6061 T6 Aluminum Sheet Vs Aluminium Alloy 7075T6

 In terms of structural metal manufacturing, perhaps there is only one metal that has a similar popularity to steel and that is aluminum. The weight of aluminum is only one-third that of steel, but it also has excellent mechanical properties. But not all aluminum has the same properties, so it is necessary to know their differences.

6061 t6 aluminum sheet and aluminum alloy 7075 t6 are two kinds of aircraft grade aluminum for structural applications. Although they are similar in some respects, there are also big differences.

Alloys and Chemical Composition

6061 aluminum sheet is 6xxx aluminum and 7075 is 7xxx aluminum sheet. 6061 aluminum has a higher silicon content, while 7075 has a higher zinc content. It can also be seen that both alloys contain a large amount of magnesium, but 7075 has a slightly higher magnesium content. 7075 aluminum also contains a large amount of copper.

Mechanical Properties

Both 6061 and 7075 aluminum t6 sheet has been heat treated. The tensile strength of 7075-T6 is almost twice that of 6061-T6. The shear strength of 7075-T6 is about 1.5 times that of 6061-T6. The lower hardness makes aluminum 6061 easier to manufacture than 7075 alloy.

6061 aluminum sheet is weldable while 7075 is generally considered to be non-weldable. Although 6061 is considered to be weldable, we mus choose a proper welding metal. After welding, heat treatment and aging treatment are also required to restore the welding area to the original temper.

Application

Both are used in bicycle parts, aerospace parts and building structures, but their specific uses are different. For example, in the aerospace industry, aluminum alloy 7075 t6 is more likely to be used as a gear or rod, while 6061 is more likely to be used in areas of greater ductility.

7075 aluminum is more used in molds and industrial tools than 6061. Because 6061 is easier to mold than 7075, 6061 is more commonly used for cans and other objects with round shapes.

Original Source:https://www.aircraftaluminium.com/a/6061-t6-aluminum-sheet-vs-aluminium-alloy-7075t6.html