Aluminum alloy is a widely used metal material with the advantages of light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and recyclability. There are many types of aluminum alloys, and different alloying elements and heat treatment processes affect the properties and uses of aluminum alloys. In this article, we will compare two common aluminum alloys: 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy, and analyze the differences in their compositions, properties, processing, applications and prices.
7075 aluminum alloy is a zinc-containing aluminum alloy, whose main alloying elements are zinc, magnesium, copper and chromium, and the content of aluminum is about 90%. 7075 aluminum alloy has the following chemical composition:
- Aluminum (Al): 90.0%
- Aluminum (Al): 90.0% Zinc (Zn): 5.6-6.1%
- Magnesium (Mg): 2.1-2.5 percent
- Copper (Cu): 1.2-1.6%
- Chromium (Cr): 0.18-0.28 percent
- Silicon (Si): 0.4% max.
- Iron (Fe): 0.5% max.
- Manganese (Mn): 0.3% max.
- Titanium (Ti): 0.2% max.
- Others: maximum 0.15%
6061 aluminum alloy is a kind of aluminum alloy containing magnesium and silicon, its main alloying elements are magnesium, silicon, copper and chromium, and the content of aluminum is about 98%. 6061 aluminum alloy has the following chemical composition:
- Aluminum (Al): 97.9 percent
- Magnesium (Mg): 1.0 percent
- Aluminum (Al): 97.9% Magnesium (Mg): 1.0% Silicon (Si): 0.6%
- Aluminum (Al): 97.9% Magnesium (Mg): 1.0% Silicon (Si): 0.6% Copper (Cu): 0.28
- Aluminum (Al): 97.9% Magnesium (Mg): 1.0% Silicon (Si): 0.6% Copper (Cu): 0.28
- Silicon (Si): 0.6% max.
- Iron (Fe): 0.7% max.
- Manganese (Mn): 0.15% maximum
- Titanium (Ti): 0.15% max.
- Others: 0.15% max
As can be seen from the composition, 7075 aluminum alloy has a high content of alloying elements, especially zinc, magnesium and copper, which makes 7075 aluminum alloy have high strength and hardness, but also reduces its corrosion resistance and weldability. 6061 aluminum alloy has a lower content of alloying elements, especially copper, which makes 6061 aluminum alloy have better corrosion resistance and weldability, but also reduces its strength and hardness.
The performance of aluminum alloy mainly depends on its alloying elements and heat treatment process, different aluminum alloys have different performance levels, usually indicated by letters and numbers, such as O, T4, T6, etc. O indicates annealed condition, T4 indicates natural aging after solid solution treatment, and T6 indicates artificial aging after solid solution treatment. Generally speaking, the performance of T6 is better than that of T4, and the performance of T4 is better than that of O. The following are some of the performance parameters of 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy:
| Aluminum alloy | Performance level | density（g/cm³） | Yield Strength（MPa） | tensile strength（MPa） | Elongation（%） | Elastic Modulus（GPa） | Thermal conductivity（W/m·K） | melting point（℃） |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7075 | O | 2.81 | 103 | 228 | 13 | 71.7 | 130 | 475-635 |
| 7075 | T6 | 2.81 | 503 | 572 | 11 | 71.7 | 130 | 475-635 |
| 6061 | O | 2.70 | 55 | 124 | 25 | 68.9 | 167 | 580-650 |
| 6061 | T6 | 2.70 | 276 | 310 | 12 | 68.9 | 167 | 580-650 |
As can be seen from the table, the density of 7075 aluminum alloy is slightly higher than that of 6061 aluminum alloy, but its yield strength and tensile strength are much higher than that of 6061 aluminum alloy, especially in the state of T6, the strength of 7075 aluminum alloy is nearly twice that of 6061 aluminum alloy. This shows that 7075 aluminum alloy is a kind of high-strength aluminum alloy, which is suitable for structural parts with high loads.The elongation of 6061 aluminum alloy is slightly higher than that of 7075 aluminum alloy, which shows that 6061 aluminum alloy has better plasticity, and it is suitable for molding complex parts.The elastic modulus of 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy is similar, which shows that they are quite stiff.The thermal conductivity of 6061 aluminum alloy is higher than that of 7075 aluminum alloy, which shows that 6061 aluminum alloy is more rigid than 7075 aluminum alloy. The thermal conductivity of 7075 aluminum alloy is higher than that of 6061 aluminum alloy, which indicates that 6061 aluminum alloy has better thermal conductivity and is suitable for parts with high heat dissipation requirements. 7075 aluminum alloy's melting point is lower than that of 6061 aluminum alloy, which indicates that 7075 aluminum alloy's thermal stability is poorer and is not suitable for use in high temperature environments.
