Aluminum 2060 · temper · default condition
Aluminum 2060-T81
Properties of the T81 condition, compared with the other 2060 tempers.
Standard stocked condition for 2060 sheet and thin plate used in fuselage skins — highest strength/damage-tolerance combination.
What is 2060-T81?
2060-T81 is 2060 in the T81 temper — standard stocked condition for 2060 sheet and thin plate used in fuselage skins — highest strength/damage-tolerance combination. 2060-T81 has a yield strength of 475 MPa (68.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) — stronger than 94% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi). 2060-T81 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 555°C (1,031 °F).
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 40 MPa·√m (36.4 ksi·√in), better than 98% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 475 MPa (68.9 ksi), better than 94% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 105 W/m·K (60.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 40/100, worse than 75% of aluminum grades
2060-T81 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 2060-T81 — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 2060 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
2060-T81 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 555°C (1,031 °F).
Mechanical13
2060-T81 has a yield strength of 475 MPa (68.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) — stronger than 94% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 78 GPa (11.3 Msi).
Thermal6
2060-T81 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 105 W/m·K (60.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 22.6 µm/m·K (12.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
2060-T81 conducts electricity at 30 % IACS, worse than 73% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (40/100), worse than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 2060-T81 takes about 215 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 8%.
Manufacturability7
2060-T81's machinability is good (60/100, better than 50% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (25/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 2060 tempers and conditions
2060 is also supplied in 8 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 2060 overview.
- T81DefaultStandard stocked condition for 2060 sheet and thin plate used in fuselage skins — highest strength/damage-tolerance combination.475 MPa yield · 150 HB
- T87Highest-strength stocked temper; select for strength-critical, low-thickness structure where reduced ductility and toughness are acceptable.500 MPa yield · 158 HB
- T8E30Producer-specific sheet temper originally released for fuselage skin; order this when the aerospace material spec names 2060-T8E30.483 MPa yield · 152 HB
- T8Generic peak-aged T8 family designation; pick when the drawing/order calls out 2060-T8 without a sub-temper.470 MPa yield · 150 HB
- T851Choose for machined plate parts (ribs, spars, frames) where low residual stress and dimensional stability after milling are critical.460 MPa yield · 148 HB
- T8E86Producer-specific plate temper for machined lower-wing/internal structure; specify when the drawing calls out 2060-T8E86 plate.455 MPa yield · 147 HB
- T6Peak-aged condition of 206.0 giving the highest yield strength and hardness of the alloy at the cost of ductility and SCC resistance.380 MPa yield · 120 HB
- T7Standard commercial temper for 206.0/A206.0 premium castings: overaged for dimensional and thermal stability with high strength plus better toughness and SCC resistance than T6.345 MPa yield · 105 HB
- T4Premium-strength Al-Cu-Mg-Mn-Ti casting alloy solution treated and naturally aged; highest ductility/toughness of the 206.0 tempers with moderate yield strength.260 MPa yield · 90 HB
Working with 2060-T81
Is 2060 easy to machine?
Machines like 2024-T851 with polished carbide tools, high speed and flood coolant; Li/Zr constituents are mildly abrasive and chips must be kept dry and separate from other Al scrap.
Can 2060 be welded?
Fusion welding is not recommended (Li burn-off, porosity, hot cracking); joined by riveting, bolting, friction-stir welding or laser/FSW-assisted processes.
Can 2060 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in the freshly quenched or T3-like condition and then age; T8 tempers have limited bend ductility and marked anisotropy, so bend axis vs. rolling direction must be specified.
What surface finishes work on 2060?
Alkaline clean + deox then chromate-free conversion coating or thin-film/chromic anodize plus epoxy primer; isolate from CFRP and steel fasteners with sealant to avoid galvanic attack.
2060 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Si | ≤ 0.07 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.07 | — |
| Cu | 3.4 – 4.5 | 3.95 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Mg | 0.6 – 1.1 | 0.85 |
| Zn | 0.3 – 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Li | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Ag | 0.05 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Zr | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Others (each)each | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total)total | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
2060-T81 — frequently asked
What is 2060-T81 used for?
2060-T81 is typically used for aerospace fuselage skins, stringers and stiffeners, fuselage frames, machined structural fittings, floor beams and seat structure and defence structural castings and machined parts. In short: 3rd-generation Al-Li; damage-tolerant.
What is the yield strength of 2060-T81?
2060-T81 has a typical yield strength of 475 MPa (68.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) — stronger than 94% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 2060-T81 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 50% of aluminum grades). Machines like 2024-T851 with polished carbide tools, high speed and flood coolant; Li/Zr constituents are mildly abrasive and chips must be kept dry and separate from other Al scrap.
Can 2060-T81 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Fusion welding is not recommended (Li burn-off, porosity, hot cracking); joined by riveting, bolting, friction-stir welding or laser/FSW-assisted processes.
What surface finishes work on 2060-T81?
Alkaline clean + deox then chromate-free conversion coating or thin-film/chromic anodize plus epoxy primer; isolate from CFRP and steel fasteners with sealant to avoid galvanic attack.
Can 2060-T81 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in the freshly quenched or T3-like condition and then age; T8 tempers have limited bend ductility and marked anisotropy, so bend axis vs. rolling direction must be specified.
What is the maximum service temperature of 2060-T81?
2060-T81 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 2060-T81 and 2060-T4?
T81 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for 2060 sheet and thin plate used in fuselage skins — highest strength/damage-tolerance combination. T4: premium-strength Al-Cu-Mg-Mn-Ti casting alloy solution treated and naturally aged; highest ductility/toughness of the 206.0 tempers with moderate yield strength. Yield strength is 475 MPa in T81 versus 260 MPa in T4.
Can FabDigit make parts in 2060-T81?
Yes — 2060-T81 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Registration Record of International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminium (Teal Sheets), alloy 2060 — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- Alcoa 2060-T8E30 sheet / 2060-T8E86 plate product information — Alcoa (Arconic) (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum-Lithium Alloys: Processing, Properties and Applications — Elsevier / Butterworth-Heinemann (2014)
- MMPDS-style typical mechanical property practice for 2xxx aerospace alloys — Battelle/FAA (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.