The Composition and Application of Series 6 Aluminium Alloys

June 07, 2025
858

Series 6 aluminium alloys are the most commonly used alloy series in the aluminium profile industry, represented by 6061, 6063, 6060, etc. They posses excellent strength, corrosion resistance, process ability and anodizing performance, and are widely applied in construction, industry, transportation and other fields.

The main components of Series 6 aluminium alloys

Alloy grade	Si	Mg	Fe	Cu	Mn	Cr
6063	0.20-0.60%	0.45-0.90%	≤0.35%	≤0.10%	≤0.10%	≤0.10%
6061	0.40-0.80%	0.80-1.20%	≤0.70%	0.15-0.40%	≤0.15%	0.04-0.35%
6060	0.30-0.60%	0.35-0.60%	≤0.30%	≤0.10%	≤0.10%	≤0.05%

The role of core alloying elements

Si: Improve fluidity, enhance extrusion performance and increase solder ability

Mg: Enhance tensile strength

Cu (6061 contain a small amount) : Further enhance the strength and reduce the elongation at break

Cr (6061 contain a small amount): Refine the grains and enhance the resistance to stress corrosion

The main characteristics of series 6 aluminium alloys

Characteristics	6063	6061	6060
Strength	Medium	High	Low
Corrosion resistance	Good	Fine	Good
Compression resistance	Good	Fine	Good
Effect of anodization	Good	Fine	Good
Welding performance	Good	Fine	Good

The main application fields of series 6 aluminium alloys

6063 is the most commonly used aluminium alloy, mainly applied in building doors and windows, curtain walls, decorative profiles and radiators.

6061 aluminium alloy has high strength and is mainly used in the frames of mechanical equipment, automotive parts, aerospace structural components, and ship parts.

6060 aluminium alloy is softer and easier to process. It is mainly used in precision electronic enclosures (components that require complex bending), home hardware, and low-load industrial profiles.

The market trend of 6 series aluminium alloys

Lightweight of new energy vehicles: The application of 6061 aluminium alloy in battery trays and body structures is increasing.

Demand for green buildings: The demand of 6063 energy-saving doors and windows and photovoltaic bracket profiles is on the rise.

High-end industrial substitution: Some scenarios that originally used steel structures have been replaced by 6061 (with a weight reduction of over30%).

Summary

Series 6 aluminium alloys (especially 6063 and 6061) have occupied a dominant position in the aluminium profile market due to their balanced performance, low cost and easy processing.