Aluminum Material Labeling Secrets: the Difference Between 6060 and 6063

In the world of system doors and windows, the terms 6060, 6063, T5, T6, and T66 may sound as complicated as a heavenly book.

Today, let's take a closer look and see what these numbers and letters represent.

The mystery of chemical composition

6063 aluminum alloy: The main components of this type of aluminum are aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si), and the silicon content is about 0.2-0.6%. In addition, it also contains a small amount of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) and other impurity elements.

6060 aluminum alloy: Similarly, the main components of 6060 aluminum alloy are also aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si), but the silicon content is slightly higher, about 0.3-0.6%. Compared with 6063, 6060 has a higher magnesium content, so the strength and hardness are also slightly higher.

Differences in heat treatment methods

T5, T6, T66: These letters represent the heat treatment methods. T5 is air-cooled, the deformation coefficient is easy to control, and the hardness is medium; T6 is water-cooled, and the hardness is higher than T5; T66 is based on the state of T6 after being strengthened by a special process, with higher strength, more stable performance, and less deformation.

6063-T5 vs. 6060-T66

#1 Strength and hardness:

The strength and hardness of 6060-T66 are significantly higher than those of 6063-T5. Specifically, the tensile strength of 6063-T5 is 130Mpa and the yield strength is 170Mpa; while the tensile strength of 6060-T66 is 160Mpa and the yield strength is 215Mpa.

#2 Toughness:

Toughness refers to the ability of a material to absorb energy and undergo plastic deformation when it is impacted or bent. Generally speaking, the toughness of aluminum alloys in the T66 state will be slightly lower.

#3 Processing performance:

6063-T5 has good processing performance and is suitable for general door and window manufacturing; while 6060-T66 is more difficult to process due to its high strength and hardness.

#4 Corrosion resistance:

Both have good corrosion resistance.

Ductility: Materials with good ductility can withstand large plastic deformation without breaking. 6060-T66 has poor ductility, which also means that it is not easy to process.

When choosing industrial materials, if you pay more attention to tensile strength and yield strength, then 6060-T66 may be a better choice. Although its price is about 30% higher than 6063-T5, it performs better in heardness resistance and ability to support large machine. As for ductility and processing, that is more of a matter for mechanical manufacturers to consider.

I hope this article can help you better understand aluminum grades and make the most suitable choice for you!