6061 t6 and 6061 t651

6061 aluminum alloy introduction

6061 aluminum alloy is a precipitation hardening aluminum alloy with magnesium and silicon as the main alloying elements. It has medium to high strength and has good corrosion resistance, weldability, processability and machinability. 6061 aluminum alloy is usually used to manufacture structural parts. It is widely used in many industries due to its good connection characteristics and good acceptance of coatings.

Key Properties

• Strength: 6061 has good mechanical properties, offering a balance of strength and workability. It’s often chosen for structural applications.
• Corrosion Resistance: The alloy exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion, particularly when anodized.
• Weldability: It can be easily welded, making it suitable for fabrication.
• Machinability: It has good machinability and can be easily formed into various shapes.

Heat Treatment

6061 can be heat treated to improve its strength. Common tempers include:

• T6: Solution heat-treated and artificially aged, providing high strength.
• T651: Similar to T6 but stress-relieved, improving dimensional stability.

Understanding the differences between 6061 T6 and 6061 T651

6061 T6 and 6061 T651 are both variations of the 6061 aluminum alloy, but they differ primarily in their heat treatment processes and mechanical properties.

6061 T6

• Heat Treatment: T6 indicates that the alloy has been solution heat-treated and then artificially aged.
• Properties: This treatment provides excellent strength and good corrosion resistance. It has high tensile strength and is often used in applications requiring structural integrity.
• Applications: Commonly used in aerospace, automotive, and marine applications, as well as for making frames, structural components, and machinery.

6061 T651

• Heat Treatment: T651 involves a similar heat treatment process as T6 but includes an additional step: it is stress-relieved by a process of stretching.
• Properties: This additional stress-relieving process reduces internal stresses and helps to improve the material’s performance under load. The mechanical properties are comparable to T6 but generally more stable, particularly in larger sections.
• Applications: Often used in precision machined parts, structural applications, and components where dimensional stability and reduced warping are critical.

T6 is more common for general strength applications, while T651 is better for applications needing greater dimensional stability and reduced internal stresses. The choice between them depends on the specific requirements of the project.

Mechanical properties of 6061 T6 and 6061 T651

Here’s a table summarizing the mechanical properties of 6061 T6 and 6061 T651 aluminum alloys:

Notes

• The values may vary slightly based on specific processing and material conditions.
• T651 generally provides better dimensional stability and ductility compared to T6.

Summary

6061 T6 and 6061 T651 are two common tempering states of 6061 aluminum alloy. They have the same alloy composition and corrosion resistance and can be replaced with each other in many application scenarios. 6061 T651 is stretched based on 6061 T6 to eliminate internal stress.