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Aluminum 6063-T5
6063-T5 is an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy made for extrusion. It pushes through complex dies at high speed, leaves a smooth surface, and anodizes to a more uniform finish than 6061. Typical tensile strength is 27 ksi (186 MPa), about 60% of 6061-T6. It is the standard choice for heat sinks, trim, frames and custom profiles.
- UNS
- A96063
- EN 573-3
- EN AW-6063 (AlMg0.7Si)
- ASTM
- B221 (extrusions)
- JIS
- A6063
How does it compare?
Typical room-temperature values for 6063-T5, against all 48 materials in the library.
- Tensile strength
- 186 MPa40th pct
- Yield strength
- 145 MPa0th pct
- Density
- 2.7 g/cm³47th pct
- Max service temp
- 150 °C55th pct
- Elongation
- 12 %22th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
- Density
- 2.7 g/cm³ · 0.0975 lb/in³
- Tensile strength
- 186 MPa · 27.0 ksi
- Yield strength
- 145 MPa · 21.0 ksi
- Elongation
- 12%
- Elastic modulus
- 68.9 GPa · 10.0 Msi
- Hardness
- 60 HB
- Max service temperature
- 150 °C · 302 °F
- Melting point
- 616 °C · 1141 °F
- Thermal conductivity
- 209 W/m·K
- Machinability
- 220% of 1212 steel
When should you use 6063-T5?
Strengths
- Extrudes into complex, thin-wall profiles; walls of 0.040–0.060 in (1.0–1.5 mm) are common
- Very uniform anodize color and gloss, the reason it dominates architectural trim
- Thermal conductivity of about 209 W/m·K for heat sinks
- Custom extrusion dies typically cost $1,000–$5,000, a fraction of a casting or molding tool
Watch for
- About 40% lower strength than 6061-T6; not for highly stressed structural parts
- Soft and gummy to machine; expect burrs and built-up edge
- Extrusion tolerances per ANSI H35.2 are looser than machined tolerances; machine critical features
- Bar and plate stock is less common than 6061
Typical parts
- LED and electronics heat sinks
- Window, door and curtain-wall frames
- Rails, tracks and T-slot profiles
- Appliance and display trim
- Extruded electronics enclosures
- Handrails and furniture frames
How 6063-T5 is made into parts
Cost, finishes and design rules for each process in this material.
What does a part in 6063-T5 cost?
A representative part, cnc machining. Raw material at about $5.50/kg is one line of it; process time and tooling usually matter more.
Plate · CNC machining
Order total $2,193
- Tooling
- None
- no hard tooling
- Piece price
- $33.10
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 5–10 days
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Length120120 mm
Width80.080.0 mm
Thickness6.006.00 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity5050 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
Compared head to head
6063-T5 questions
6063 vs 6061 aluminum?
6061-T6 is about two-thirds stronger (45 vs 27 ksi, 310 vs 186 MPa) and machines better. 6063 extrudes faster into more complex shapes and anodizes more evenly. Use 6063 for extruded profiles where appearance matters and 6061 for machined or load-bearing parts.
What does T5 mean for 6063?
T5 means cooled from the extrusion press and then artificially aged, without a separate solution heat treatment. It costs less than T6. 6063-T6 reaches about 35 ksi (241 MPa) tensile if you need more strength from the same profile.
Is 6063 aluminum good for heat sinks?
Yes. Its thermal conductivity of about 209 W/m·K is higher than 6061 (167 W/m·K), and it extrudes the thin, closely spaced fins heat sinks need. Fin height-to-gap ratios up to about 10:1 are typical for extruded heat sinks.
Can 6063 be anodized black?
Yes. 6063 gives the most uniform color of the common alloys in both clear and dyed Type II anodize, which is why architectural and consumer trim uses it.
Similar materials
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