Extrusion alloys and temper guide
Alloy choice balances strength, surface appearance, extrudability and cost.
The most common extrusion alloys belong to the Mg-Si (6xxx) family: EN AW-6060 and 6063 for architectural and general use, and 6005A, 6061 and 6082 for jobs needing higher strength. Exact mechanical values are given in EN 755-2 by temper and wall thickness.
| Alloy | Main elements | Typical use | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN AW-6060 | Mg, Si | General purpose, thin-wall and detailed sections, furniture, frames | Extrudes easily; suits anodizing and paint |
| EN AW-6063 | Mg, Si | Architectural profiles, doors and windows, trims | Good surface appearance; common for decorative anodizing |
| EN AW-6005A | Mg, Si | Medium-to-high strength structural profiles, ladders, supporting frames | Higher strength than 6060/6063 |
| EN AW-6061 | Mg, Si, Cu, Cr | Machine parts, structural applications | Harder to extrude, good machinability |
| EN AW-6082 | Mg, Si, Mn | High-strength structural, transport and machine applications | Widely used structural extrusion alloy |
What does temper mean?
- T4: Solution heat-treated and naturally aged.
- T5: Cooled from the extrusion temperature and artificially aged.
- T6: Solution heat-treated, quenched and artificially aged.
- T66: Defined in EN 755-2 for 6060/6063; higher mechanical values than T6.
Selection tip
If decorative anodizing is expected, discuss the alloy and extrusion condition in advance for surface quality. For load-bearing use, take the design strength from the EN 755-2 table for the temper and wall thickness; this page does not replace a calculation.