6063-T5 vs 6063-T6 Aluminum Extrusion
As two common aluminum alloy materials, 6063-T5 and T6, what is the difference between them? Where exactly is the difference, let’s explore today.
what is 6063-T5 aluminum？
Aluminum 6063-T5 is an aluminum alloy of the 6063 series. It undergoes solid solution treatment + incomplete artificial aging (i.e., aluminum is extruded and then quenched by air cooling and subsequently held for a period of time in a lower-temperature aging furnace) to achieve the state.
It is characterized by natural cooling during aging, small deformation coefficient, easy to control, and general hardness.
what is 6063-T6 aluminum alloy？
T6 is the state of aluminum alloy that is rapidly cooled (usually water-cooled) and artificially aged after high temperature forming.
The T6 state makes the strength and hardness of the aluminum alloy further improved by the treatment process of quenching plus artificial aging, but the deformation coefficient is larger and not easy to control.
Properties of 6063-T5 vs 6063-T6：
1. Heat treatment state:
6063-T5: after air-cooled plus aging treatment, this treatment makes its deformation coefficient smaller.
6063-T6: water-cooled plus aging treatment, this treatment makes its deformation coefficient is larger, higher hardness.
2. Physical properties:
6063-T5: It usually has better corrosion resistance and workability, and is suitable for interior decoration and light structure. It is more malleable than T6, so it can be suitable as a building material.
6063-T6: It has higher strength and hardness and is suitable for structural applications requiring higher strength. Examples include materials for mechanical equipment, structural components for airplanes or bumpers for automobiles.
3. Weldability:
6063-T5 aluminum profile due to its composition contains copper and nickel elements. Weldability may be more excellent. Compared to T6 it would be more suitable as a material for welding railings. Because it needs lower welding temperature.
4. Price
The price difference is not significant. This is because the extrusion process used is the same. It mainly depends on the size of the product, the surface treatment and the market demand.
Currently in the U.S. market, the 6063-T5 extruded aluminum product is recognized by many consumers as a building material. Therefore, it is sold at a higher price than T6.
6063-T5 vs 6063-T6 aluminum alloy
| performances | 6063-T5 | 6063-T6 |
|---|---|---|
| tensile strength（MPa） | 160 | 205 |
| yield strength（MPa） | 110 | 180 |
| hardness | 8.5（about 65HB） | 11.5（about 75HB） |
| elongation（%） | 8 | 8 |
Summary:
There are obvious differences between 6063-T5 aluminum profiles and 6063-T6 aluminum profiles in terms of heat treatment state, physical properties, application scenarios and so on. Which material to choose mainly depends on the specific application needs and requirements for material performance.
Hugh Aluminum is an aluminum extrusion manufacturer based in China. We have extrusion, powder coating, anodizing, CNC and polishing processing capabilities. We are 15 years experienced aluminum extrusion supplier and can offer you factory price and high quality products of 6063 aluminum， 6061 aluminum.
