Aluminum 6101 · temper · default condition
Aluminum 6101-T6
Properties of the T6 condition, compared with the other 6101 tempers.
Standard high-strength conductor temper for extruded bus bar and electrical profiles where 55 % IACS minimum is acceptable.
What is 6101-T6?
6101-T6 is 6101 in the T6 temper — standard high-strength conductor temper for extruded bus bar and electrical profiles where 55 % IACS minimum is acceptable. 6101-T6 has a yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — stronger than 50% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 6101-T6 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 621°C (1,150 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 218 W/m·K (126 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 57 % IACS, better than 94% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 15%, better than 82% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 65/100, better than 82% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 79% of aluminum grades
6101-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6101-T6 — 13 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 6101 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
6101-T6 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 621°C (1,150 °F).
Mechanical11
6101-T6 has a yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — stronger than 50% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
6101-T6 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 218 W/m·K (126 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.5 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6101-T6 conducts electricity at 57 % IACS, better than 94% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 71% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6101-T6 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
6101-T6's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 58% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 6101 tempers and conditions
6101 is also supplied in 5 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 6101 overview.
- T6DefaultStandard high-strength conductor temper for extruded bus bar and electrical profiles where 55 % IACS minimum is acceptable.195 MPa yield · 71 HB
- T65Highest-strength 6101 bus temper for structurally loaded conductor profiles; least formable.185 MPa yield · 72 HB
- T63Balanced bus-bar temper: near-T6 strength with 55 % IACS minimum and better bend performance than T65.175 MPa yield · 65 HB
- T61Choose when 57 % IACS minimum conductivity and good bendability matter more than strength (heavy bus bar, formed connectors).110 MPa yield · 48 HB
- T64Lowest-strength, highest-conductivity bus temper for tight bends and stamped conductive parts.90 MPa yield · 40 HB
- H111Soft, non-age-hardened 6101 with only incidental strain hardening from forming — low strength but maximum ductility and near-peak electrical conductivity, used where conductors are bent or formed before aging/service.55 MPa yield · 28 HB
Working with 6101-T6
Is 6101 easy to machine?
Machines easily but gummy in soft tempers — use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant; T6/T65 give the cleanest chips.
Can 6101 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 4043 (lower conductivity joint) or 5356; HAZ loses temper, so bolted or exothermically welded joints are preferred for busbar ampacity.
Can 6101 be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes very well into thin-web conductor profiles; bend in T61/T64 (typ. 1–2 t radius) rather than T6/T65 to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on 6101?
Bare surfaces are usually brushed and tin- or silver-plated at contact faces; clear/hard anodize is possible but insulating, so mask joint areas.
6101 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 | 0.3 – 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Culimited to protect conductivity | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Mg | 0.35 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Bboron treatment removes Ti/V for higher conductivity | ≤ 0.06 | — |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
6101-T6 — frequently asked
What is 6101-T6 used for?
6101-T6 is typically used for busbars, electrical conductors and heat sinks. In short: maximum electrical conductivity.
What is the yield strength of 6101-T6?
6101-T6 has a typical yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) — stronger than 50% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 6101-T6 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 58% of aluminum grades). Machines easily but gummy in soft tempers — use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, generous coolant; T6/T65 give the cleanest chips.
Can 6101-T6 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 4043 (lower conductivity joint) or 5356; HAZ loses temper, so bolted or exothermically welded joints are preferred for busbar ampacity.
What surface finishes work on 6101-T6?
Bare surfaces are usually brushed and tin- or silver-plated at contact faces; clear/hard anodize is possible but insulating, so mask joint areas.
Can 6101-T6 be formed, bent or molded?
Extrudes very well into thin-web conductor profiles; bend in T61/T64 (typ. 1–2 t radius) rather than T6/T65 to avoid cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6101-T6?
6101-T6 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 6101-T6 and 6101-H111?
T6 is the default condition — standard high-strength conductor temper for extruded bus bar and electrical profiles where 55 % IACS minimum is acceptable. H111: soft, non-age-hardened 6101 with only incidental strain hardening from forming — low strength but maximum ductility and near-peak electrical conductivity, used where conductors are bent or formed before aging/service. Yield strength is 195 MPa in T6 versus 55 MPa in H111.
Can FabDigit make parts in 6101-T6?
Yes — 6101-T6 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B317/B317M — Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bar, Rod, Tube, Pipe, Structural Profiles and Profiles for Electrical Purposes (Bus Conductor) — ASTM International (2019)
- EN 573-3 / EN 755-2 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys, chemical composition and mechanical properties of extruded products — CEN (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 3190 / GB/T 5585.2 (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.