Tools / Alloys
Aluminum Alloy Selector
Tick what the part has to do. The table below hides the alloys that cannot do it.
9 alloys shown.
| Alloy | Yield MPa | Weld | Anodize | Corrosion | Strength | Flatness | Machining | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061-T6 | 276 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | The default machining alloy. Welds, anodizes evenly, stocked everywhere. |
| 6082-T6 | 260 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | The European equivalent of 6061. Slightly tougher to cut, marginally better corrosion. |
| 7075-T6 | 503 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | Near double the yield of 6061. Does not weld, anodizes darker and unevenly. |
| 7075-T73 | 435 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Overaged 7075. Gives up some strength for real stress corrosion resistance. |
| 2024-T351 | 325 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Chosen for fatigue life. Corrodes badly bare, so it always needs a coating. |
| 5052-H32 | 193 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Formed and folded parts, enclosures. Gummy to machine. |
| 5083-H111 | 228 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Marine structural plate. Not heat treatable, so it will not match 6061 hardness. |
| MIC-6 plate | 110 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Cast and stress relieved. Stays flat after machining, but threads are weak. |
| 6063-T6 | 214 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | The extrusion alloy. Excellent anodized appearance, lower strength than 6061. |
Scores run 1 to 5 and are editorial judgements for comparison, not measured values. Yield figures are typical published values for the stated temper and are not a guarantee for your part.
Questions
Which aluminum should I specify if I genuinely do not know?
Write 6061-T6. It is right for most brackets, housings, mounts and plates, it welds, it anodizes evenly and every shop stocks it. Move away from it only when something forces your hand: welding rules out 7075, salt water points at 5083, a large flat plate points at cast tooling plate.
Why do the scores not include a price column?
Material price moves with size, region, quantity and the week, so a published number would be wrong for most readers. What is stable is the ranking: 6061 and 6063 are the cheap baseline, 7075 and 2024 run two to three times higher per kilo, and cast tooling plate carries its own premium.
Are the scores measured values?
No. The yield figures are typical published values for the stated temper, but the one to five scores are editorial judgements for comparison only. They are there to narrow a shortlist, not to qualify a design.
Read further
- Full alloy referenceOne profile page per alloy, composition, machining and finishing
- 6061 against 7075When the strength upgrade is worth paying for
- TempersWhat T6, T651 and T4 mean on the drawing
- Flat plateMIC-6 against rolled 6061 when flatness matters
- Salt waterWhy the 5000 series survives marine service