H112 extruded bar
As-extruded with guaranteed properties. The standard supply condition for round, square and hex bar that will be machined.
High-magnesium Al-Mg bar
5A06 Aluminium Bar & Rod
5A06 (formerly LF6) is a Chinese-standard aluminium-magnesium alloy with about 6 % magnesium, the strongest of the common non-heat-treatable Al-Mg grades and a direct counterpart of the Russian AMg6. Metline supplies 5A06 round, square and hex bar in O and H112 tempers to GB/T 3191, cut and certified, for welded tanks, marine parts and defence and aerospace structures worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5A06 / LF6 (Al-Mg6-Mn)
- Tempers
- O, H112
- Diameter
- about 8 – 350 mm
- Standards
- GB/T 3190 · GB/T 3191
What is 5A06 aluminium bar?
5A06 is registered in the Chinese standard GB/T 3190, where the "A" marks it as a national variant rather than an Aluminum Association alloy. Its old Chinese name was LF6 ("rust-proof aluminium No. 6"). With 5.8 – 6.8 % magnesium, 0.5 – 0.8 % manganese and small additions of titanium and beryllium, it has essentially the same chemistry as the Soviet and Russian alloy AMg6 (1560).
All that magnesium makes 5A06 noticeably stronger than 5083 in the annealed condition while keeping the Al-Mg family's two big advantages: good resistance to seawater and the ability to be welded without losing a heat-treated temper, because there is none to lose. It has been used for decades in welded fuel and oxidiser tanks, ship structures, armoured and military vehicles, and aircraft and launch-vehicle parts in countries that work to GB or GOST standards.
The trade-off is that very high magnesium makes 5A06 more sensitive to heat exposure. Held for long periods above about 65 °C, it can become sensitised and prone to intergranular and stress corrosion, more readily than 5083. Designs that use it keep service temperatures low and control fabrication heat input.
5A06 chemical composition (wt %, GB/T 3190)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 5.8 | 6.8 | Solid-solution strengthening; the source of its high strength |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 | 0.8 | Additional strength and grain control |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.02 | 0.10 | Grain refinement of cast and welded structure |
| Beryllium (Be) | 0.0001 | 0.005 | Trace addition that limits magnesium oxidation during melting and welding |
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.20 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.10 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Some supplier sheets in circulation list 5A06 with 4.5 – 5.5 % Mg. That range belongs to alloys such as 5456 or 5056, not 5A06. The GB/T 3190 limit is 5.8 – 6.8 % Mg; check that figure on any certificate you receive.
Mechanical properties of 5A06 bar
GB/T 3191 (extruded bar and rod) sets the guaranteed minimums for 5A06 bar. O and H112 carry the same minimum values for the standard size range; H112 bar often tests somewhat higher.
| Temper and basis | Tensile strength Rm | Yield Rp0.2 | Elongation A |
|---|---|---|---|
| O / H112, GB/T 3191 minimum (standard sizes) | ≥ 315 MPa | ≥ 155 MPa | ≥ 15 % |
| Typical range seen on certificates | about 320 – 360 MPa | about 160 – 200 MPa | about 15 – 22 % |
| Comparison: 5083-O, ASTM B221 minimum | ≥ 270 MPa | ≥ 110 MPa | ≥ 14 % |
Limits differ by diameter band and the exact edition of GB/T 3191; the values that apply to your lot are stated on the mill certificate. Very large diameters may have reduced or agreed values.
Physical properties (approximate)
- Density
- 2.64 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 70 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- about 115 – 125 W/m·K
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.7 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- about 570 – 640 °C
- Magnetic
- Non-magnetic
5A06 bar forms and tempers
O annealed bar
Fully annealed for cold bending, heading and upsetting. Same minimum strength as H112 in GB/T 3191, but more consistent ductility.
Cold-drawn rod
Small diameters drawn for close tolerance and better surface, for turned parts and fasteners.
Square and hex bar
Extruded to order for nuts, fittings and machined blocks.
Wire and rivet rod
Small-diameter 5A06 wire for rivets and fasteners is covered on our 5A06 wire page.
Matching plate
5A06 plate and sheet for welded structures that need the same alloy as the bar.
5A06 standards and equivalent grades
| System | Designation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China (GB) | 5A06 (old LF6) | Composition GB/T 3190; extruded bar GB/T 3191 |
| Russia / CIS (GOST) | AMg6 (АМг6), 1560 | Composition GOST 4784; bar GOST 21488; near-identical chemistry |
| Aluminum Association | none exact | 5456 (4.7 – 5.5 % Mg) and 5056 (4.5 – 5.6 % Mg) are the nearest; both are lower in Mg |
| European (EN) | none exact | EN AW-5019 / 5056A are the nearest high-Mg grades; there is no "EN AW-5A06" |
Because there is no exact ASTM or EN equivalent, do not substitute 5083 or 5456 for 5A06 on a drawing without the designer's approval: strength, weld procedure and corrosion behaviour all differ. If your project is designed to ASTM or EN rules, it is usually better to stay with 5083 bar.
