Aluminum 6012
AA 6012 · UNS A96012 · EN 3.0615, AlMgSiPb
6012 (3.0615, A96012, AlMgSiPb) is a lead-bearing free-machining version of the Al-Mg-Si 6000-series system, heat treatable to T6/T651/T8.
Reference datasheet — 6012 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 T6 condition
6012 tempers and conditions
6012 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition, used only as an intermediate state before forming or re-heat-treating. | 80 | 150 | 20 | 45 HB | 47 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Pick when parts must be bent, staked, riveted or crimped after machining, or artificially aged later. | 150 | 255 | 16 | 70 HB | 37 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard stocked condition for free-machining bar: peak strength plus the best chip breaking and surface finish. | 295 | 330 | 10 | 100 HB | 40 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching | Choose for close-tolerance machined parts where distortion after heavy stock removal must be minimised. | 295 | 330 | 10 | 100 HB | 40 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Cold-drawn-then-aged bar for the highest strength and hardness with very good chip control on automatic lathes. | 330 | 360 | 8 | 110 HB | 40 % IACS |
What is 6012?
6012 (3.0615, A96012, AlMgSiPb) is a lead-bearing free-machining version of the Al-Mg-Si 6000-series system, heat treatable to T6/T651/T8. It is chosen for precision turned and milled parts where chip control governs cycle time, reaching 295 MPa yield, 330 MPa tensile, 10 % elongation and 100 HB (60 HRB) with a machinability rating of 95; it is stocked mainly as drawn bar and rod. The lead makes it effectively unweldable (weldability 20), formability is poor outside O/T4, service is limited to about 150 °C, and lead-free 6023 or weldable 6262/6082 are the usual substitutes. 6012 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 580°C (1,076 °F). 6012 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 6012 used for?
- screw machine parts
- fittings
- hardware components
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 95/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 165 W/m·K (95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 295 MPa (42.8 ksi), better than 75% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
6012 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6012-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6012 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 580°C (1,076 °F).
Mechanical13
6012 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6012 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 165 W/m·K (95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6012 conducts electricity at 40 % IACS, better than 72% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), better than 57% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6012 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
6012's machinability is excellent (95/100, better than 99% 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.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 6012 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6012
Is 6012 easy to machine?
Outstanding for CNC/multi-spindle work: short broken chips, low built-up edge, high feeds with polished-flute carbide and Al-specific coatings; keep Pb swarf segregated for disposal/recycling.
Can 6012 be welded?
Not recommended for structural welds — Pb causes hot cracking and porosity; use mechanical joining, adhesive bonding or select 6082/6262 where welding is required.
Can 6012 be formed, bent or molded?
Formable only in O/T4; T6/T8 bar tolerates minor staking or thread rolling but sharp bends will crack, so design for machining from bar rather than bending.
6012 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 – 1.4 | 1 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.4 | 0.15 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Mg | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Pbfree-machining addition | 0.4 – 2 | 1 |
| Bioptional, some producers add with Pb | ≤ 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Others (each)total 0.15 max | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6012?
Chromate/phosphate conversion or technical hard anodize is fine; decorative clear/colour anodize looks grey and mottled from Pb particles, and electroless nickel needs careful double-zincate pretreatment.
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 6012 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A96012
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- 3.0615AlMgSiPb
How much does 6012 cost?
6012 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.
6012 — frequently asked
What is 6012 used for?
6012 is typically used for screw machine parts, fittings and hardware components. In short: top free-machining 6000 series; not for welded assemblies; bar-stock CNC workhorse.
What is the yield strength of 6012?
6012 has a typical yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is 6012 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (95/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades). Outstanding for CNC/multi-spindle work: short broken chips, low built-up edge, high feeds with polished-flute carbide and Al-specific coatings; keep Pb swarf segregated for disposal/recycling.
Can 6012 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not recommended for structural welds — Pb causes hot cracking and porosity; use mechanical joining, adhesive bonding or select 6082/6262 where welding is required.
What surface finishes work on 6012?
Chromate/phosphate conversion or technical hard anodize is fine; decorative clear/colour anodize looks grey and mottled from Pb particles, and electroless nickel needs careful double-zincate pretreatment.
Can 6012 be formed, bent or molded?
Formable only in O/T4; T6/T8 bar tolerates minor staking or thread rolling but sharp bends will crack, so design for machining from bar rather than bending.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6012?
6012 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 6012-T6 and 6012-O?
T6 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for free-machining bar: peak strength plus the best chip breaking and surface finish. O: softest condition, used only as an intermediate state before forming or re-heat-treating. Yield strength is 295 MPa in T6 versus 80 MPa in O.
How much does 6012 cost?
6012 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
- EN 573-3 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — chemical composition — CEN (2019)
- EN 755-2 Aluminium extruded rod/bar — mechanical properties — CEN (2016)
- 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 — ASM International (1990)
- Free-machining aluminium bar (AlMgSiPb / EN AW-6012) datasheet — European extruder/drawn-bar producers (2022)
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.