6063 T4 Aluminum
6063-T4 aluminum is a widely used aluminum alloy in aerospace, construction, and other industrial applications. It is obtained by solution heat treating the 6063 aluminum alloy and naturally aging it. The T4 condition of 6063 aluminum has unique mechanical properties and good processability, making it suitable for applications requiring high ductility and excellent corrosion resistance.
6063-T4 aluminum alloy is a heat-treated state of the 6063 aluminum alloy, with good mechanical properties and excellent forming capabilities. It is widely used in construction, transportation, and other industrial fields.
What is 6063 T4 aluminum?
6063-T4 aluminum alloy is obtained through solution heat treatment and natural aging, offering good ductility and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for applications requiring high strength and complex shapes. It has wide applications in construction, transportation, aerospace, furniture, electrical, and other industries, making it a very versatile aluminum alloy material.
What does T4 mean in aluminum?
T4 condition 6063 aluminum:
- Solution heat treatment: 6063 aluminum is first heated to around 530°C to 550°C and held at that temperature for a certain period of time to ensure that the metal elements in the alloy fully dissolve, forming a homogeneous solid solution.
- Natural aging: After heat treatment, 6063 aluminum undergoes natural aging at room temperature, gradually increasing its strength and hardness while maintaining high ductility. Compared to other heat treatment conditions (such as T5 or T6), the T4 condition of 6063 aluminum is more ductile, making it suitable for applications requiring complex forming.
Forms of 6063 aluminum
The selection of each form of 6063 aluminum is based on the specific requirements for strength, weight, machinability, and corrosion resistance in various applications, especially in the construction, structural, and manufacturing industries.
| Product Form | Description | Typical Applications |
| 6063 T4 Aluminum Plate | The 6063 T4 Aluminum Plate is a flat, rectangular piece that offers good corrosion resistance and medium strength. | Architectural elements, signage, decorative panels |
| 6063 T4 Extruded Rod | The 6063 T4 Extruded Rod is a cylindrical shape created by extrusion, providing good strength and formability. | Structural components, machined parts |
| 6063 T4 Aluminum Round Tube | The 6063 T4 Aluminum Round Tube is a hollow, round tube widely used for lightweight, strong applications with good aesthetics. | Construction of frames, supports, architectural features |
| 6063 T4 Extruded Bar | The 6063 T4 Extruded Bar is a solid rectangular or square bar that offers excellent surface finish and good workability. | Structural, architectural, and mechanical applications |
| 6063 T4 Aluminum Sheet | The 6063 T4 Aluminum Sheet is a thin, flat sheet that provides flexibility in shaping while combining good strength and corrosion resistance. | Architectural panels, building facades, sheet metal parts |
6063 T4 Aluminum Properties
Machinability
Extrudability: 6063-T4 aluminum has excellent extrudability, making it commonly used for manufacturing long profiles, pipes, and other complex aluminum alloy products.
Welding performance: 6063 aluminum in the T4 condition shows good welding characteristics, allowing it to be welded using conventional aluminum welding methods such as MIG welding and TIG welding.
Corrosion Resistance
6063 aluminum alloy has outstanding corrosion resistance, especially in atmospheric environments. The thin oxide film formed during natural aging provides an effective protective layer, reducing the risk of corrosion.
Surface Treatment
6063-T4 aluminum performs well in surface treatments, particularly anodizing. After anodizing, a durable aluminum oxide film forms on the surface, enhancing its wear resistance and corrosion resistance, while also allowing the aluminum to take on different colors.
What is 6063 aluminum good for?
Construction
Used for window frames, door frames, exterior facades, sunshades, and other building materials.
In construction, the high ductility of 6063-T4 aluminum makes it highly suitable for extrusion into complex shapes, such as window and door frames, or for creating decorative elements.
Transportation and Aerospace
Commonly used to manufacture lightweight aerospace components, vehicle frames, bridge structures, and more.
Due to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, 6063-T4 aluminum is also used in some lightweight transportation vehicle frames and body parts.
Furniture and Equipment
Used for making furniture frames, appliance housings, and more. The high ductility of this aluminum alloy allows it to be formed into complex and delicate designs.
Electronics and Electrical Appliances
Used for manufacturing electrical equipment housings and heat sinks. The excellent thermal conductivity and machinability of 6063-T4 aluminum make it ideal for these types of applications.
