Aluminum 6026
AA 6026 · UNS A96026 · EN AW-6026
6026 (A96026, EN AW-6026) is a free-machining Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy with bismuth (and lead in some variants) added to break chips, positioned as a 6000-series alternative to 2011.
Reference datasheet — 6026 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 T9 condition
6026 tempers and conditions
6026 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. T9 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition, used only as an intermediate before drawing or heavy forming. | 70 | 140 | 25 | 40 HB | 47 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Choose when parts must be bent/staked after machining and later aged or left as-is. | 150 | 255 | 18 | 70 HB | 38 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Economical press-quenched extruded bar/profile when full T6 strength is not required. | 255 | 295 | 11 | 88 HB | 44 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard peak-aged condition for extruded/drawn bar; best balance of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance. | 295 | 330 | 12 | 95 HB | 42 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching | Use for machined parts where low residual stress and dimensional stability matter. | 305 | 335 | 11 | 97 HB | 42 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching, minor straightening | Straight, low-stress extruded bar for long slender turned parts. | 305 | 335 | 11 | 97 HB | 42 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Cold-drawn then aged bar; the direct 2011-T8 replacement with higher strength than T6. | 335 | 365 | 10 | 105 HB | 42 % IACS |
T9Default Solution heat treated, artificially aged and cold worked | The standard stocked free-machining bar temper: highest strength, tightest tolerance and the best chip breaking on CNC lathes and screw machines. | 360 | 385 | 9 | 110 HB | 42 % IACS |
What is 6026?
6026 (A96026, EN AW-6026) is a free-machining Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy with bismuth (and lead in some variants) added to break chips, positioned as a 6000-series alternative to 2011. It is chosen for high-volume turned work on screw machines and Swiss lathes: machinability rates 95, with 360 MPa yield, 385 MPa tensile, 9% elongation and 110 HB in the default temper, supplied as extruded bar and rod. Fusion welding is not recommended because low-melting Bi/Pb films cause hot cracking, cold formability is poor (score 22) and service is limited to about 120 °C. Consider 6262 where anodized appearance or welding matters. 6026 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F). 6026 has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — stronger than 84% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi).
What is 6026 used for?
- precision turned parts
- fasteners
- fittings
- connectors
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 95/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 360 MPa (52.2 ksi), better than 84% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 42 % IACS, better than 81% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 165 W/m·K (95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
6026 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6026-T9; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6026 has a density of 2.72 g/cm³ (0.0983 lb/in³), heavier than 57% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical12
6026 has a yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — stronger than 84% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi).
Thermal6
6026 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °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
6026 conducts electricity at 42 % IACS, better than 81% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), better than 62% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6026 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
6026's machinability is excellent (95/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (22/100).
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. 6026 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6026
Is 6026 easy to machine?
Outstanding turning/drilling performance — Bi(+Pb) particles break chips into short curls, allowing high feeds, dry or MQL cutting and long tool life on screw machines and Swiss lathes.
Can 6026 be welded?
Not recommended for fusion welding: Bi/Pb form low-melting films that cause hot cracking; use mechanical joining, adhesives or friction-based methods instead.
Can 6026 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability, especially in T8/T9 — restrict to light staking, knurling and gentle bends; do heavy forming in O or T4 and age afterwards.
6026 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 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Cu | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 1 | 0.45 |
| Mg | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Bifree-machining chip breaker | 0.5 – 1.5 | 0.9 |
| Pblow-Pb / Pb-free variants supplied for RoHS-type applications | ≤ 0.4 | 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | 0.02 |
| others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6026?
Takes clear/hard anodize with good protection but decorative anodizing can look grey or blotchy; chromate/anodic pretreatment plus paint or electroless nickel are good alternatives.
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 6026 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A96026
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AW-6026
How much does 6026 cost?
6026 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.
6026 — frequently asked
What is 6026 used for?
6026 is typically used for precision turned parts, fasteners, fittings and connectors. In short: best-machining 6000-series alloy; lead-reduced 2011 substitute; not fusion weldable.
What is the yield strength of 6026?
6026 has a typical yield strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — stronger than 84% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 6026 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (95/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades). Outstanding turning/drilling performance — Bi(+Pb) particles break chips into short curls, allowing high feeds, dry or MQL cutting and long tool life on screw machines and Swiss lathes.
Can 6026 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Not recommended for fusion welding: Bi/Pb form low-melting films that cause hot cracking; use mechanical joining, adhesives or friction-based methods instead.
What surface finishes work on 6026?
Takes clear/hard anodize with good protection but decorative anodizing can look grey or blotchy; chromate/anodic pretreatment plus paint or electroless nickel are good alternatives.
Can 6026 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability, especially in T8/T9 — restrict to light staking, knurling and gentle bends; do heavy forming in O or T4 and age afterwards.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6026?
6026 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 6026-T9 and 6026-O?
T9 is the default condition — the standard stocked free-machining bar temper: highest strength, tightest tolerance and the best chip breaking on CNC lathes and screw machines. O: softest condition, used only as an intermediate before drawing or heavy forming. Yield strength is 360 MPa in T9 versus 70 MPa in O.
How much does 6026 cost?
6026 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)
- EN 573-3 / EN 755-2 / EN 754-2 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and mechanical properties of extruded and drawn bar — CEN (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
- Free-machining 6026 bar product data (extruded/drawn T6, T8, T9) — Alcoa / Constellium / Kaiser Aluminum (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.