Aluminum 6053
AA 6053 · UNS A96053
6053 (A96053) is an older heat-treatable Al-Mg-Si-Mn alloy of the 6000-series family, historically used for solid rivets and general-purpose structural hardware and supplied in O, F, T4, T6, T61 and T62.
Reference datasheet — 6053 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
6053 tempers and conditions
6053 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition for maximum formability, cold heading of rivet blanks and severe bending before heat treatment. | 55 | 110 | 35 | 26 HB | 47 % IACS |
As fabricated | Mill product with no property guarantee; used as feedstock to be solution treated and aged by the user. | 90 | 150 | 20 | 42 HB | 48 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Choose when parts must be bent, headed or driven after heat treatment and can age naturally to intermediate strength. | 110 | 195 | 22 | 55 HB | 42 % IACS |
T6 variant, underaged | Classic 6053 rivet temper: aged to a controlled intermediate strength so rivets can still be cold driven without cracking. | 170 | 220 | 13 | 65 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6, heat treated by the user | Same property level as T6 but heat treated from O or F temper by the fabricator after forming. | 215 | 255 | 13 | 80 HB | 45 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard full-strength condition for structural parts, wire and driven rivet stock; best strength/corrosion balance. | 220 | 255 | 13 | 80 HB | 45 % IACS |
What is 6053?
6053 (A96053) is an older heat-treatable Al-Mg-Si-Mn alloy of the 6000-series family, historically used for solid rivets and general-purpose structural hardware and supplied in O, F, T4, T6, T61 and T62. Default values are 220 MPa yield, 255 MPa tensile, 13% elongation and 80 HB, with 172 W/m·K thermal conductivity, 45% IACS and a 150 °C service limit. It welds and anodizes like other Al-Mg-Si alloys, with HAZ softening toward T4 unless re-solution treated and aged. Availability is the main limitation: 6053 has been largely superseded by 6061, which is the direct substitute for new designs. 6053 has a density of 2.69 g/cm³ (0.0972 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F). 6053 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 59% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 6053 used for?
- Solid rivets
- Cold-headed fasteners
- General structural hardware
- Brackets and fittings
- Machined general-purpose bar parts
- Legacy repair and replacement components
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 45 % IACS, better than 86% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 83% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 13%, better than 79% of aluminum grades
6053 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6053-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6053 has a density of 2.69 g/cm³ (0.0972 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical10
6053 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 59% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6053 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6053 conducts electricity at 45 % IACS, better than 86% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 83% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6053 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
6053's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. 6053 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6053
Is 6053 easy to machine?
Machines like 6061-T6: use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant to avoid built-up edge; gummy in O/T4 temper.
Can 6053 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 4043 (general) or 5356 (higher strength/anodizing match); HAZ softens to about T4 level unless re-solution treated and aged.
Can 6053 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, cold head or drive rivets in O, T4 or T61; T6 material needs generous bend radii (≥3t) to avoid cracking.
6053 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiRegistered Si limits are tied to the actual Mg content in the AA record; nominal ~0.7 % | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 0.35 | |
| Cukept low for corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mg | 1.1 – 1.4 | 1.25 |
| Crgrain-structure control | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6053?
Takes clear, colour and hard-coat anodize well; also suitable for chromate/trivalent conversion coating and paint; no special plating issues.
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 6053 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A96053
How much does 6053 cost?
6053 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.
6053 — frequently asked
What is 6053 used for?
6053 is typically used for solid rivets, cold-headed fasteners, general structural hardware, brackets and fittings, machined general-purpose bar parts and legacy repair and replacement components. In short: traditional aluminum rivet alloy; largely replaced by 6061; good anodizing response.
What is the yield strength of 6053?
6053 has a typical yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 255 MPa (37 ksi) — stronger than 59% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6053 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades). Machines like 6061-T6: use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant to avoid built-up edge; gummy in O/T4 temper.
Can 6053 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 4043 (general) or 5356 (higher strength/anodizing match); HAZ softens to about T4 level unless re-solution treated and aged.
What surface finishes work on 6053?
Takes clear, colour and hard-coat anodize well; also suitable for chromate/trivalent conversion coating and paint; no special plating issues.
Can 6053 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, cold head or drive rivets in O, T4 or T61; T6 material needs generous bend radii (≥3t) to avoid cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6053?
6053 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 6053-T6 and 6053-O?
T6 is the default condition — standard full-strength condition for structural parts, wire and driven rivet stock; best strength/corrosion balance. O: softest condition for maximum formability, cold heading of rivet blanks and severe bending before heat treatment. Yield strength is 220 MPa in T6 versus 55 MPa in O.
How much does 6053 cost?
6053 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
- MatWeb aluminium 6053 temper datasheets (O, T6, T61) — MatWeb LLC (2023)
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.