6061-T6 at a glance
Where to buy
Designation
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Designation | 6061-T6 |
| Class | Aluminum |
| Type | wrought aluminum alloy |
Composition
| Element | Limit |
|---|---|
| Si | 0.40–0.8 |
| Fe | 0.7 |
| Cu | 0.15–0.40 |
| Mn | 0.15 |
| Mg | 0.8–1.2 |
| Cr | 0.04–0.35 |
| Zn | 0.25 |
| Ti | 0.15 |
| Al | Remainder |
A single number is a maximum. Other elements: 0.05 each, 0.15 total, except where the Teal Sheets say otherwise. Source: Aluminum Association Teal Sheets (Aug 2018).
Specifications and forms
| Specification | Form |
|---|---|
| AMS 4025, 4026, 4027, AMS-QQ-A-250/11 | Sheet and plate |
| AMS 4115, 4116, 4117, AMS-QQ-A-225/8 | Bar and rod |
| AMS 4150, 4160, 4161, 4172, 4173, AMS-QQ-A-200/8 | Extrusion |
| AMS 4080, 4082, AMS-WW-T-700/6 | Seamless drawn tubing |
| AMS 4127, AMS 4248, AMS-A-22771, AMS-QQ-A-367 | Forging |
Specifications as listed by MIL-HDBK-5J. Federal QQ-A specifications passed to SAE as AMS-QQ-A. Check the current revision.
Properties
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brinell hardness, 6061-T6 | 95 (500 kg load, 10 mm ball) | AC 43.13-1B CHG 1, Table 4-5 |
| Brinell hardness, 6061-T4 / 6061-O | 65 / 30 | AC 43.13-1B CHG 1, Table 4-5 |
| Weldability | Generally weldable by all commercial procedures | FAA-H-8083-31, p. 4-31 |
| Density | 0.098 lb/in³ (2.70 g/cm³) | MIL-HDBK-5J; Teal Sheets |
| Arc / spot welding, T6 | A / A | MIL-HDBK-5J Table 3.1.3.4(a) |
| Stress corrosion, T6 | A in L, LT and ST | MIL-HDBK-5J Table 3.1.2.3.1(a) |
| Drawn tube T6, 0.025–0.500 in wall | Ftu 42, Fty 35 ksi (S basis, L) | MIL-HDBK-5J Table 3.6.2.0(c1) |
Hardness is a check on temper, not a strength value. Bend radii are in the table below.
Bend radii, 6061 (AC 43.13-1B Table 4-6)
| Alloy and temper | 0.016" | 0.032" | 0.064" | 0.128" | 0.182" | 0.258" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061-O | 0 | 0 – 1t | 0 – 1t | 0 – 1t | 0 – 1t | 0 – 1t |
| 6061-T4 | 0 – 1t | 0 – 1t | ½t – 1½t | 1t – 2t | 1½t – 3t | 2½t – 4t |
| 6061-T6 | 0 – 1t | ½t – 1½t | 1t – 2t | 1½t – 3t | 2t – 4t | 3t – 4t |
Recommended radii for 90-degree bends, sheet thickness t. “0” means no radius required. Alclad sheet may be bent over slightly smaller radii than the uncoated alloy (Table 4-6 footnote 1).
Minimum bend radius, inches (AMT Handbook Chart 204)
| Alloy and temper | 0.020" | 0.032" | 0.040" | 0.063" | 0.125" | 0.190" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5052-O, 6061-O, 5052-H32 | .03 | .03 | .06 | .06 | .12 | .19 |
| 7178-O, 2024-O, 5052-H34, 6061-T4, 7075-O | .03 | .03 | .06 | .09 | .25 | .38 |
| 6061-T6 | .03 | .06 | .09 | .16 | .31 | .56 |
Selected thicknesses from FAA-H-8083-31B Chart 204, p. 4-61. Chart 204 and AC Table 4-6 do not agree everywhere: where they differ, use the larger radius or the SRM.
Design allowables — 6061-T6/T62 sheet
0.010–0.249 in thick. MIL-HDBK-5J Table 3.6.2.0(b1). A and B bases in ksi unless a unit is shown.
