T6
Solution treated and aged to peak strength. Normal for smaller drawn rod where residual stress is low.
High-strength aerospace rod
7075 Aluminium Rod
7075 rod is the strongest commonly stocked aluminium round bar: in T6 and T651 it typically reaches about 570 MPa tensile and 500 MPa yield, comparable to many structural steels at roughly a third of the weight. Metline supplies 7075 rod in T6, T651, T73 and T7351, drawn or extruded, cut to length and certified to ASTM, AMS and EN, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 7075 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu)
- Tempers
- O, T6, T651, T73, T7351
- T6 tensile
- ≈ 572 MPa typical
- Standards
- ASTM B211 · B221 · AMS 4122
What is 7075 aluminium rod?
7075 is a zinc-magnesium-copper alloy introduced in the 1940s for aircraft structures. Its very high strength comes from fine zinc-magnesium precipitates formed during artificial ageing. As rod, it is the standard material for highly loaded machined parts: aircraft fittings, gears and shafts, high-performance bicycle and motorsport components, moulds and precision tooling.
The price of that strength is lower corrosion resistance than 5xxx and 6xxx alloys, poor arc weldability and limited cold formability. 7075 is therefore almost always machined from bar and joined by fasteners rather than welded. For parts exposed to stress-corrosion risk, the over-aged T73 temper family trades about 10 – 15 % of strength for much better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking and exfoliation.
Rod is supplied in two main routes. Cold-finished (drawn or rolled) rod to ASTM B211 has tighter diameter tolerances and a bright surface; extruded rod to ASTM B221 covers larger diameters at lower cost. Large-diameter "rod" above roughly 200 mm is often forged or cut from thick plate.
7075 chemical composition (wt %)
Registered Aluminum Association limits, matching EN 573-3 for EN AW-7075.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc (Zn) | 5.1 | 6.1 | Main strengthening element with Mg (MgZn2 precipitates) |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.1 | 2.9 | Combines with Zn for age hardening |
| Copper (Cu) | 1.2 | 2.0 | Adds strength and improves stress-corrosion behaviour |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.18 | 0.28 | Grain control; improves SCC resistance |
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.30 | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.20 | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 87 – 91 % |
Mechanical properties of 7075 rod by temper
Typical values are handbook figures for rod and bar. Specified minimums depend on the standard and diameter: for cold-finished T6/T651 rod to ASTM B211 they are around 530 MPa (77 ksi) tensile and 455 MPa (66 ksi) yield in common sizes. Extruded rod minimums in ASTM B221 vary with diameter. The mill certificate shows the actual results for the lot.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation | Hardness | Electrical conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed) | 228 MPa / 33 ksi | 103 MPa / 15 ksi | 17 % | 60 HB | ≈ 45 % IACS |
| T6 / T651, typical | 572 MPa / 83 ksi | 503 MPa / 73 ksi | 11 % | 150 HB | ≈ 33 % IACS |
| T73 / T7351, typical | 503 MPa / 73 ksi | 434 MPa / 63 ksi | 13 % | ≈ 135 HB | ≈ 40 % IACS |
Typical physical properties (T6)
- Density
- 2.81 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 71.7 GPa (10,400 ksi)
- Shear strength
- 331 MPa (48 ksi)
- Fatigue strength (5×10⁸ cycles)
- 159 MPa (23 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- 130 W/m·K (T6); about 155 W/m·K (T73)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.6 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- 477 – 635 °C
T6, T651, T73 or T7351?
T651
As T6, but stretched after quench to relieve stress. Preferred for larger rod that will be heavily machined, so parts stay straight.
T6511
Stretched and slightly straightened extruded rod. The extruded equivalent of T651.
T73 / T7351
Over-aged for high stress-corrosion resistance. Required in many aerospace fittings and anywhere sustained tensile stress meets moisture.
T76 / T7651
Intermediate over-age, mainly for exfoliation resistance. More common on extrusions and plate than on rod.
O
Annealed for forming or cold heading; the part is then heat-treated to T6 or T73.
Standards and international equivalents
| Product | Common specifications |
|---|---|
| Cold-finished rod and bar | ASTM B211 / ASME SB-211; AMS 4122 (T6, T651) |
| Extruded rod and bar | ASTM B221; AMS 4154 and related AMS extrusion specs |
| Over-aged rod (T73 family) | Corresponding AMS specifications for T73 / T7351 |
| European | EN 754-2 (drawn), EN 755-2 (extruded); EN 573-3 chemistry |
| Japan / China | JIS H4040; GB/T 3191 |
| System | Designation |
|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / UNS | 7075 / A97075 |
| European (EN) | EN AW-7075 / EN AW-AlZn5.5MgCu |
| German Werkstoff | 3.4365 |
| ISO | AlZn5.5MgCu |
| Japan (JIS) | A7075 |
| China (GB) | 7075 |
| Historical | 75S; zicral; "aircraft aluminium" |
7075 rod sizes and weights
Supply range
- Cold-finished rod
- Approx. 3 – 100 mm (1/8 – 4 in)
- Extruded rod
- Approx. 10 – 300 mm
- Forged or plate-cut rounds
- Larger diameters on request
- Lengths
- 3 m, 3.66 m (12 ft) or cut to length
- Finish
- Mill, bright drawn, peeled or precision ground
7075 is slightly denser than 6061. A round rod weighs about 0.00221 × d² kg per metre (d in mm).