Aluminium 6063 T4 Data Sheet
| Physical Properties | Metric | English | Comments |
| Density | 2.7 g/cc | 0.0975 lb/in³ | AA; Typical |
| Aluminium 6063 T4 Mechanical Properties | |||
| Hardness, Brinell | 46 | 46 | 500 kg load with 10 mm ball. Calculated value. |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength | 172 MPa | 25000 psi | AA; Typical |
| Tensile Yield Strength | 89.6 MPa | 13000 psi | AA; Typical |
| Elongation at Break | 22 % | 22 % | AA; Typical; 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) Thickness |
| Modulus of Elasticity | 68.9 GPa | 10000 ksi | AA; Typical; Average of tension and compression. Compression modulus is about 2% greater than tensile modulus. |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 | |
| Machinability | 50 % | 50 % | 0-100 Scale of Aluminum Alloys |
| Shear Modulus | 25.8 GPa | 3740 ksi | |
| Shear Strength | 110 MPa | 16000 psi | |
| Aluminium 6063 T4 Electrical Properties | |||
| Electrical Resistivity | 3.3e-006 ohm-cm | 3.3e-006 ohm-cm | Estimated from other heat treatments. |
| Aluminium 6063 T4 Thermal Properties | |||
| CTE, linear 68°F | 23.4 µm/m-°C | 13 µin/in-°F | AA; Typical; Average over 68-212°F range. |
| CTE, linear 250°C | 25.6 µm/m-°C | 14.2 µin/in-°F | Average over the range 20-300ºC |
| Specific Heat Capacity | 0.9 J/g-°C | 0.215 BTU/lb-°F | |
| Thermal Conductivity | 200 W/m-K | 1390 BTU-in/hr-ft²-°F | Estimated from other heat treatments. |
| Melting Point | 616 - 654 °C | 1140 - 1210 °F | AA; Typical range based on typical composition for wrought products 1/4 inch thickness or greater |
| Solidus | 616 °C | 1140 °F | AA; Typical |
| Liquidus | 654 °C | 1210 °F | AA; Typical |
| Aluminium 6063 T4 Processing Properties | |||
| Annealing Temperature | 413 °C | 775 °F | hold at temperature for 2 to 3 hr; cool at 50°F per hour from 775 to 500°F |
| Solution Temperature | 521 °C | 970 °F | |
| Aging Temperature | 177 °C | 350 °F | hold at temperature for 8 hr |
Chemical Composition of Aluminum Alloy 6063
| Constituent Element | Minimum (% by weight) | Maximum (% by weight) |
| Aluminum (Al) | 97.5% | 99.35% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.45% | 0.90% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20% | 0.60% |
| Iron (Fe) | 0% | 0.35% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0% | 0.10% |
| Copper (Cu) | 0% | 0.10% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0% | 0.10% |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0% | 0.10% |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0% | 0.10% |
| Others | 0% | 0.15% total (0.05% each) |
What is the difference between aluminium 6063 T4 and T6?
The main difference between 6063 T4 and 6063 T6 aluminum alloys lies in their heat treatment processes, which affect their mechanical properties such as strength, hardness, and ductility.
If strength is the primary consideration, 6063 T6 is the better choice, while 6063 T4 is ideal for applications that require better formability and surface finish.
- Strength: T6 > T4.
- Ductility and formability: T4 > T6 (T4 is more ductile and easier to form).
- Hardness: T6 > T4 (due to artificial aging).
- Applications: T4 is used for general purposes requiring formability, while T6 is used for high-strength applications.
Below is a comparison table of the heat treatment process, mechanical properties, and applications of 6063 T4 and 6063 T6 aluminum alloys:
| Property | 6063 T4 | 6063 T6 |
| Heat Treatment Process | 6063 T4 is an aluminum alloy that undergoes solution heat treatment followed by natural aging to a stable state. This means the alloy is heated to a specific temperature to dissolve the alloying elements and then naturally cooled without additional artificial aging. This process results in lower strength but provides better formability and machinability. | 6063 T6 is an aluminum alloy that undergoes solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging at a higher temperature. This aging process significantly increases the alloy's strength by precipitating the alloying elements (mainly magnesium and silicon) in a controlled manner. As a result, T6 has higher strength and hardness than T4, but its formability is slightly reduced. |
| Mechanical Properties | 6063 T4 has higher ductility, making it more formable and easier to extrude. It is suitable for applications that require good corrosion resistance and moderate strength. | 6063 T6 has lower ductility than T4, but its strength is higher. It is suitable for applications that bear loads. |
| Applications | 6063 T4 is used in applications that require good surface finish and machinability, such as building frames, window and door profiles, irrigation pipes, and lightweight structural components. | 6063 T6 is used in applications requiring higher strength, such as aerospace, automotive parts, high-strength structural components, frames, and supports that need to withstand greater loads. |