Aluminum 6018
AA 6018 · EN AlMg1SiPbMn
6018 (AlMg1SiPbMn) is a lead-containing free-cutting Al-Mg-Si alloy with a manganese addition, available in O, T4, T5, T6, T651, T6510, T6511, T8 and T9.
Reference datasheet — 6018 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
6018 tempers and conditions
6018 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition, used for intermediate forming or for stock that will be solution treated and aged later. | 65 | 130 | 22 | 35 HB | 49 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Choose when parts must be bent, staked or headed after machining and aged to T6 afterwards. | 130 | 235 | 18 | 65 HB | 38 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Economical press-quenched temper for smaller sections where full T6 strength is not required. | 250 | 290 | 11 | 85 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard stock condition for free-machining bar and rod — peak strength with excellent chip breaking. | 290 | 330 | 10 | 95 HB | 42 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching | Pick for drawn bar and plate that must stay dimensionally stable after heavy metal removal. | 295 | 330 | 10 | 95 HB | 42 % IACS |
Solution treated, stretched, aged; no further straightening | Extruded bar/profile with residual stress removed by stretching — lowest distortion for one-side machining. | 295 | 330 | 10 | 95 HB | 42 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching, minor straightening | Same as T6510 but with allowance for light straightening — the usual purchase spec for long screw-machine bar. | 295 | 330 | 10 | 95 HB | 42 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Cold-drawn-before-aging bar for higher strength and even better surface finish in high-speed turning. | 340 | 370 | 8 | 105 HB | 42 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, artificially aged and cold worked | Highest-strength screw-machine temper; cold drawing after aging maximises hardness and chip control. | 365 | 390 | 7 | 115 HB | 42 % IACS |
What is 6018?
6018 (AlMg1SiPbMn) is a lead-containing free-cutting Al-Mg-Si alloy with a manganese addition, available in O, T4, T5, T6, T651, T6510, T6511, T8 and T9. It is used for machined hardware produced from bar, giving 290 MPa yield, 330 MPa tensile, 10 % elongation and 95 HB (60 HRB) with a machinability rating of 92 and high-quality bored surfaces. Lead restricts fusion welding (weldability 35) and cosmetic anodizing, formability is limited above T4, and maximum service temperature is about 150 °C. 6023 is the lead-free alternative and 6061/6082 the weldable one. 6018 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F). 6018 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 74% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 6018 used for?
- Machined fittings and adapters
- Turned hardware components
- Threaded inserts and bushings
- Instrument and meter bodies
- Pneumatic connector bodies
- Rolled-thread studs and pins
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 98% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 170 W/m·K (98.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 42 % IACS, better than 81% of aluminum grades
6018 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6018-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6018 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical16
6018 has a yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 74% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6018 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 170 W/m·K (98.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6018 conducts electricity at 42 % IACS, better than 81% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), better than 57% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6018 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
6018's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 98% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. 6018 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6018
Is 6018 easy to machine?
Excellent free-cutting behaviour — run high SFM with polished-flute carbide, light feeds and flood coolant; lead gives short chips and mirror-like bores, but collect swarf separately for lead-bearing recycling.
Can 6018 be welded?
Not recommended for fusion welding: lead segregates at grain boundaries and causes hot cracking; use mechanical joining or adhesive bonding, or switch to 6061/6082 where welding is required.
Can 6018 be formed, bent or molded?
Form only in O/T4; in T6 and above bending and thread rolling are limited by low ductility — rolled threads are usually produced before final aging.
6018 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Siwith Mg forms Mg2Si strengthening phase | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Mngrain-structure control, distinguishes 6018 from 6262 | 0.1 – 0.45 | 0.25 |
| Mg≈1 % per AlMg1SiPbMn designation | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Pbfree-machining addition; restricted by RoHS/ELV exemptions | 0.4 – 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Bioptional co-addition in some producer variants | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6018?
Clear sulfuric anodize is possible but expect grey/streaky films from lead particles; chromate conversion, chemical nickel or trivalent passivation give more uniform cosmetics, hard anodizing should be avoided.
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 6018 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AlMg1SiPbMn
How much does 6018 cost?
6018 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.
6018 — frequently asked
What is 6018 used for?
6018 is typically used for machined fittings and adapters, turned hardware components, threaded inserts and bushings, instrument and meter bodies, pneumatic connector bodies and rolled-thread studs and pins. In short: free-cutting Al-Mg-Si bar; mirror-finish bores; poor weldability, leaded.
What is the yield strength of 6018?
6018 has a typical yield strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 74% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 6018 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 98% of aluminum grades). Excellent free-cutting behaviour — run high SFM with polished-flute carbide, light feeds and flood coolant; lead gives short chips and mirror-like bores, but collect swarf separately for lead-bearing recycling.
Can 6018 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Not recommended for fusion welding: lead segregates at grain boundaries and causes hot cracking; use mechanical joining or adhesive bonding, or switch to 6061/6082 where welding is required.
What surface finishes work on 6018?
Clear sulfuric anodize is possible but expect grey/streaky films from lead particles; chromate conversion, chemical nickel or trivalent passivation give more uniform cosmetics, hard anodizing should be avoided.
Can 6018 be formed, bent or molded?
Form only in O/T4; in T6 and above bending and thread rolling are limited by low ductility — rolled threads are usually produced before final aging.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6018?
6018 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 6018-T6 and 6018-O?
T6 is the default condition — standard stock condition for free-machining bar and rod — peak strength with excellent chip breaking. O: softest condition, used for intermediate forming or for stock that will be solution treated and aged later. Yield strength is 290 MPa in T6 versus 65 MPa in O.
How much does 6018 cost?
6018 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)
- EN 573-3 / EN 755-2 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and mechanical properties of extruded bar — CEN (2019)
- Free-machining Al-Mg-Si-Pb screw-machine bar datasheets — European extruders (e.g. Alcoa/Constellium/Aluminium Rheinfelden lines) (2020)
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.