5A06 round bar sizes and weights
Supply range
- Round bar
- about 8 – 350 mm diameter
- Square and hex
- to order, typical across-flats 10 – 100 mm
- Length
- 1 – 6 m, or cut pieces to drawing
- Surface
- As-extruded; peeled or turned on request
Using a density of 2.64 g/cm³, a 5A06 round bar weighs 0.002073 × d² kg per metre (d in mm). Theoretical weights:
| Diameter (mm) | Approx. inch | kg per metre | kg per 3 m bar | lb per foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0.31 | 0.133 | 0.40 | 0.089 |
| 10 | 0.39 | 0.207 | 0.62 | 0.139 |
| 12 | 0.47 | 0.299 | 0.90 | 0.201 |
| 16 | 0.63 | 0.531 | 1.59 | 0.357 |
| 20 | 0.79 | 0.829 | 2.49 | 0.557 |
| 25 | 0.98 | 1.30 | 3.89 | 0.871 |
| 30 | 1.18 | 1.87 | 5.60 | 1.254 |
| 40 | 1.57 | 3.32 | 9.95 | 2.229 |
| 50 | 1.97 | 5.18 | 15.55 | 3.483 |
| 60 | 2.36 | 7.46 | 22.39 | 5.016 |
| 80 | 3.15 | 13.27 | 39.81 | 8.917 |
| 100 | 3.94 | 20.73 | 62.20 | 13.933 |
| 120 | 4.72 | 29.86 | 89.57 | 20.063 |
| 150 | 5.91 | 46.65 | 140.0 | 31.349 |
| 200 | 7.87 | 82.94 | 248.8 | 55.732 |
| 250 | 9.84 | 129.59 | 388.8 | 87.081 |
| 300 | 11.81 | 186.61 | 559.8 | 125.397 |
| 350 | 13.78 | 254.00 | 762.0 | 170.679 |
Machining, welding and corrosion
Machining
Machines reasonably in H112 and poorly in O, where it is soft and gummy. Use sharp polished carbide, positive rake, high speed and plenty of coolant. It polishes well.
Welding
TIG and MIG welding work well with a matching high-Mg filler (for example 5B06, AMg6-type wire, or ER5183/ER5556 where the design allows). Resistance welding is possible but more prone to hot cracking.
Sensitisation
Keep sustained service below about 65 °C. Avoid long preheats and slow cooling after welding; both can sensitise the alloy.
Corrosion
Good in seawater and marine air when not sensitised. Isolate from copper alloys and stainless steel in wet service.
Forming
Cold forms in O temper; work-hardens quickly, so allow intermediate anneals for heavy forming.
Finishing
Can be anodised for protection; the film is greyer than on 6xxx alloys.
Where 5A06 bar and rod are used
- Welded tanks and vessels: fittings, flanges and bosses for fuel and liquid containers
- Marine: structural fittings and machined parts for hulls and superstructures built to GB rules
- Defence: welded and machined parts for vehicles and equipment designed to GB or GOST standards
- Aerospace: secondary structure, brackets and tank parts where AMg6-type alloys are specified
- Fasteners: rivets and pins cut from drawn rod and wire
5A06 compared with other 5xxx alloys
| Alloy | Mg content (%) | Annealed tensile, min. | Weldability | Sensitisation risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5A06 (LF6) | 5.8 – 6.8 | 315 MPa | Good with matching filler | Highest |
| 5456 | 4.7 – 5.5 | about 285 MPa (plate) | Good | High |
| 5083 | 4.0 – 4.9 | 270 MPa | Excellent | Moderate |
| 5086 | 3.5 – 4.5 | 240 MPa | Excellent | Lower |
| 5052 | 2.2 – 2.8 | about 170 MPa | Excellent | Negligible |
More magnesium means more strength and more sensitivity to heat. 5A06 is the right choice when a GB or GOST design calls for it, or when you need maximum annealed strength in a welded Al-Mg part kept at ambient temperature.
How to order 5A06 bar
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (for example 5A06-H112), shape and size, length or cut pieces, quantity, and the governing standard (GB/T 3191, or the GOST or project specification).
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance class, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessBars are cut to length or to blanks on request, end-marked with alloy, temper and lot number, and inspected for size, straightness and surface.
- DocumentEach shipment carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and tensile results, plus the packing list; third-party inspection on request.
- ShipBundles are wrapped and packed in seaworthy wooden cases or on pallets and sent by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- GB/T 3190 – Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition
- GB/T 3191 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy extruded bars and rods
- GOST 4784 – Aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys: grades (AMg6)
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Al-Mg alloys and sensitisation)
5A06 aluminium (aluminum) bar: frequently asked questions
What is the equivalent of 5A06 aluminium?
The Russian AMg6 (1560) has practically the same composition. There is no exact Aluminum Association or EN equivalent; 5456 and 5056 are the closest but contain less magnesium.
Is 5A06 the same as 5083?
No. 5A06 contains 5.8 – 6.8 % Mg against 4.0 – 4.9 % in 5083, so it is stronger when annealed (about 315 MPa minimum against 270 MPa) but more sensitive to sensitisation at warm service temperatures.
Can 5A06 be heat treated?
No. It is a non-heat-treatable Al-Mg alloy supplied O or H112. Strength can be raised only by cold work, and long exposure above about 65 °C should be avoided.
Which standard covers 5A06 round bar?
GB/T 3191 for extruded bar and rod, with composition in GB/T 3190. Projects designed to Russian standards use AMg6 bar to GOST 21488.
What filler is used to weld 5A06?
A matching high-magnesium filler such as 5B06 or AMg6-type wire is normal. ER5183 or ER5556 may be acceptable if the design permits slightly lower weld strength; never use Al-Si fillers.
Need 5A06 or AMg6-type bar?
Send size, temper, quantity and the governing standard. We will confirm availability, certification and a delivered price.
