The main differences between 6060 aluminum and 6061 aluminum are reflected in three aspects: chemical composition, mechanical strength and application fields.
Among them, 6061 has higher magnesium and silicon content and contains copper elements, has stronger mechanical properties, and is suitable for high-strength scenes such as aerospace, while 6060 is more suitable for lightweight needs such as architectural decoration.
Chemical composition difference
6060 aluminum alloy: silicon content 0.30%-0.60%, magnesium content 0.35%-0.65%, and low copper content.
6061 aluminum alloy: silicon content 0.40%-0.80%, magnesium content 0.80%-1.20%, and contains copper (0.15%-0.40%) and chromium (0.04%-0.35%) and other elements to enhance the alloy performance.
Comparison of mechanical properties
Tensile strength:
6061: The tensile strength in the annealed state can reach more than 205MPa, and it is increased to 310-380MPa after heat treatment (such as T6 state).
6060: The tensile strength is lower than that of 6061, and is about 220-250MPa in the T6 state.
Elongation:
6060 has better plasticity, and the elongation in the T4 state is higher than that of 6061, but the two are similar in the T6 state.
Conductivity and hardness:
6060 has higher conductivity, and 6061 has significantly better Vickers hardness and yield strength.
Heat treatment and processing characteristics
Quenching sensitivity: The quenching rate of 6061 (519.06℃/min) is higher than that of 6060 (393.24℃/min), and it is more susceptible to cooling rate during heat treatment.
Processing performance: 6060 has better extrusion formability and is suitable for complex cross-section profiles; 6061 has excellent weldability and surface treatment performance, but requires more artificial aging treatment.
Of course, if you have a large demand for die-cast aluminum parts, you can choose to cooperate with Mulan Metal. Mulan Metal has 12 years of experience in custom metal casting, helping customers in more than 30 countries complete metal casting processing and gaining unanimous recognition. Looking forward to your cooperation consultation.
Here is our Custom metal Castings Display：
