Aluminum B4C/6061
also MMCC B4C-Al
B4C/6061 is a powder-metallurgy aluminum metal-matrix composite — a 6061 matrix reinforced with boron carbide particulate at nominal 10, 20 and 30% loadings (MMCC B4C-Al), available F, O, T4, T5, T6, T651 and T7.
Reference datasheet — B4C/6061 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 T651 condition
B4C/6061 tempers and conditions
B4C/6061 is supplied in 10 conditions, soft to hard. T651 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Choose when the panel must be bent, roll-formed or deep-drawn before final ageing. | 85 | 165 | 12 | 48 HB | 38 % IACS |
As fabricated | Lowest-cost condition for non-structural shielding plate where strength is not credited. | 150 | 250 | 8 | 75 HB | 36 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Intermediate strength with better ductility for forming operations after solution treatment. | 175 | 285 | 9 | 85 HB | 28 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and overaged (stabilized) | Pick for cask baskets that see long-term elevated temperature, to lock dimensions and avoid in-service ageing drift. | 245 | 290 | 6 | 95 HB | 36 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Economical temper for extruded absorber channels and angles where full T6 strength is not required. | 255 | 300 | 5 | 100 HB | 33 % IACS |
30 vol% B₄C | Maximum practical loading for thin, high-¹⁰B-density shielding sheet; brittle, PCD tooling and abrasive waterjet cutting mandatory. | 270 | 290 | 1.5 | 148 HB | 24 % IACS |
20 vol% B₄C | Common rack-panel loading giving high ¹⁰B areal density in thin plate with acceptable handling strength. | 295 | 330 | 3 | 128 HB | 29 % IACS |
T651Default T6, stress relieved by stretching | Standard stocked condition for flat neutron-absorber plate that will be machined to close tolerance without distortion. | 300 | 345 | 4.5 | 115 HB | 32 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Peak-strength condition for extrusions, forgings and machined absorber components. | 300 | 345 | 4.5 | 115 HB | 32 % IACS |
10 vol% B₄C | Lowest loading: best ductility and machinability, for thicker sections where areal ¹⁰B density is made up by thickness. | 305 | 350 | 6 | 105 HB | 35 % IACS |
What is B4C/6061?
B4C/6061 is a powder-metallurgy aluminum metal-matrix composite — a 6061 matrix reinforced with boron carbide particulate at nominal 10, 20 and 30% loadings (MMCC B4C-Al), available F, O, T4, T5, T6, T651 and T7. Engineers specify it for neutron absorption at low weight, since boron has a high neutron-capture cross-section, typically as consolidated plate, extrusion and machined rack cells; T6 values run about 300 MPa yield, 345 MPa tensile, 4.5% elongation, 115 HB and 140 W/m·K. Limits are severe tool wear (machinability rating 22), unreliable fusion welding, a 175 °C service ceiling and long mill lead times. Unreinforced 6061-T6 is the cheaper choice when shielding is not required. B4C/6061 has a density of 2.67 g/cm³ (0.0965 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F). B4C/6061 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4.5% and the elastic modulus is 92 GPa (13.3 Msi).
What is B4C/6061 used for?
- spent nuclear fuel racks
- neutron shielding panels
- cask liners
- radiation shielding structures
Advantages
- Stiff — 92 GPa (13.3 Msi), better than 99% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), better than 83% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 300 MPa (43.5 ksi), better than 77% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 98% of aluminum grades
- High embodied carbon — 14 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Low fracture toughness — 17 MPa·√m (15.5 ksi·√in), worse than 83% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
B4C/6061 properties
Typical room-temperature values for B4C/6061-T651; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
B4C/6061 has a density of 2.67 g/cm³ (0.0965 lb/in³), lighter than 78% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F).
Mechanical15
B4C/6061 has a yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4.5% and the elastic modulus is 92 GPa (13.3 Msi).
Thermal6
B4C/6061 is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 140 W/m·K (80.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 20.5 µm/m·K (11.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
B4C/6061 conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, worse than 63% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of B4C/6061 takes about 235 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 97% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
B4C/6061's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 98% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (20/100).
