6061 Aluminum Pipe

This aluminum pipe has excellent weldability, good machinability and workability, and is very versatile. It is also know to have a high strength-to-weight ratio and is very light. Therefore it is used in a wide range of applications.

This aluminum pipe is used in a wide range of industries, including the aerospace, medical, aircraft, and structural industries.

You will find 6061 aluminum pipe in railway car components, boats, bridge components, and pipe fittings.

6061 has good machinability in the T6 temper. However, it is not as easy to machine when it is in the annealed condition.

6061 has excellent weldability. Gas tungsten arc welding is the most common approach for thinner sections. Gas metal arc welding is recommended for heavier sections. While 4043 can be used for welding, T6’s mechanical properties may decrease.

6061 can be heat treated at 990°F. The piece will need enough time to be even, thoroughly heated, followed by quenching in water.

Precipitation hardening can take place at 320°F for 18 hours. The process would be followed by air cooling, followed again by heating to 350°F and, again, air cooling.

ANSWER:

Aluminum 6061 has a density of 2.7 g/cc (metric) or 0.0975 lb/in³ (imperial).

ANSWER:

The thermal conductivity, or diffusivity, of both aluminum 6061 tempers is 68 mm²/s (imperial) or 170 W/m-K.

ANSWER:

The tensile strength of aluminum 6061 depends on its temper.

• T6: Ultimate tensile strength of 310 MPa or 45 PSI & tensile yield strength of 270 MPa or 39 PSI
• T6511: Ultimate tensile strength of 290 MPa or 42 PSI & tensile yield strength of 270 MPa or 40 PSI

ANSWER:

T6 and T6511 are both tempers, or variants, of 6061 aluminum. They have the same alloy composition, but have different mechanical properties are a result of their different processing. Some notable differences:

• T6511 has slightly higher fatigue strength (100 vs. 96 MPa)
• T6 has higher shear strength (210 vs 170 MPa)
• T6 has higher ultimate tensile strength (310 vs. 290 MPa)