| Property | A basis | B basis | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ftu, L | 42 | 43 | ksi |
| Ftu, LT | 42 | 43 | ksi |
| Fty, L | 36 | 38 | ksi |
| Fty, LT | 35 | 37 | ksi |
| Fcy, L | 35 | 37 | ksi |
| Fcy, LT | 36 | 38 | ksi |
| Fsu | 27 | 28 | ksi |
| Fbru, e/D = 1.5 | 67 | 69 | ksi |
| Fbru, e/D = 2.0 | 88 | 90 | ksi |
| Property | A basis | B basis | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fbry, e/D = 1.5 | 50 | 53 | ksi |
| Fbry, e/D = 2.0 | 58 | 61 | ksi |
| Elongation, LT, 0.010–0.020 in (minimum) | 8 | — | % |
| Elongation, LT, 0.021–0.249 in (minimum) | 10 | — | % |
| E | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10³ ksi |
| Ec | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10³ ksi |
| G | 3.8 | 3.8 | 10³ ksi |
| Density | 0.098 | 0.098 | lb/in³ |
Form: sheet; temper: T6 and T62; specification: AMS 4025, AMS 4027 and AMS-QQ-A-250/11; thickness 0.010–0.249 in. The handbook gives elongation in its Table 3.6.2.0(b3), p. 3-266, as a minimum by thickness (the values here), not by basis. E, Ec, G and density are printed once across all columns. T651 plate is in Table 3.6.2.0(b2), p. 3-265, and is not shown here. Source: MIL-HDBK-5J (31 Jan 2003), Table 3.6.2.0(b1), p. 3-264. MIL-HDBK-5J (2003) is superseded by MMPDS; check current MMPDS before design use. Density 0.098 lb/in³ is about 2.71 g/cm³ (converted); the sheet weight calculator uses the same figure.
Forms and thicknesses in stock
| Distributor sheet | Listed | Thickness, in |
|---|---|---|
| 6061T6 Bare Aluminum | 0.016"–0.190" · bare · lb/ft² | .016, .020, .025, .032, .040, .050, .063, .090, .125, .190 |
| 6061-T6 Aluminium Sheet | 0.020"–0.125" · 4×2, 4×4, 6×4 ft | .020, .025, .032, .040, .050, .063, .090, .125 |
| 6061T6 Round Aluminum Tubing | 3/16"–4" OD · wall · lb/ft | .028, .035, .049, .058, .065, .083, .095, .120, .125, .128, .250 |
As distributors list them, not a statement of what a specification allows.
Weight by thickness
| Thickness, in | mm | lb/ft² | kg/m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.016 | 0.41 | 0.228 | 1.11 |
| 0.020 | 0.51 | 0.285 | 1.39 |
| 0.025 | 0.64 | 0.353 | 1.72 |
| 0.032 | 0.81 | 0.452 | 2.21 |
| 0.040 | 1.02 | 0.570 | 2.78 |
| 0.050 | 1.27 | 0.713 | 3.48 |
| 0.063 | 1.60 | 0.889 | 4.34 |
| 0.090 | 2.29 | 1.270 | 6.20 |
| 0.125 | 3.17 | 1.760 | 8.59 |
Weight as a distributor lists it. Kilograms and millimetres converted.
Notes from the guide
- Not a source of design allowables. Strength values come from MMPDS with their basis and thickness range; the structural repair manual governs a repair.
- Not a substitute for 2024-T3 or 7075-T6 unless the drawing permits it. It is weaker and less fatigue-tolerant. Material substitution in a structural repair is approved-data territory.
- Weld repair of primary structure is not covered here. Follow the SRM.
Where to buy
Distributors coming soon.
Sources
- FAA AC 43.13-1B CHG 1, Chapter 4 — Tables 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-9, 4-10; par. 4-54 — temper definitions, hardness, bend radii, heat treatment, and the alloys the splice tables cover.
- FAA-H-8083-31, AMT Handbook — Airframe, Volume 1, Chapter 4, p. 4-31 — weldability, extrusion and tubing use, cryogenic toughness.
- MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures — density (Table 3.6.2.0(b1)), and the home of the design allowables (Chapter 3, aluminum). Cancelled; replaced by MMPDS.
- MIL-HDBK-5J (31 Jan 2003), Table 3.6.2.0(b1), p. 3-264 — 6061-T6/T62 sheet, 0.010–0.249 in: Ftu, Fty, Fcy, Fsu, Fbru, Fbry, E, Ec, G and density.
- MIL-HDBK-5J (31 Jan 2003), Table 3.6.2.0(b3), p. 3-266 — minimum elongation values for 6061 T6 or T62 sheet.
- MMPDS (formerly MIL-HDBK-5) — the current home of design allowables with A, B and S basis. Cancelled MIL-HDBK-5J was superseded by it. A repair substantiation cites MMPDS or the SRM, not a website.
- MIL-HDBK-5J (31 Jan 2003), Chapter 3 — Tables 3.1.2.3.1(a), 3.1.3.4(a), 3.6.2.0(a), (c1). Cancelled and superseded by MMPDS: check current MMPDS before design use.
- Aluminum Association, International Alloy Designations (Teal Sheets), rev. Aug 2018 — chemical composition limits and nominal densities.
- FAA-H-8083-31B, AMT Handbook — Airframe, Volume 1, Chapter 4 — Chart 204, p. 4-61.
- Distributor listings — stock forms, sizes and listed facts, read 30 September 2026.