| Diameter (mm) | kg per metre | kg per 3 m rod |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.079 | 0.24 |
| 8 | 0.141 | 0.42 |
| 10 | 0.221 | 0.66 |
| 12 | 0.318 | 0.95 |
| 16 | 0.565 | 1.69 |
| 20 | 0.883 | 2.65 |
| 25 | 1.379 | 4.14 |
| 30 | 1.986 | 5.96 |
| 40 | 3.531 | 10.59 |
| 50 | 5.517 | 16.55 |
| 60 | 7.945 | 23.84 |
| 80 | 14.12 | 42.37 |
| 100 | 22.07 | 66.21 |
| 120 | 31.78 | 95.34 |
| 150 | 49.66 | 148.97 |
| 200 | 88.28 | 264.84 |
Machining, joining and finishing 7075 rod
Machining
Excellent in T6 and T651: short chips, fine finish and good dimensional stability. Use carbide tools, high speeds and coolant. Rough-machine, then finish after any stress-relief if tight tolerances are needed.
Welding
Not recommended for arc welding; the weld and heat-affected zone are prone to hot cracking and lose strength. Join by fasteners, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding.
Forming
Poor cold formability in T6. Form in O or freshly quenched W condition, then age.
Anodising
Takes clear and hard (Type III) anodic coatings well; hard anodising is common on 7075 wear parts.
Corrosion
Fair. Protect by anodising, chromate or trivalent conversion coating and paint. Use T73 tempers where stress corrosion is a risk.
Temperature
Loses strength faster than 2xxx alloys above about 120 °C; not for sustained elevated-temperature service.
Where 7075 rod is used
- Aerospace: fittings, bushes, actuator parts, landing-gear components and fasteners
- Defence: weapon components, mounts and high-strength hardware
- Motorsport and cycling: axles, hubs, cranks, suspension parts and steering components
- Tooling: moulds, jigs, gauges and fixtures needing hardness and dimensional stability
- Industrial: gears, worm shafts, valve parts, pneumatic and hydraulic components
- Sport and outdoor: climbing hardware, archery and firearm components
7075 rod compared with 6061, 2024 and 7050
| Property | 7075-T6 | 6061-T6 | 2024-T351 | 7050-T7451 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 572 MPa | 310 MPa | 470 MPa | ≈ 525 MPa |
| Typical yield strength | 503 MPa | 276 MPa | 325 MPa | ≈ 470 MPa |
| Fatigue behaviour | Good | Fair | Very good | Very good |
| Stress-corrosion resistance | Low (T6), high (T73) | High | Low–moderate | High |
| Weldability | Poor | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Relative cost | High | Low | High | Very high |
Use 6061 when strength is sufficient and welding or cost matters. Choose 2024 for fatigue-critical tension parts. For thick, highly stressed aerospace parts, 7050 offers better toughness and through-thickness properties than 7075.
How to order 7075 rod
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, diameter, length, quantity, and the governing standard (ASTM B211, ASTM B221, AMS 4122 or EN 754 / 755). Attach a drawing if the material will be cut or machined to shape.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessMaterial is cut to length or size on request, marked for traceability and inspected for dimensions and surface.
- DocumentEach lot ships with a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing chemistry and mechanical results; third-party inspection can be arranged.
- ShipExport packing in seaworthy wooden cases or on pallets with moisture protection, by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- ASTM B211 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- SAE AMS 4122 – Aluminum Alloy, Rolled or Cold Finished Bars, Rods, and Wire, 7075-T6 / T651
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
- ASM International – Properties of Wrought Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys: 7075
7075 aluminium (aluminum) rod: frequently asked questions
How strong is 7075-T6 rod?
Typical values are about 572 MPa tensile and 503 MPa yield with 11 % elongation. Specified minimums are lower and depend on standard and diameter; for drawn rod to ASTM B211 they are around 530 MPa tensile and 455 MPa yield in common sizes.
What is the difference between 7075-T6 and T7351 rod?
T7351 is over-aged and stress-relieved. It is about 10 – 15 % weaker than T6 but far more resistant to stress-corrosion cracking, which is why aerospace drawings often specify it.
Can 7075 rod be welded?
Not reliably by arc welding; it cracks and loses strength. Use mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding or friction stir welding.
Is 7075 harder than 6061?
Yes. 7075-T6 is about 150 HB against about 95 HB for 6061-T6, and nearly twice as strong.
How much does 7075 rod weigh?
About 0.00221 × d² kg per metre with d in mm. A 50 mm rod weighs about 5.5 kg per metre.
Do you supply 7075 rod internationally?
Yes. Metline supplies 7075 rod worldwide from Mumbai, cut to length, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates and export packing.
Need 7075 rod?
Send diameter, temper, length, quantity and specification. We will reply with availability and a delivered price.
