Aluminum Sintered 6061
also MPIF 6061
Sintered 6061 (MPIF 6061) is the powder-metallurgy analogue of wrought 6061 Al-Mg-Si, die compacted and sintered to near-net shape, then supplied in the AT1-T1, AT4-T4 and AT6-T6 classes (Types I and II by density).
Reference datasheet — Sintered 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 AT6-T6-I condition
Sintered 6061 tempers and conditions
Sintered 6061 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. AT6-T6-I 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AT1-6061 Type I | Lowest-cost condition: softest, most ductile and easiest to size or coin after sintering. | 62 | 117 | 4 | 40 HB | 38 % IACS |
AT1-6061 Type II | Same soft T1 state but higher pressed density for better strength, stiffness and surface sealing. | 83 | 145 | 6 | 48 HB | 42 % IACS |
AT4-6061 Type I | Best strength/ductility compromise for parts that are still sized, staked or riveted after heat treatment. | 96 | 148 | 3.5 | 55 HB | 34 % IACS |
AT4-6061 Type II | Higher-density T4 for load-bearing parts that must still tolerate some post-sinter deformation. | 110 | 179 | 5 | 62 HB | 38 % IACS |
AT6-T6-IDefault AT6-6061 Type I | Standard stocked condition: maximum strength and hardness for single-press/single-sinter PM 6061 parts. | 193 | 200 | 1 | 70 HB | 38 % IACS |
AT6-6061 Type II | Highest strength and stiffness variant of sintered 6061; specify for the most loaded PM aluminium parts. | 235 | 245 | 2 | 80 HB | 42 % IACS |
What is Sintered 6061?
Sintered 6061 (MPIF 6061) is the powder-metallurgy analogue of wrought 6061 Al-Mg-Si, die compacted and sintered to near-net shape, then supplied in the AT1-T1, AT4-T4 and AT6-T6 classes (Types I and II by density). It is chosen for small brackets and housings that need moderate strength with better corrosion resistance (score 55) than sintered Al-Cu grades: default values are 2.55 g/cm³, 193 MPa yield, 200 MPa tensile, 1% elongation, 70 HB, 60 GPa modulus, 150 W/m·K, 38% IACS, 150 °C service limit and 582 °C melting point. Porosity keeps elongation at 1%, limits fusion welding (score 30) and dulls anodized films; sintered 2014 gives higher strength if corrosion resistance is less critical. Sintered 6061 has a density of 2.55 g/cm³ (0.0921 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F). Sintered 6061 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 60 GPa (8.7 Msi).
What is Sintered 6061 used for?
- P/M structural brackets
- small housings
- automotive components
- consumer electronics parts
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 60 GPa (8.7 Msi), worse than 100% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- High embodied carbon — 14 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
Sintered 6061 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Sintered 6061-AT6-T6-I; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
Sintered 6061 has a density of 2.55 g/cm³ (0.0921 lb/in³), lighter than 99% of aluminum grades. It melts at 582°C (1,080 °F).
Mechanical13
Sintered 6061 has a yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 60 GPa (8.7 Msi).
Thermal6
Sintered 6061 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 150 W/m·K (86.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 58% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Sintered 6061 conducts electricity at 38 % IACS, better than 61% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Sintered 6061 takes about 225 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 96% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
Sintered 6061's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. Sintered 6061 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Sintered 6061
Is Sintered 6061 easy to machine?
Machines like soft wrought 6061 but pores break chips and can smear — use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, light feeds and flood coolant; deburr and blow out pores before assembly.
Can Sintered 6061 be welded?
Fusion welding is generally avoided: trapped gas and lubricant residue cause weld porosity; join by adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening, staking or brazing of impregnated parts.
Can Sintered 6061 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by die compaction of admixed 6061 powder (typically 200–500 MPa), delubrication and nitrogen sintering near 595–620 °C, then optional repressing/sizing (Type II) and T4/T6 heat treatment; net shrinkage/growth must be built into tooling.
Sintered 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mg | 0.8 – 1.2 | 1 |
| Si | 0.4 – 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Cu | 0.15 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Cr | 0.04 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | 0.2 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Cresidual from admixed lubricant (PM-specific, burn-off dependent) | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Albalance; each other element ≤0.05, total ≤0.15 | balance |
What surface finishes work on Sintered 6061?
Anodizing gives a duller, mottled film unless resin or steam impregnation seals the porosity; chromate/trivalent conversion coating, e-coat or resin impregnation followed by paint are the usual routes, and polishing is limited by open pores.
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 Sintered 6061 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- MPIF 6061
- Also called
- A6061
How much does Sintered 6061 cost?
Sintered 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.
Sintered 6061 — frequently asked
What is Sintered 6061 used for?
Sintered 6061 is typically used for P/M structural brackets, small housings, automotive components and consumer electronics parts. In short: corrosion-resistant P/M aluminum; heat-treatable to T6; near-net shape cost saving.
What is the yield strength of Sintered 6061?
Sintered 6061 has a typical yield strength of 193 MPa (28 ksi) and a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — weaker than 51% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Sintered 6061 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 92% of aluminum grades). Machines like soft wrought 6061 but pores break chips and can smear — use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, light feeds and flood coolant; deburr and blow out pores before assembly.
Can Sintered 6061 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Fusion welding is generally avoided: trapped gas and lubricant residue cause weld porosity; join by adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening, staking or brazing of impregnated parts.
What surface finishes work on Sintered 6061?
Anodizing gives a duller, mottled film unless resin or steam impregnation seals the porosity; chromate/trivalent conversion coating, e-coat or resin impregnation followed by paint are the usual routes, and polishing is limited by open pores.
Can Sintered 6061 be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by die compaction of admixed 6061 powder (typically 200–500 MPa), delubrication and nitrogen sintering near 595–620 °C, then optional repressing/sizing (Type II) and T4/T6 heat treatment; net shrinkage/growth must be built into tooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of Sintered 6061?
Sintered 6061 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 Sintered 6061 cost?
Sintered 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
- MPIF Standard 35 — Materials Standards for PM Structural Parts (Aluminum P/M alloys) — Metal Powder Industries Federation (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 7 — Powder Metallurgy (Aluminium PM alloys) — ASM International (2015)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (6061) — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — Alloy 6061 chemical composition limits — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- Sintered aluminium P/M alloy property tables (density-dependent strength data) — FabDigit compilation (2026)
- Aluminium alloy powder spot price levels (SMM / 1688 wholesale listings) (2026)
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.