio, making them more robust and more lightweight than other materials, such as steel or copper.

Recommend reading： Get the Highest Quality CNC Machined Parts with ETCN

Aluminum 6061 vs. 6063

Aluminum is among the most popular choices in the world of metal alloys. Aluminum alloys, in particular, are renowned for their excellent strength, durability, and versatility. Among the many Aluminum alloys available, Aluminum 6061 and Aluminum 6063 are two of the most commonly used for architectural purposes. In this article, we will compare the chemical and mechanical composition of Aluminum 6061 and 6063, highlight key differences in their material properties, discuss their architectural applications, and compare their welding properties.

Chemical Composition Differences

The primary difference between Aluminum 6061 and 6063 lies in their chemical composition. Aluminum 6061 contains magnesium, silicon, and copper, while Aluminum 6063 contains magnesium, silicon, and zinc. The addition of copper in Aluminum 6061 provides it with greater strength and corrosion resistance, while including zinc in Aluminum 6063 helps it achieve a more excellent surface finish.

Mechanical Properties Differences

Aluminum 6061 and 6063 also differ in their mechanical properties. Aluminum 6061 has a higher hardness, tensile strength, and yield strength than Aluminum 6063. However, Aluminum 6063 has a higher elongation percentage, making it a more pliable and flexible material. This flexibility makes Aluminum 6063 ideal for applications requiring more of a bend, such as architectural curves.

Material Properties Comparison

Regarding material properties, both Aluminum 6061 and 6063 exhibit excellent corrosion resistance, which can be attributed to their magnesium content. However, Aluminum 6061 has better machinability and weldability compared to Aluminum 6063, which makes it easier to work with. Also, while both materials are commonly used in construction, Aluminum 6061 is used mainly for structural purposes, such as in constructing buildings. In contrast, Aluminum 6063 is often used for architectural purposes, such as for doors, windows, and curtain walls.

Architectural Alloy Differences

Aluminum 6061 and 6063 have distinct architectural differences. Due to its superior strength and stiffness, Aluminum 6061 is often used for structural components such as beams, trusses, and frames. On the other hand, Aluminum 6063 is favored for architectural elements such as doors, windows, and curtain walls due to its special surface finish, which is especially important in decorative applications.

Welding Comparison between Al 6061 and Al 6063

Aluminum 6061 and 6063 can be welded using techniques such as TIG welding, MIG welding, and oxyacetylene welding. However, they differ in the welding process and results. Aluminum 6061 requires preheat treatment to prevent cracking or weakening of the metal during the welding process. Additionally, Aluminum 6061 welds do not always produce a visually attractive finish. In contrast, Aluminum 6063 has more aesthetically pleasing welds and does not require preheat treatment. Moreover, it can be anodized more easily than Aluminum 6061 due to its higher zinc content.

In conclusion, while Aluminum 6061 and 6063 share many similarities, they differ significantly in their chemical and mechanical composition, material properties, and architectural applications. As such, it’s essential to consider all these factors when choosing between the two alloys for your next project.

Conclusion

Aluminum 6063 is a medium-strength alloy that is commonly used for architectural applications. It offers good corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, and high tensile strength. Aluminum 6063 is easy to extrude, weld, and is available in T4 and T6 tempers. Compared to aluminum 6061, there are some chemical and mechanical property differences, making each alloy suited for different applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is 6063 aluminum?

A: 6063 aluminum is an aluminum alloy that contains magnesium and silicon as its main alloying elements. It is commonly used in the construction of architectural aluminum applications due to its good surface finish and high corrosion resistance.

Q: What is the chemical composition of 6063 aluminum?

A: The chemical composition of 6063 aluminum is as follows: Silicon 0.20-0.60%, Iron 0.35%, Copper 0.10%, Manganese 0.10%, Magnesium 0.45-0.90%, Chromium 0.10%, Zinc 0.10%, Titanium 0.10%, and Aluminum balance.

Q: What are the mechanical properties of 6063 aluminum?

A: The mechanical properties of 6063 aluminum are as follows: Yield Strength (ksi) 35, Ultimate Tensile Strength (ksi) 40, Elongation at Break (%) 17, Modulus of Elasticity (ksi) 68,000, and Brinell Hardness 60.

Q: What is an aluminum alloy?

A: An aluminum alloy is a mixture of Aluminum and other elements, such as magnesium, silicon, and copper, which are added to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of the alloy.

Q: What is the difference between 6061 aluminum and 6063 aluminum?

A: The main difference between 6061 aluminum and 6063 aluminum is that 6061 is a heat-treatable aluminum alloy, while 6063 is not. Additionally, 6061 has a higher maximum strength than 6063.

Q: What are the applications of 6063 aluminum?

A: 6063 aluminum is commonly used in the construction of architectural aluminum applications, such as windows, doors, and curtain walls, due to its good surface finish and high corrosion resistance.

Q: What are the physical properties of 6063 aluminum?

A: The physical properties of 6063 aluminum are as follows: Density (lb/in³) 0.0975, Melting Point (°F) 1090-1205, Thermal Conductivity (BTU-in/ft²-hr-°F) 116, and Electrical Conductivity (%IACS) 34.

Q: What is extrusion?

A: Extrusion is a manufacturing process that involves shaping a material, usually a metal, by forcing it through a die or series of dies with a cross-sectional profile.

Q: What is the temper of Aluminum?

A: Temper in Aluminum refers to the degree of hardness or softness of the aluminum alloy, which is achieved by subjecting the alloy to various heat treatment processes.

Q: What is 6063-t6 Aluminum?

A: 6063-t6 Aluminum is a medium-strength alloy commonly called architectural Aluminum. It has a tensile strength of 42,000 psi and yield strength of 35,000 psi and is typically used in applications that require good surface finish and high corrosion resistance.