Aluminum 6013

Aging Procedure

Aging from the solution heat treated condition will occur naturally at room temperature for T4 temper. To obtain T6 temper the solution heat treated alloy must be aged at 375 F for 4 hours followed by air cooling.

Annealing Procedure

Annealing to relieve cold working stress is done at 775 F for 3 hours followed by controlled cooling at 50 F per hour down to 500 F. The alloy may then be air cooled from 500 F to room temperature. Note that it is necessary to re-solution heat treat aft

Applications

This alloy is used in aircraft structural parts, such as door or seating components. It is also utilized by both the aircraft and automotive industries as structural forgings.

Cold Workability

The alloy has good forming capability, but may require intermediate annealing if complex cold forming is being done. See "Annealing".

Corrosion Resistance

The AL 6013 alloy has excellent corrosion resistance and to stress-corrosion cracking. In general its corrosion resistance is better than the 2xxx or 7xxx series of aluminum alloys and the AL 6013 alloy is good for exposure to atmospheric marine or indus

Forgeability

No data available. This is a forging alloy, however so consult the alloy supplier for information.

Formability

The alloy is readily formed by conventional means.

Hardening Procedure

This alloy will cold work harden and also hardens by normal or accelerated aging. See "Aging".

Heat Treatability

Solution heat treat at 1060 F for 30 minutes at temperature followed by cold water quench to result in W temper. Aging will then occur naturally at room temperature for T4 temper, or to produce T6 temper an aging heat treatment may be used - see "Aging".

Hot Workability

No data available. Consult the alloy supplier.

Machinability

AL 6013, in the various tempers, is machinable by commercial methods. Machinability is best with the material in the cold finished tempers such as T3 or T8.

Other Physical Properties

Electrical conductivity 42% of copper.

Principle Design Features

This is an age-hardenable, high strength. alloy containing copper, silicon and magnesium as the strengthening agents. The strength characteristics make it useful for many structural applications.

Tempering Procedure

Not applicable.

Weldability

The preferred methods of welding are TIG or MIG using AL 4043 filler rod for general purposes. For higher strength weldments the filler metal should be AL 4643 and in heavy section weldments (over 1/2") post-weld solution heat treating and aging is recom