Aluminum 6020 · temper
Aluminum 6020-T4
Properties of the T4 condition, compared with the other 6020 tempers.
Use when moderate strength plus some bending/forming before final artificial ageing is needed.
What is 6020-T4?
6020-T4 is 6020 in the T4 temper — use when moderate strength plus some bending/forming before final artificial ageing is needed. 6020-T4 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 245 MPa (35.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 6020-T4 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 82/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 18%, better than 86% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 60/100, better than 77% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
6020-T4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6020-T4 — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 6020 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
6020-T4 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical12
6020-T4 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 245 MPa (35.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6020-T4 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 155 W/m·K (89.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6020-T4 conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 61% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6020-T4 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
6020-T4's machinability is very good (82/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability good (60/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 6020 tempers and conditions
6020 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 6020 overview.
- T8Cold-drawn-and-aged bar for the highest strength and best surface/size tolerance in high-speed screw-machine work.340 MPa yield · 110 HB
- T6The standard stocked condition for free-machining 6020 bar: peak strength with excellent chip control on automatic lathes.290 MPa yield · 100 HB
- T5Economical press-quenched temper for thin bar/profiles where full T6 strength and tightest straightness are not required.250 MPa yield · 88 HB
- T4Use when moderate strength plus some bending/forming before final artificial ageing is needed.145 MPa yield · 68 HB
- OChoose for maximum cold formability or before re-solution treatment; strength is lowest and chips become gummy.55 MPa yield · 30 HB
Working with 6020-T4
Is 6020 easy to machine?
Outstanding: short broken chips, low built-up edge, high surface finish — run high spindle speeds with polished-flute carbide and light emulsion; ideal for bar-fed automatic lathes.
Can 6020 be welded?
Poor — Pb/Bi low-melting films promote hot cracking and porosity; join mechanically or by adhesive, and if welding is unavoidable use 4043 filler on non-critical joints.
Can 6020 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as extruded/drawn bar; bend only in O/T4 (T6 bar has limited ductility) and avoid tight-radius cold heading.
What surface finishes work on 6020?
Clear or hard anodize is technically acceptable but cosmetically streaky/grey from Pb/Bi particles; chromate/trivalent conversion coating, chemical film or paint give more uniform appearance, and Pb-bearing swarf/effluent needs controlled disposal.
6020 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiAlSi1MgPb designation — verify against the governing AA registration/EN 573-3 sheet | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| MgMg2Si precipitation hardening | 0.6 – 1.1 | 0.85 |
| Pbfree-machining chip breaker (low-melting phase) | 0.3 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Biadded with Pb to form discrete machining phases | 0.2 – 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Cu | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Mn | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Cr | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Timax, grain refiner | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Others (each / total)0.05 each, 0.15 total | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
6020-T4 — frequently asked
What is 6020-T4 used for?
6020-T4 is typically used for brake components, hydraulic valve blocks, pneumatic fittings and connectors, screw-machined nuts and adapters, instrument and meter parts and high-volume turned bushings. In short: high speed; easy machining.
What is the yield strength of 6020-T4?
6020-T4 has a typical yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 245 MPa (35.5 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 6020-T4 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (82/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades). Outstanding: short broken chips, low built-up edge, high surface finish — run high spindle speeds with polished-flute carbide and light emulsion; ideal for bar-fed automatic lathes.
Can 6020-T4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor — Pb/Bi low-melting films promote hot cracking and porosity; join mechanically or by adhesive, and if welding is unavoidable use 4043 filler on non-critical joints.
What surface finishes work on 6020-T4?
Clear or hard anodize is technically acceptable but cosmetically streaky/grey from Pb/Bi particles; chromate/trivalent conversion coating, chemical film or paint give more uniform appearance, and Pb-bearing swarf/effluent needs controlled disposal.
Can 6020-T4 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as extruded/drawn bar; bend only in O/T4 (T6 bar has limited ductility) and avoid tight-radius cold heading.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6020-T4?
6020-T4 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 6020-T4?
Yes — 6020-T4 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
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- EN 573-3 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Chemical composition — CEN (2019)
- EN 755-2 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties — CEN (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Free-machining 6xxx extruded bar datasheets (6262/6012/6020 class) — Aluminium extruders (Hydro / Constellium / Alcoa) (2020)
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.