4006 (AlSi1Fe) Aluminum
4006 aluminum is a 4000-series aluminum alloy. The main alloying addition is silicon. 4006 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-4006. AlSi1Fe is the EN chemical designation. Additionally, the UNS number is A94006.
It originally received its standard designation in 1977.
It has the highest electrical conductivity among 4000-series alloys. In addition, it can have the highest ductility and has the highest thermal conductivity.
The properties of 4006 aluminum include four common variations. This page shows summary ranges across all of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare 4006 aluminum to: 4000-series alloys (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Brinell Hardness
28 to 45
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
69 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
3.4 to 24 %
Fatigue Strength
35 to 110 MPa 5.1 to 17 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
70 to 91 MPa 10 to 13 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
110 to 160 MPa 16 to 23 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
62 to 140 MPa 9.0 to 20 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
410 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
160 °C 330 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1190 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
620 °C 1160 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
220 W/m-K 130 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
56 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
180 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.0 % relative
Density
2.7 g/cm3 170 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.1 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 66 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1180 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
5.1 to 26 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
28 to 130 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
50 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
11 to 16 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
19 to 24 points
Thermal Diffusivity
89 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
4.9 to 7.0 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 4006 aluminum is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of silicon (Si) and iron (Fe). Silicon is used to increase strength at the expense of ductility. It also lowers the melting temperature and raises the fluidity of the alloy. Most of the time, iron is an impurity in aluminum alloys. However, it may be added in quantity to improve strength (particularly at high temperatures) without much impact on electrical properties.
| Al | 97.4 to 98.7 | |
| Si | 0.8 to 1.2 | |
| Fe | 0.5 to 0.8 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.050 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.050 | |
| Mg | 0 to 0.010 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
Aluminum: Properties and Physical Metallurgy, John E. Hatch (editor), 1984
EN 485-2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Sheet, strip and plate. Mechanical properties
ISO 6361-2: Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys - Sheets, strips and plates - Part 2: Mechanical properties
EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993