The machining of aluminum alloy mainly includes mechanical processing and welding processing. Mechanical processing refers to the processing of shape and size of aluminum alloy through cutting, stamping, drawing and other ways. Welding processing refers to the processing of aluminum alloy connection through arc welding, gas welding, laser welding and other ways.
The machining performance of 7075 aluminum alloy is poor, requiring high cutting force and cutting temperature, which is easy to cause tool wear and surface roughness. 7075 aluminum alloy also has poor welding performance, which is easy to produce cracks, porosity and heat-affected zones, and requires the use of special welding process and welding materials. 7075 aluminum alloy is difficult to process, requiring professional equipment and technology, and high cost.
6061 aluminum alloy has better machining performance, requires lower cutting force and cutting temperature, and is easy to obtain smooth surfaces and precise dimensions. 6061 aluminum alloy also has better welding performance, is easy to weld with other aluminum alloys or steel, and is not easy to produce defects and deformations. 6061 aluminum alloy is less difficult to process, and can be processed using conventional equipment and technology, at a lower cost.
The application of aluminum alloy mainly depends on its performance and price. Different aluminum alloys are suitable for different fields and industries. Below are some of the partial applications and industries for some of the 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy:
- 7075 Aluminum Alloy: Due to its high strength and hardness, 7075 Aluminum Alloy is mainly used in the fields of aerospace, military, automobile, machinery, etc. to manufacture aircraft structural parts, missile parts, automobile wheels, machine tool parts, etc. 7075 Aluminum Alloy is also used in some high-end sports equipment, such as bicycles, golf clubs, ski poles, etc. 7075 Aluminum Alloy is also used in some high-end sporting equipment, such as bicycles, golf clubs, ski poles, etc.
- 6061 Aluminum Alloy: Due to its good corrosion resistance and weldability, 6061 Aluminum Alloy is mainly used in the fields of construction, transportation, electronics, chemical industry, etc. to manufacture building doors and windows, bridges, rail vehicles, ships, circuit boards, fuel tanks, etc. 6061 Aluminum Alloy is also used in some daily necessities, such as automobile parts, furniture, kitchen utensils and cameras.
The price of aluminum alloy mainly depends on its composition, performance, processing, demand and other factors, different aluminum alloys have different market price. Below are some price data of 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy:
| Aluminum alloy | Specification（mm） | unit | Price (yuan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7075 | 10×1220×2440 | piece | 1100 |
| 7075 | 20×1220×2440 | piece | 2100 |
| 7075 | 30×1220×2440 | piece | 3100 |
| 6061 | 10×1220×2440 | piece | 800 |
| 6061 | 20×1220×2440 | piece | 1500 |
| 6061 | 30×1220×2440 | piece | 2200 |
From the table, it can be seen that the price of 7075 aluminum alloy is higher than 6061 aluminum alloy, especially in the specification of larger thickness, the price of 7075 aluminum alloy is nearly twice as much as 6061 aluminum alloy. This indicates that 7075 aluminum alloy is more costly and requires more alloying elements and a more complex heat treatment process. 6061 aluminum alloy has a lower price, which indicates that 6061 aluminum alloy is less costly and requires fewer alloying elements and a simpler heat treatment process.
Are you looking for a reliable 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy machining partner? If so, you've come to the right place.Richconn is a professional customized precision machine shop located in Shenzhen, China, with many years of experience and advanced equipment, we are able to provide you with high-quality CNC machining services and rapid prototyping manufacturing services.
With rich experience in aluminum alloy machining, we are able to select the right aluminum alloy material and machining process according to your design requirements and applications to ensure the performance and quality of your products. We are looking forward to cooperating with you to create high quality 7075 aluminum alloy and 6061 aluminum alloy products for you.
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