6061 Aluminum (also known as structural aluminum and originally known as Alloy 61s) is one of the major aluminum alloys. The properties of pure aluminum and other pure metals are fixed, which means that their strength, malleability, durability, melting points, and many other characteristics don’t change. However, alloys like 6061 aluminum, are made by mixing the pure metal with two or more elements. Alloys are made to improve their properties that’s why some alloys are stronger while some alloys are more durable and flexible than pure metal. Alloying aluminum with different types of metals makes it nearly as strong as pure steel.
Aluminum alloys are divided into 2 classes i.e. casting alloys and wrought alloys. Casting alloys refers to alloys that can easily be cast in sand or poured into molds to shape them. Wrought alloys, which include 6061 aluminum alloy, are cast and then hand-worked by extruding, forging, or rolling them into needed shapes. A few of these alloys can also be heat-treated through various methods to improve their strength and hardness.
6061 Aluminum Properties - 6061 Aluminum was developed in 1935 and is a very popular heat-treatable aluminum alloy for commercial use. The 6061 alloy is mainly made with aluminum, magnesium, and silicon. Other elements in this alloy are iron, chromium, copper, manganese, zinc, and titanium. Alloy 6061 is a medium-to-high strength, lightweight, economical metal. Before some time, alloys were susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking, but this alloy is highly resistant to corrosion as it has a small amount of Chromium.
6061 aluminum properties are its toughness, structural strength, good surface finish, perfect corrosion resistance, nice machinability, and high weldability. Most aluminum alloys are very difficult to weld due to their lack of conductivity and chemical composition. 6061 alloy can be welded however it may lose some strength. To restore strength, this alloy can be reheat-treated and artificially aged again, that’s why this is one of the superior alloys.
6061 Aluminum Uses - 6061 Extruded Aluminum Bar is highly used as a construction metal, most commonly in the manufacture of automotive or aerospace components. In the automotive industry, 6061 alloys are generally used in yachts, motorcycles, fishing reels, camera lenses, scuba tanks, bicycle frames, electrical fittings, valves, and couplings. It’s also used in the construction of aluminum cans, and foil wrapper inside food containers is usually made with 6061 aluminum alloy. Aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys are also extensively used in wide-span roof structures.
If you want the top quality metal at a truly competitive price, you should choose Arch Metals which supplies top-quality 6061 Extruded Aluminum bar for use in various industries. They provide bars of different types like round, square, and flat. Just contact us and get your money-saving quote.
