Comprehensive Guide to 6061 and 6063 Aluminum Profiles

6061 aluminum alloy is not only strong and moderately hard, but also particularly easy to process, whether it's for structural parts or anything else. And yeah, its thermal conductivity is also top notch. Overall, 6061 aluminum alloy is a practical and reliable material, definitely worth your consideration!

Aluminum alloy 6063, stands out for its excellent malleability, corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity! As the best of the extruded profiles, it shows excellent comprehensive performance. We carefully control the ratio of alloying elements to ensure stable and superior material performance; at the same time, we optimize the extrusion process to make the product even better. Improvement of heat treatment process makes the mechanical properties of 6063 aluminum alloy even better. Strictly control the impurity elements to ensure the purity and high performance of the material. 6063 aluminum alloy, to meet your diversified application needs!

In this article, YA JI will provide a detailed comparison of 6061 and 6063 aluminum alloys to help you quickly select the right grade of aluminum for you.

Overview of 6061 and 6063 aluminum alloys

6061 aluminum alloy

6061 aluminum alloy is one of the more commonly used alloys, which has a certain degree of strength and hardness and is suitable for making some structural components. It also performs well in processing and use.

6061 aluminum alloy also has good load-bearing capacity and resistance to wind pressure.

6063 Aluminum Alloy

6063 aluminum alloy is one of the most common types of aluminum alloys used in windows and doors. It has excellent machinability and corrosion resistance.

6061 vs. 6063 Aluminum Alloy

6061 and 6063 aluminum alloys differ in composition, mechanical properties, and applications. 6061 contains higher levels of other alloying elements.

Its magnesium and silicon content is about 30-50% higher than that of 6063. In terms of mechanical properties, 6061 alloy is stronger.

6061 aluminum is suitable for high-performance applications, while 6063 is suitable for a variety of uses.

In terms of heat treatment, 6061 aluminum has a higher coefficient of deformation and is harder than 6063 aluminum.

Density

Aluminum 6061 has a density of 2.75 g/cm³, while 6063 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³, making 6061 slightly denser than 6063.

Hardness

The hardness of 6061 is higher than that of 6063. 6061 has a T6 hardness of 95 and 6063 has a T6 hardness of 73 in the T6 state.

1.3.3 Strength

6061 is superior to 6063 in terms of tensile and yield strength.

1.3.4 Durability

The hardness and strength of 6061 aluminum alloy is higher than that of 6063 and hence 6061 is more durable.

1.3.5 Corrosion Resistance

The corrosion resistance of 6061 aluminum alloy is superior to that of 6063 aluminum alloy without anodizing.

 1.3.6 Machinability

The machinability of 6061 aluminum alloy is superior to that of 6063 aluminum alloy.

 1.3.7 Weldability

The weldability of 6061 aluminum is also superior to that of 6063.

 1.3.8 Surface Finishes

Both 6061 and 6063 have good oxidizing properties. 6063 aluminum alloy has better surface adhesion than 6061 and therefore has excellent oxidizing ability.

1.3.9 Cost

The cost of 6061 aluminum is higher than that of 6063 because of its high strength and good properties.

1.3.10 Applications

Applications for Aluminum Alloy 6063: Aluminum handrail and fence extrusions, aluminum cabinet frame extrusions, marine windshield frame extrusions and architectural aluminum extrusions.

6061 Aluminum applications: trucks, towers, ships, streetcars, furniture, machine parts, precision machining, etc.

2. 6061 vs. 6063 Aluminum: Alloy Series and Chemical Composition

6063 aluminum alloy contains 0.4% silicon and 0.7% magnesium. It has a strength of 295 MPa in hard material and 111 MPa in soft material.

Areas of application include tubular railings, furniture, frames and building profiles.

Aluminum alloy 6061 composition contains 0.6% magnesium, 0.25% copper and 0.09% chromium, its hardness is up to standard strength of up to 316 MPa, while in the softer state strength of 127 MPa.

Uses include construction, furniture, and transportation.

2.1 Composition of 6061 Aluminum

Due to the higher content of magnesium and silicon than 6063, 6061 has a higher strength and corrosion resistance.

2.2 6063 Aluminum Composition

Due to the higher silicon and manganese content, 6063 alloys have better extrudability and finish.

2.3 Aluminum Composition of 6061 vs. 6063

The chemical compositions of 6061 and 6063 are different.

6061 is known for its high toughness, excellent machinability and corrosion resistance. It can be used in heavy vehicles, aerospace, electronics, furniture and other applications.

6063 is characterized by high strength and easy welding, and is suitable for building materials such as doors, windows, curtain walls, indoor or outdoor.

3. 6061 vs. 6063 Aluminum: Mechanical Properties

3.1 Mechanical properties of 6061

6061 aluminum alloy is a commonly used alloy material that is widely used in a variety of applications. Its strength and hardness are not bad, can meet many basic needs. Processing performance is also quite good, easy to make a variety of desired shapes.

3.1 Mechanical properties of 6063

6063 aluminum profile with its excellent plasticity, in the precision requirements can achieve more accurate to meet, compared with 6061 aluminum profile has more outstanding performance.

3.1 Comparison of mechanical properties of 6061 and 6063

The figure below shows a detailed comparison between 6061 and 6063:

3.1.1 Fatigue strength

The fatigue strength of 6061 aluminum is slightly higher than that of 6063.

