Aluminum 6065-O (Annealed)
Temper
AA 6065 · UNS A96065 · EN AlMg1Bi1Si
Softest condition, supplied for heavy cold drawing, upsetting or bending before re-heat-treatment.
Values for the O condition
Other 6065 tempers and conditions
6065 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 6065.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OThis page Annealed | Softest condition, supplied for heavy cold drawing, upsetting or bending before re-heat-treatment. | 85 | 175 | 20 | 40 HB | 50 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching | Choose when straightness and low residual stress matter for long machined parts. | 370 | 400 | 10 | 118 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching, minor straightening | Extruded bar temper with tightest straightness/stress control for precision turned components. | 370 | 400 | 10 | 118 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard high-strength condition for extruded/cold-finished bar destined for automatic-lathe machining. | 375 | 400 | 10 | 120 HB | 44 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, cold worked and artificially aged | Cold-drawn-then-aged bar giving slightly higher strength and better surface finish than T6. | 385 | 405 | 10 | 120 HB | 44 % IACS |
Solution heat treated, artificially aged and cold worked | Peak-strength cold-finished bar temper; best chip control, dimensional accuracy and surface finish for high-volume screw-machine work. | 400 | 415 | 10 | 125 HB | 44 % IACS |
What is 6065-O?
6065-O is 6065 in the O temper — softest condition, supplied for heavy cold drawing, upsetting or bending before re-heat-treatment. 6065-O has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 6065-O has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F). T6 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; O is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 90% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 50 % IACS, better than 90% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 20%, better than 89% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 190 W/m·K (109.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 75/100, better than 86% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 85 MPa (12.3 ksi), worse than 88% of aluminum grades
6065-O properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6065-O; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 6065 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6065-O has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F).
Mechanical12
6065-O has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6065-O is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 190 W/m·K (109.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6065-O conducts electricity at 50 % IACS, better than 90% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6065-O takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
6065-O's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability very good (75/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 6065-O
Is 6065 easy to machine?
Excellent free-cutting behaviour: Bi particles break chips, allowing high feeds, small radii and reamed/threaded features with long tool life; use polished-flute carbide and mist/flood coolant.
Can 6065 be welded?
Fusion welding is not recommended — bismuth phases cause hot cracking and porosity; join by mechanical means, adhesive or friction/resistance processes if unavoidable.
Can 6065 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as extruded or cold-drawn bar; bend and thread-roll only in O/T4, T6–T9 tempers have limited ductility (10% elongation).
What surface finishes work on 6065?
Anodizes clear and hard well (good for hard-coat and Type II); bright decorative anodize may show fine spotting from Bi particles — chromate/electroless plating also practical.
6065 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 | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Cu | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Mg | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Cr | 0.04 – 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Ti | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Bifree-machining addition; replaces Pb of 6262 | 0.5 – 1.5 | 1 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
6065-O — frequently asked
What is 6065-O used for?
6065-O is typically used for machined bar stock parts, screw-machine fittings and adapters, threaded connectors and bushings, hydraulic and pneumatic valve bodies, instrument and sensor housings and precision turned shafts and spacers. In short: free-machining 6000-series alloy; bismuth chip breaker; not for fusion welding.
What is the yield strength of 6065-O?
6065-O has a typical yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 175 MPa (25.4 ksi) — weaker than 88% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6065-O easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 59% of aluminum grades). Excellent free-cutting behaviour: Bi particles break chips, allowing high feeds, small radii and reamed/threaded features with long tool life; use polished-flute carbide and mist/flood coolant.
Can 6065-O be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Fusion welding is not recommended — bismuth phases cause hot cracking and porosity; join by mechanical means, adhesive or friction/resistance processes if unavoidable.
What surface finishes work on 6065-O?
Anodizes clear and hard well (good for hard-coat and Type II); bright decorative anodize may show fine spotting from Bi particles — chromate/electroless plating also practical.
Can 6065-O be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as extruded or cold-drawn bar; bend and thread-roll only in O/T4, T6–T9 tempers have limited ductility (10% elongation).
What is the maximum service temperature of 6065-O?
6065-O is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 6065-T6 and 6065-O?
T6 is the default condition — standard high-strength condition for extruded/cold-finished bar destined for automatic-lathe machining. O: softest condition, supplied for heavy cold drawing, upsetting or bending before re-heat-treatment. Yield strength is 375 MPa in T6 versus 85 MPa in O.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B211 / B221 — Aluminum-Alloy Bar, Rod, Wire and Extruded Bar — ASTM (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Lead-free free-machining Al-Mg-Si-Bi bar datasheets (extruder/drawer literature) — Various producers (2023)
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.