Aluminum 6009
AA 6009 · UNS A96009
6009 is a bake-hardenable Al-Mg-Si automotive sheet alloy (A96009), an early precursor to 6111, formulated to stamp in T4 and gain strength during the paint-bake cycle.
Reference datasheet — 6009 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the T4 condition
6009 tempers and conditions
6009 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. T4 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest, maximum drawability; used for severe forming or as an intermediate condition before solution treatment. | 76 | 152 | 30 | 38 HB | 50 % IACS |
T4Default Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Standard as-delivered automotive sheet condition: formable enough for stamping, then strengthened by the paint-bake cycle. | 131 | 234 | 25 | 62 HB | 44 % IACS |
T4 stamped and paint-bake hardened | In-service condition of a finished body panel: 2 % prestrain plus paint bake raises yield strength by roughly 60–80 MPa over T4. | 205 | 265 | 18 | 78 HB | 45 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Peak-aged condition for parts that need maximum strength and do not require further forming. | 234 | 262 | 12 | 85 HB | 47 % IACS |
T6, heat treated by the user | Reference condition used to report the fully hardened property level of formed 6009 parts after user heat treatment. | 234 | 262 | 11 | 85 HB | 47 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Prestrain-plus-age route (essentially a strong bake response) when the highest strength from stamped 6009 is required. | 255 | 285 | 10 | 92 HB | 45 % IACS |
What is 6009?
6009 is a bake-hardenable Al-Mg-Si automotive sheet alloy (A96009), an early precursor to 6111, formulated to stamp in T4 and gain strength during the paint-bake cycle. In the default condition it provides 131 MPa yield, 234 MPa tensile, 25 % elongation, 62 HB and a formability rating of 80, and it is supplied as coil and blanks in O, T4, T4P, T6, T62 and T8. Corrosion resistance is moderate (score 58), maximum service temperature is about 120 °C, and clear anodizing is only fair because of the copper and manganese content. 6111 is the usual current substitute. 6009 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 560°C (1,040 °F). 6009 has a yield strength of 131 MPa (19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 234 MPa (33.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 6009 used for?
- Automotive outer body panels
- Hoods and fenders
- Door skins and deck lids
- Hemmed closure panels
- Stamped inner reinforcement panels
- Spot-welded sheet sub-assemblies
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 94% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 35 MPa·√m (31.9 ksi·√in), better than 91% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 44 % IACS, better than 85% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
6009 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6009-T4; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6009 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 560°C (1,040 °F).
Mechanical12
6009 has a yield strength of 131 MPa (19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 234 MPa (33.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6009 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6009 conducts electricity at 44 % IACS, better than 85% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), better than 57% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6009 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
6009's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability very good (80/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 6009 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6009
Is 6009 easy to machine?
Machines easily in T6/T62 with polished-flute carbide and good chip evacuation; T4 sheet is gummy and needs sharp tools, high speed and lubricant.
Can 6009 be welded?
Excellent for resistance spot, laser and MIG welding of body panels; use 4043 or 4643 filler for fusion welds and expect HAZ softening back toward T4 strength.
Can 6009 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for stamping in T4 — good stretch and hemming behaviour, low springback compared with 5000 series; avoid extended room-temperature storage drift by controlling natural-aging time before forming.
6009 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 | 0.6 – 1 | 0.8 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Cuprovides bake-hardening response | 0.15 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Mg | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6009?
Standard route is zirconium/phosphate conversion coating plus e-coat and paint; clear anodizing is only fair because of the Cu and Mn content, so dyed or hard anodize is preferred if anodizing is required.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on aluminum parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 6009 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A96009
How much does 6009 cost?
6009 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
6009 — frequently asked
What is 6009 used for?
6009 is typically used for automotive outer body panels, hoods and fenders, door skins and deck lids, hemmed closure panels, stamped inner reinforcement panels and spot-welded sheet sub-assemblies. In short: bake-hardenable body sheet; forms in T4, strengthens in bake; precursor to 6111.
What is the yield strength of 6009?
6009 has a typical yield strength of 131 MPa (19 ksi) and a tensile strength of 234 MPa (33.9 ksi) — weaker than 72% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6009 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Machines easily in T6/T62 with polished-flute carbide and good chip evacuation; T4 sheet is gummy and needs sharp tools, high speed and lubricant.
Can 6009 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Excellent for resistance spot, laser and MIG welding of body panels; use 4043 or 4643 filler for fusion welds and expect HAZ softening back toward T4 strength.
What surface finishes work on 6009?
Standard route is zirconium/phosphate conversion coating plus e-coat and paint; clear anodizing is only fair because of the Cu and Mn content, so dyed or hard anodize is preferred if anodizing is required.
Can 6009 be formed, bent or molded?
Designed for stamping in T4 — good stretch and hemming behaviour, low springback compared with 5000 series; avoid extended room-temperature storage drift by controlling natural-aging time before forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6009?
6009 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 6009-T4 and 6009-T8?
T4 is the default condition — standard as-delivered automotive sheet condition: formable enough for stamping, then strengthened by the paint-bake cycle. T8: prestrain-plus-age route (essentially a strong bake response) when the highest strength from stamped 6009 is required. Yield strength is 131 MPa in T4 versus 255 MPa in T8.
How much does 6009 cost?
6009 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B209 — Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate — ASTM International (2021)
- Aluminum: Properties and Physical Metallurgy (bake-hardenable 6000-series auto sheet) — ASM International (1984)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.