The fatigue strength of 6061 aluminum alloy at T6 can be as high as about 97 MPa, compared to 69 MPa for 6063 aluminum alloy.

3.1.2 Tensile Strength

The tensile strength of 6061 aluminum is very high, especially in the T6 state, its tensile strength can be as high as about 310 MPa.

The tensile strength of the 6063 aluminum alloy is lower, about 241 MPa in the T6 state.

3.1.3 Yield strength

The yield strength of 6061 aluminum in the T6 state is approximately 276 MPa.

Aluminum 6063, on the other hand, has a lower yield strength of approximately 214 MPa in the T6 state.

As a result, 6063 is relatively soft and more susceptible to deformation.

3.1.4 Brinell hardness

The Brinell hardness of 6061 T6 aluminum is 95, while 6063 T6 is 73. The lower hardness makes 6063 easier to machine than 6061.

3.1.5 Elongation at break

The elongation at break is 15% for 6063 and 12% for 6061, which means that 6063 is more resistant to compression.

3.1.6 Shear strength

Aluminum 6063 T6 has a shear strength of 152 MPa, while 6061 T6 has a shear strength of 207 MPa. 6063 can therefore withstand higher shear forces.

3.1.7 Thermal conductivity

The thermal conductivity of 6061 T6 aluminum is 170 W/m-K, whereas that of 6063 aluminum is 200 W/m-K. 6063 is therefore more suitable as a heat sink.

3.1.8 Resistivity

Both 6061 and 6063 are electrical conductors. In comparison, 6063 has the lowest electrical resistivity and 6061 has higher electrical properties, making 6063 more conductive.

3.1.9 Modulus of elasticity

Aluminum 6061 and 6063 have the same modulus of elasticity, so their elasticity is comparable.

3.1.10 Melting point

Aluminum 6061 has a melting point of 582 - 651.7°C, while 6063 has a melting point of 616 - 654°C. 6061 has a slightly lower melting point and is more resistant to high temperatures.

4. Tips for selecting the right alloy for your project

4.1 Determine your application

Aluminum alloys 6063 and 6061 offer flexibility in use and the choice of alloy depends on the properties of the material.

The following are YAJI's recommendations and are for reference only.

4.2 Budget and Availability Considerations

6063 alloys are common, so MOQ requirements are relatively small and less expensive than 6061.

4.3 Evaluating Machinability

6061 aluminum alloy has high hardness, good mechanical properties, suitable for high-precision, high-intensity processing. While 6063 aluminum alloy is relatively soft, although also easy to process, but more suitable for the strength requirements of the occasion is not high.

6063 vs. 6061, 6063 aluminum alloy has excellent formability and is ideal for tig welding. In contrast, 6061 aluminum alloy can also be welded, but has slightly less weldability than 6063.

6061 vs. 6063 Bending: 6063 aluminum alloy has better formability and is easier to press, bend and form. As a result, it is preferred for applications requiring complex shapes.

Corrosion Resistance of 6061 vs. 6063 Aluminum: Both 6061 and 6063 have good corrosion resistance, but in some cases, 6061 may be slightly better than 6063.

Therefore, if your application needs point to higher mechanical strength and hardness, or if machining operations are involved, 6061 aluminum alloy is the better choice for you.

However, if moldability and specific cosmetic requirements are a priority, 6063 may be a better choice.

4.4 Evaluation of heat-treatable properties.

Both 6061 and 6063 are heat-treatable alloys, and different heat-treated states produce different mechanical properties.

4.5 Consider Surface Finishes

6061 is more corrosion resistant and easier to anodize than 6063, making it ideal for many industries.

4.6 Check industry or regulatory standards

If you are unsure, check industry standards documents; different product types will have the most appropriate material requirements.

4.7 Consult an expert or supplier

You can also consult industry experts. They will be able to recommend the right grade of aluminum for you based on their experience.

5 Conclusion

In conclusion, both 6061 and 6063 have excellent properties for different applications.

6061 aluminum alloy:

Have higher mechanical properties, typically with higher tensile and yield strengths.

Suitable for applications requiring high mechanical strength.

Relatively poor weldability.

Used in applications requiring higher hardness and strength, such as aerospace and automotive components.

For applications requiring high mechanical properties.

6063 Aluminum Alloy:

Good machinability, easy to stamp, bend and form.

Good welding properties for a wide range of welding types.

6063 is suitable for applications requiring complex shapes and appearance, such as architectural, decorative, window and door frames.

Suitable for applications requiring good machinability and appearance.

If increased mechanical strength and hardness is required, especially in industrial environments, 6061 is the right choice.

If good machinability, weldability and appearance are needed, or for architectural and decorative applications, 6063 is a good choice.

YA JI Aluminum, tailors different grades of high quality aluminum profiles according to your specific needs. Our aluminum profiles strictly follow the industry standards, with excellent quality and affordable price, which are widely used in various fields. What's more, we offer one-stop machining services, from design to production, to meet your product machining needs in all aspects. Choose YA JI to make your aluminum profile purchasing and processing more worry-free and assured!

Whether you need custom aluminum profiles or custom aluminum fabrication, YA JI can provide you with satisfactory solutions