Aluminum 6026-T4
Temper
AA 6026 · UNS A96026 · EN AW-6026
T4 = solution heat treated and naturally aged
Choose when parts must be bent/staked after machining and later aged or left as-is.
Values for the T4 condition
Other 6026 tempers and conditions
6026 is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at 6026.
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 |
T4This page 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-T4?
6026-T4 is 6026 in the T4 temper — choose when parts must be bent/staked after machining and later aged or left as-is. 6026-T4 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi). 6026-T4 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). T9 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; T4 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 82/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 18%, better than 86% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 100°C (212 °F), worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
6026-T4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6026-T4; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 6026 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6026-T4 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-T4 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi).
Thermal6
6026-T4 is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °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
6026-T4 conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 61% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), better than 62% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6026-T4 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-T4's machinability is very good (82/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability fair (50/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 6026-T4
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.
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.
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 | — |
6026-T4 — frequently asked
What is 6026-T4 used for?
6026-T4 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-T4?
6026-T4 has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 6026-T4 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (82/100, better than 94% 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-T4 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-T4?
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-T4 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-T4?
6026-T4 is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.