Aluminum 6070
AA 6070 · UNS A96070 · EN AW-6070, AW 6070
6070 is a copper-bearing, high-strength Al-Mg-Si-(Mn) 6000-series wrought alloy strengthened by Mg₂Si plus Cu, reaching T6 strengths close to 2014 and 6013 while remaining extrudable and weldable.
6070 tempers and conditions
6070 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick for maximum formability before solution treating and aging. | 69 | 145 | 20 | 35 HB | 47 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Choose when parts must be bent, drawn or formed after heat treatment and later aged to T6. | 172 | 315 | 20 | 90 HB | 39 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Economical press-quench temper for extruded shapes where full T6 strength is not required. | 295 | 340 | 11 | 105 HB | 43 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard high-strength condition for structural extrusions, forgings and machined parts. | 350 | 380 | 10 | 120 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6, heat treated by the user | High-strength Al-Mg-Si-Cu extrusion alloy re-solutionized from O/F stock and artificially aged, giving T6-level strength with good weldability. | 350 | 380 | 10 | 120 HB | 44 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching, minor straightening | Preferred for extruded bar/shapes that will be heavily machined, since residual stress and distortion are minimized. | 350 | 380 | 10 | 120 HB | 44 % IACS |
What is 6070?
6070 is a copper-bearing, high-strength Al-Mg-Si-(Mn) 6000-series wrought alloy strengthened by Mg₂Si plus Cu, reaching T6 strengths close to 2014 and 6013 while remaining extrudable and weldable. It is used for heavily loaded extruded profiles, forgings, automotive and transport structures and bicycle/motorcycle parts, and is stocked in O, T4, T5, T6, T62 and T6511. Compared with 6061 the higher Cu and Mn content reduces corrosion resistance — particularly intergranular and exfoliation resistance — gives a slightly off-tint clear anodize, and forces lower extrusion speeds. Use 6061 where corrosion resistance or press output matter more than strength. 6070 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 566°C (1,051 °F). 6070 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 83% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 6070 used for?
- Heavy structural extrusions
- Truck frame rails
- Heavy forgings
- Automotive and transport structural members
- Bicycle and motorcycle components
- Welded load-bearing frames
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 44 % IACS, better than 85% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 350 MPa (50.8 ksi), better than 83% of aluminum grades
6070 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
6070 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 566°C (1,051 °F).
Mechanical12
6070 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 83% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6070 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 23.5 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6070 conducts electricity at 44 % IACS, better than 85% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), better than 57% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6070 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
6070's machinability is good (60/100, worse than 51% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. 6070 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 6070
Is 6070 easy to machine?
Machines cleanly in T6/T6511 with sharp carbide tooling, high speed and flood or mist lubrication; chips are shorter than 6061-T6.
Can 6070 be welded?
Readily GMAW/GTAW welded with 4043 (or 5356 for anodized appearance); HAZ drops toward T4 strength, so post-weld aging or joint design allowance is needed and crater cracking must be avoided.
Can 6070 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and forge in O or T4; T6 material has limited bend radius. Extrusion speeds are lower and press pressures higher than for 6063/6061 because of the Si-Mn-Cu load.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to 6070. Every 6070 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better60 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.1 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 350 / 420 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 8× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend35 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair70 / 100 |
6070 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 | 1 – 1.7 | 1.4 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Cu | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Mn | 0.4 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Mg | 0.5 – 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Ti | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Others (each)0.15 total | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 6070?
Takes hard and protective anodize well and accepts chromate/paint systems; clear decorative anodize is slightly darker/off-tint due to Cu and Mn, so match-critical parts should be color-anodized or painted.
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).
Passivation
Conversion Coating
PVD Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 6070 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A96070
- Aluminum Association
- AA6070
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AW-6070AW 6070
How much does 6070 cost?
6070 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 80% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
6070 — frequently asked
What is 6070 used for?
6070 is typically used for heavy structural extrusions, truck frame rails, heavy forgings, automotive and transport structural members, bicycle and motorcycle components and welded load-bearing frames. In short: heavy section forging alloy.
What is the yield strength of 6070?
6070 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) — stronger than 83% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6070 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, worse than 51% of aluminum grades). Machines cleanly in T6/T6511 with sharp carbide tooling, high speed and flood or mist lubrication; chips are shorter than 6061-T6.
Can 6070 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Readily GMAW/GTAW welded with 4043 (or 5356 for anodized appearance); HAZ drops toward T4 strength, so post-weld aging or joint design allowance is needed and crater cracking must be avoided.
What surface finishes work on 6070?
Takes hard and protective anodize well and accepts chromate/paint systems; clear decorative anodize is slightly darker/off-tint due to Cu and Mn, so match-critical parts should be color-anodized or painted.
Can 6070 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and forge in O or T4; T6 material has limited bend radius. Extrusion speeds are lower and press pressures higher than for 6063/6061 because of the Si-Mn-Cu load.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6070?
6070 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does 6070 cost?
6070 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 80% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 6070?
Yes — 6070 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- EN 573-3 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Chemical composition of wrought products — CEN (2019)
- ASTM B221 Standard Specification for Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes — ASTM (2021)
- Wrought aluminium alloy property records (6070-O / T4 / T6) — MatWeb / ASM Alloy Center (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.