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. B4C/6061 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with B4C/6061
Is B4C/6061 easy to machine?
Highly abrasive — use PCD or CVD-diamond tooling, high speed/low feed, flood coolant; abrasive waterjet or diamond sawing for cut-to-size, and expect carbide tools to fail in minutes.
Can B4C/6061 be welded?
Friction stir welding and solid-state joining are preferred; fusion (TIG/MIG) with 4043/4047 filler is possible only in low-loading grades because molten Al reacts with B₄C to form brittle Al₃BC/AlB₂ and the weld pool is sluggish — mechanical fastening is common in racks.
Can B4C/6061 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied by powder metallurgy consolidation plus extrusion/rolling; cold forming limited to gentle bends (≥4t radius) in O or T4 temper, hot forming 400–480 °C for tighter radii.
B4C/6061 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 |
|---|---|---|
| B4C (particulate reinforcement)wt%; 15 vol% ≈ 14 wt%. Enriched ¹⁰B optional; natural B is ~19.9 % ¹⁰B | 9 – 30 | 14 |
| Mgmatrix (6061) | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Simatrix (6061) | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Cumatrix (6061) | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.28 |
| Crmatrix (6061) | 0.04 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Feimpurity max | ≤ 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Mnimpurity max | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Znimpurity max | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Tiimpurity max | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Others (each/total)0.05 each / 0.15 total | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Almatrix balance | balance |
What surface finishes work on B4C/6061?
Sulfuric or hard anodize gives an uneven film because B₄C particles do not convert; chromate/trivalent conversion coating or paint is the usual protection, and mechanical polishing leaves particle relief.
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 B4C/6061 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- MMCC B4C-Al
How much does B4C/6061 cost?
B4C/6061 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
B4C/6061 — frequently asked
What is B4C/6061 used for?
B4C/6061 is typically used for spent nuclear fuel racks, neutron shielding panels, cask liners and radiation shielding structures. In short: neutron-absorbing aluminum MMC; lightweight shielding structural plate; requires diamond tooling.
What is the yield strength of B4C/6061?
B4C/6061 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 77% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is B4C/6061 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 98% of aluminum grades). Highly abrasive — use PCD or CVD-diamond tooling, high speed/low feed, flood coolant; abrasive waterjet or diamond sawing for cut-to-size, and expect carbide tools to fail in minutes.
Can B4C/6061 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Friction stir welding and solid-state joining are preferred; fusion (TIG/MIG) with 4043/4047 filler is possible only in low-loading grades because molten Al reacts with B₄C to form brittle Al₃BC/AlB₂ and the weld pool is sluggish — mechanical fastening is common in racks.
What surface finishes work on B4C/6061?
Sulfuric or hard anodize gives an uneven film because B₄C particles do not convert; chromate/trivalent conversion coating or paint is the usual protection, and mechanical polishing leaves particle relief.
Can B4C/6061 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied by powder metallurgy consolidation plus extrusion/rolling; cold forming limited to gentle bends (≥4t radius) in O or T4 temper, hot forming 400–480 °C for tighter radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of B4C/6061?
B4C/6061 is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between B4C/6061-T651 and B4C/6061-O?
T651 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for flat neutron-absorber plate that will be machined to close tolerance without distortion. O: choose when the panel must be bent, roll-formed or deep-drawn before final ageing. Yield strength is 300 MPa in T651 versus 85 MPa in O.
How much does B4C/6061 cost?
B4C/6061 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- ASTM B932 — Standard Specification for Low-Carbon Nickel...(Aluminum-Alloy and Aluminum-Matrix Composite Neutron Absorbing Materials for Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage) — ASTM International (2014)
- ASTM B209 / Aluminum Association Teal Sheets (6061 matrix chemistry & temper definitions) — ASTM / The Aluminum Association (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 21: Composites — Discontinuously Reinforced Aluminum — ASM International (2001)
- Al-B4C neutron absorber plate datasheets (Rio Tinto Alcan, Holtec Metamic, Ceradyne/3M, / ) — various producers (2023)
- NRC/EPRI neutron absorber material performance reports (Al-B4C MMC service data) — US NRC / EPRI (2019)
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.