EN AW 6082 and EN AW 6060 are the two most common grades of 6000 series aluminium. Both are aluminium–magnesium–silicon based and both can be hardened by heat treatment. The difference is in how high the alloy contents are kept.
Manganese and silicon
According to our datasheets, 6082 has silicon at 0.70–1.30% and manganese at 0.40–1.00%. In 6060 silicon falls to 0.30–0.60% and there is almost no manganese (max 0.10%). Magnesium also falls from 0.60–1.20% to 0.35–0.60%.
Manganese raises strength and toughness by controlling the grain structure — that is what makes 6082 the strongest grade of the 6000 series. The price is difficulty in extrusion: 6082 demands a higher press force and thin, complex sections are hard to produce.
6060 is designed for exactly the opposite. Thanks to its low alloy content it extrudes very easily, thin-walled and complex profiles can be made, and the surface quality after anodising is excellent. Strength is secondary.
The figures show this clearly: the yield strength of 6082 is 270 MPa against 150 MPa for 6060 (T6 condition).
Comparison in numbers
| PROPERTY | EN AW 6082 | EN AW 6060 |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.70 – 1.30% | 0.30 – 0.60% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.60 – 1.20% | 0.35 – 0.60% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 1.00% | max 0.10% |
| Iron (Fe) | max 0.50% | 0.10 – 0.30% |
| Chromium (Cr) | max 0.25% | max 0.05% |
| Copper (Cu) | max 0.10% | max 0.10% |
| Zinc (Zn) | max 0.20% | max 0.10% |
| Titanium (Ti) | max 0.10% | max 0.15% |
| Tensile strength | 330 MPa | 190 MPa (T6) |
| Yield strength | 270 MPa | 150 MPa (T6) |
| Elongation | 16% | 8% |
| Density | 2.71 g/cm³ | 2.70 g/cm³ |
| Modulus of elasticity | 71 GPa | 69 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | 170 W/m·K | 170 W/m·K |
| Electrical conductivity | 44% IACS | 43% IACS |
| UNS | A96082 | A96060 |
Values are taken from our product datasheets; section thickness and the applied heat treatment regime change the result.
Which one, and when?
EN AW 6082 is preferred — load-bearing structures, bridge and platform members, truck and trailer chassis, crane booms, machined machine parts, mould plates. Anywhere load is carried, it is the default choice of the 6000 series.
EN AW 6060 is preferred — window and door profiles, curtain wall systems, handrail and stair components, decorative profiles, heatsink bodies, anodised visible surfaces. If shape complexity and surface quality matter more than strength, 6060 is the right choice.
Neighbouring grades
For much higher strength the move is to the 7000 and 2000 series: EN AW 7075 and EN AW 2017A. For marine environments and welded structures, EN AW 5083 is used.
Technical datasheets
EN AW 6082 — chemical composition, mechanical values, standard equivalents
EN AW 6060 — chemical composition, mechanical values, standard equivalents
Both grades are supplied to order in round bar, flat bar, plate, sheet, pipe and forged forms. Contact us for a quotation.