6101A (6101A-T6, AlMgSi(A)) Aluminum
6101A aluminum is a 6000-series aluminum alloy: there is significant alloying with both magnesium and silicon, and the alloy is formulated for primary forming into wrought products. Cited properties are appropriate for the T6 temper. To achieve this temper, the metal is solution heat-treated and artificially aged until it meets standard mechanical property requirements. 6101A is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-6101A. AlMgSi(A) is the EN chemical designation.
It originally received its standard designation in 1974.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 6101A aluminum to: 6000-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
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
68 GPa 9.9 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
11 %
Fatigue Strength
80 MPa 12 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.7 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
130 MPa 19 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
220 MPa 32 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
190 MPa 28 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
400 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
160 °C 320 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1190 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
630 °C 1170 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
200 W/m-K 120 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
55 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
180 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.7 g/cm3 170 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.3 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 66 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1190 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
24 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
280 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
51 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
23 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
30 points
Thermal Diffusivity
84 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
10 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 6101A aluminum is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of magnesium (Mg) and silicon (Si). Magnesium promotes hardenability through both heat treatment and strain hardening mechanisms. It also increases susceptibility to intergranular corrosion. Silicon is used to increase strength at the expense of ductility. It also lowers the melting temperature and raises the fluidity of the alloy.
| Al | 97.9 to 99.3 | |
| Mg | 0.4 to 0.9 | |
| Si | 0.3 to 0.7 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.4 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.050 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.1 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
EN 755-2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles. Mechanical properties
ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 1993
EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products