Aluminum 6005A · temper
Aluminum 6005A-T4
Properties of the T4 condition, compared with the other 6005A tempers.
Soft, formable condition for profiles that are bent or hydroformed and then artificially aged to T6 in service or after assembly.
What is 6005A-T4?
6005A-T4 is 6005A in the T4 temper — soft, formable condition for profiles that are bent or hydroformed and then artificially aged to T6 in service or after assembly. 6005A-T4 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi). 6005A-T4 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 607°C (1,125 °F).
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 190 W/m·K (109.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 89% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 70/100, better than 87% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 18%, better than 86% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 43 % IACS, better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 110 MPa (16 ksi), worse than 81% of aluminum grades
6005A-T4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 6005A-T4 — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 6005A temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
6005A-T4 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 607°C (1,125 °F).
Mechanical14
6005A-T4 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 18% and the elastic modulus is 69.5 GPa (10.1 Msi).
Thermal6
6005A-T4 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °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 µm/m·K (12.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
6005A-T4 conducts electricity at 43 % IACS, better than 83% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 6005A-T4 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
6005A-T4's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 6005A tempers and conditions
6005A is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 6005A overview.
- T6Standard fully-hardened structural condition — the default stock temper for rail-car, scaffold and frame profiles.235 MPa yield · 95 HB
- T5Press-quench + oven age; near-T6 strength on thin sections at lower cost and with less distortion, used for architectural and frame profiles.225 MPa yield · 90 HB
- T4Soft, formable condition for profiles that are bent or hydroformed and then artificially aged to T6 in service or after assembly.110 MPa yield · 60 HB
- T1Lowest-strength controlled temper; pick it when the profile must be bent, swaged or roll-formed after extrusion.100 MPa yield · 52 HB
Working with 6005A-T4
Is 6005A easy to machine?
Machines easily in T5/T6 with sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed and flood or mist lubricant; softer T1/T4 tempers tend to gum and build up on edges.
Can 6005A be welded?
Readily MIG/TIG or friction-stir welded with 5356 (strength/ductility) or 4043 (crack resistance) filler; design for a 30–40 % HAZ strength drop unless the joint is re-aged.
Can 6005A be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent extrudability (thin walls, hollows); bend in T1/T4/T64 where possible — T6 tolerates only generous radii and is prone to orange-peel and cracking on tight bends.
What surface finishes work on 6005A?
Takes clear and coloured anodizing, powder coating and chromate/chrome-free pretreatment well; anodized colour is slightly greyer than 6060/6063, so match lots for architectural work.
6005A 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 | 0.5 – 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Mg | 0.4 – 0.7 | 0.55 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.3 | 0.05 |
| MnMn+Cr must total 0.12–0.50 | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| CrMn+Cr must total 0.12–0.50 | ≤ 0.3 | 0.05 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Others (each)total others max 0.15 | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
6005A-T4 — frequently asked
What is 6005A-T4 used for?
6005A-T4 is typically used for rail vehicle body profiles, structural frames and machine framing, bicycle frames, solar mounting rails, scaffolding tubes and planks and automotive structural extrusions. In short: extrusion-friendly 6xxx.
What is the yield strength of 6005A-T4?
6005A-T4 has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 205 MPa (29.7 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 6005A-T4 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Machines easily in T5/T6 with sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed and flood or mist lubricant; softer T1/T4 tempers tend to gum and build up on edges.
Can 6005A-T4 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Readily MIG/TIG or friction-stir welded with 5356 (strength/ductility) or 4043 (crack resistance) filler; design for a 30–40 % HAZ strength drop unless the joint is re-aged.
What surface finishes work on 6005A-T4?
Takes clear and coloured anodizing, powder coating and chromate/chrome-free pretreatment well; anodized colour is slightly greyer than 6060/6063, so match lots for architectural work.
Can 6005A-T4 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent extrudability (thin walls, hollows); bend in T1/T4/T64 where possible — T6 tolerates only generous radii and is prone to orange-peel and cracking on tight bends.
What is the maximum service temperature of 6005A-T4?
6005A-T4 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in 6005A-T4?
Yes — 6005A-T4 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
- EN 755-2 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties — CEN (2016)
- EN 573-3 Chemical composition of wrought aluminium alloys — CEN (2019)
- EN 1999-1-1 Eurocode 9: Design of aluminium structures — CEN (2007)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- 6005A extrusion alloy datasheet — Constellium / Hydro Extrusion (2022)
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — International Alloy Designations — The Aluminum Association (2018)
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.