Aluminum 7039 · temper · default condition
Aluminum 7039-T6
Properties of the T6 condition, compared with the other 7039 tempers.
Highest strength condition; standard for welded high-strength structures where SCC exposure is controlled.
What is 7039-T6?
7039-T6 is 7039 in the T6 temper — highest strength condition; standard for welded high-strength structures where SCC exposure is controlled. 7039-T6 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 86% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 69.6 GPa (10.1 Msi). 7039-T6 has a density of 2.74 g/cm³ (0.099 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 380 MPa (55.1 ksi), better than 86% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 13%, better than 79% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 30 MPa·√m (27.3 ksi·√in), better than 76% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
7039-T6 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 7039-T6 — 14 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 7039 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
7039-T6 has a density of 2.74 g/cm³ (0.099 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical12
7039-T6 has a yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 86% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 13% and the elastic modulus is 69.6 GPa (10.1 Msi).
Thermal6
7039-T6 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 154 W/m·K (89 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 68% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.4 µm/m·K (13 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
7039-T6 conducts electricity at 35 % IACS, better than 52% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (42/100), worse than 69% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 7039-T6 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
7039-T6's machinability is very good (70/100, better than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (75/100); 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.
Other 7039 tempers and conditions
7039 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 7039 overview.
- T6DefaultHighest strength condition; standard for welded high-strength structures where SCC exposure is controlled.380 MPa yield · 133 HB
- T651T6 plate with controlled stretch for low residual stress — choose when heavy machining of thick plate is required.379 MPa yield · 133 HB
- T64Preferred armor temper: slightly lower strength than T6 but better toughness, spall resistance and stress-corrosion behaviour.345 MPa yield · 122 HB
- T7Overaged for maximum stress-corrosion and exfoliation resistance in thick sections or marine/humid service; ~10 % strength loss vs T6.330 MPa yield · 118 HB
- OSoftest condition for severe forming or machining before solution treatment and ageing.115 MPa yield · 65 HB
Working with 7039-T6
Is 7039 easy to machine?
Machines like other aged 7xxx plate — high cutting speeds, sharp polished-flute carbide tooling and flood coolant give good chips; stress-relieved (T651) stock avoids warpage in deep pocketing.
Can 7039 be welded?
Designed for GMAW/GTAW with 5183/5356 (or 5039) filler; HAZ recovers a useful fraction of strength by natural ageing, but avoid sustained tensile stress across weld HAZ in T6 due to SCC risk.
Can 7039 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or freshly solution-treated (W) condition; T6/T64 plate has limited cold bending and needs generous bend radii or warm forming.
What surface finishes work on 7039?
Takes clear, hard and chromate/anodic coatings well; for military use it is normally chemical-conversion coated and painted (CARC), and welds anodize a different shade than parent metal.
7039 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Cukept low for weldability | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Mg | 2.3 – 3.3 | 2.8 |
| Crgrain-structure control | 0.15 – 0.25 | 0.2 |
| Zn | 3.5 – 4.5 | 4 |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
7039-T6 — frequently asked
What is 7039-T6 used for?
7039-T6 is typically used for military vehicle armor plate, armored hull and cab structures, turret and hatch weldments, ballistic protection panels, armored personnel carrier bodies and welded military bridging and shelters. In short: weldable 7xxx armor; marine and military.
What is the yield strength of 7039-T6?
7039-T6 has a typical yield strength of 380 MPa (55.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 86% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is 7039-T6 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, better than 72% of aluminum grades). Machines like other aged 7xxx plate — high cutting speeds, sharp polished-flute carbide tooling and flood coolant give good chips; stress-relieved (T651) stock avoids warpage in deep pocketing.
Can 7039-T6 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Designed for GMAW/GTAW with 5183/5356 (or 5039) filler; HAZ recovers a useful fraction of strength by natural ageing, but avoid sustained tensile stress across weld HAZ in T6 due to SCC risk.
What surface finishes work on 7039-T6?
Takes clear, hard and chromate/anodic coatings well; for military use it is normally chemical-conversion coated and painted (CARC), and welds anodize a different shade than parent metal.
Can 7039-T6 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or freshly solution-treated (W) condition; T6/T64 plate has limited cold bending and needs generous bend radii or warm forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of 7039-T6?
7039-T6 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 7039-T6 and 7039-O?
T6 is the default condition — highest strength condition; standard for welded high-strength structures where SCC exposure is controlled. O: softest condition for severe forming or machining before solution treatment and ageing. Yield strength is 380 MPa in T6 versus 115 MPa in O.
Can FabDigit make parts in 7039-T6?
Yes — 7039-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
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- MIL-DTL-46063H — Armor Plate, Aluminum Alloy 7039 — US DoD (1998)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 19 — Fatigue and Fracture — ASM International (1996)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- MMPDS-style typical mechanical data for 7xxx wrought products — Battelle/FAA (2023)
- SMM / Mysteel (2026)
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.