T4
Press-quenched and naturally aged. Soft and ductile for bending and forming; can be aged to T6 afterwards.
Architectural extrusion tube
6060 Aluminium Tube
6060 aluminium tube is extruded from the leanest and most easily extruded of the common 6xxx alloys, which gives smooth, precise tube with an excellent decorative anodised finish. It is the standard European alloy for architectural, furniture, lighting and interior tube where appearance matters more than high strength. Metline supplies 6060 round, square and rectangular tube in T4, T5, T6, T64 and T66 to EN 755, worldwide.
- Alloy
- EN AW-6060 (AlMgSi)
- Tempers
- T4, T5, T6, T64, T66
- Process
- Extruded, drawn
- Standards
- EN 755-2 · EN 755-8 · EN 573-3
What is 6060 aluminium tube?
6060 is a heat-treatable aluminium-magnesium-silicon alloy with less magnesium and silicon than 6063 and much less than 6061 or 6082. The low alloy content lets it extrude at high speed through complex dies and quench effectively straight off the press, so tube can be aged to T5 or T6 without a separate solution heat treatment.
The result is tube with very good surface quality and tight dimensions, which anodises to a bright, even finish and takes powder coating well. Those qualities make 6060 the default tube alloy in much of Europe for window and door systems, curtain-wall elements, handrails, shopfitting, furniture, shower and bathroom fittings, lighting and exhibition systems.
The price of that easy extrusion is moderate strength. 6060-T6 tube has minimum tensile strength in the range of about 170 – 190 MPa depending on wall, below 6063 and well below 6061 or 6082. For load-bearing frames, use 6082 or 6061; for most visible and lightly loaded tube, 6060 is the economical, good-looking choice.
6060 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits per EN 573-3 for EN AW-6060. Iron is controlled within a narrow band, which helps surface brightness after anodising.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.30 | 0.6 |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.10 | 0.30 |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.10 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.35 | 0.6 |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.05 |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.15 |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.10 |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Mechanical properties of 6060 tube
Minimum values for extruded tube and profiles from EN 755-2. The thin-wall band limit for T6 differs between editions (3 mm in earlier editions; producers citing the 2016 edition use 5 mm), so check the edition on your order. Where a section has several wall thicknesses, the lowest applicable requirement applies to the whole section.
| Temper | Wall thickness | Tensile Rm min | Proof Rp0.2 min | Elongation A min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T4 | Up to 25 mm | 120 MPa | 60 MPa | 16 % |
| T6 | Thin walls (≤ 3 – 5 mm, by edition) | 190 MPa | 150 MPa | 8 % |
| T6 | Thicker walls, up to 25 mm | 170 MPa | 140 MPa | 8 % |
| T66 | Thin walls | 215 MPa | 160 MPa | 8 % |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.70 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- About 69 GPa
- Thermal conductivity (T6)
- About 200 – 210 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (T6)
- About 52 – 55 % IACS
- Thermal expansion (20 – 100 °C)
- 23.4 µm/m·°C
- Hardness (T6)
- About 70 HB
6060 tube tempers explained
T5
Press-quenched and artificially aged. Economical temper for architectural tube that is not highly loaded.
T6
Fully aged after an effective quench. The usual temper for general and architectural tube.
T64
Under-aged for bending quality: higher strength than T4 with good formability, used for bent furniture and handrails.
T66
T6 with tighter process control giving higher minimum strength; used where 6060 must carry more load.
Standards and equivalents
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| EN 573-3 | Chemical composition of EN AW-6060 |
| EN 755-2 | Mechanical properties of extruded rod, bar, tube and profiles |
| EN 755-7 / EN 755-8 | Tolerances for seamless and port-hole tube |
| EN 12020-1/-2 | Precision profiles in 6060 and 6063 (tight tolerances) |
| EN 754-2 | Cold drawn tube |
| Designations | EN AW-6060 / AlMgSi; former DIN AlMgSi0.5, Werkstoff 3.3206 |
6060 is primarily a European alloy. In North America and many Asian markets, 6063 is used for the same applications; the two are close substitutes, with 6063 slightly stronger.
Common 6060 tube sizes and weights
Mass per metre for round tube at 2.70 g/cm³. Square, rectangular and oval tube are also supplied; see the rectangular tube calculator.
| OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | ID (mm) | Mass (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 8 | 0.076 |
| 12 | 1 | 10 | 0.093 |
| 16 | 1.5 | 13 | 0.184 |
| 20 | 1.5 | 17 | 0.235 |
| 20 | 2 | 16 | 0.305 |
| 25 | 2 | 21 | 0.390 |
| 30 | 2 | 26 | 0.475 |
| 32 | 3 | 26 | 0.738 |
| 40 | 2 | 36 | 0.645 |
| 40 | 3 | 34 | 0.942 |
| 50 | 3 | 44 | 1.196 |
| 60 | 4 | 52 | 1.900 |
| 80 | 5 | 70 | 3.181 |
| 100 | 5 | 90 | 4.029 |
Supply range
- Round tube
- Small diameters to large architectural tube
- Square and rectangular
- Standard and custom sizes, sharp or radiused corners
- Special shapes
- Oval, D-shaped, fluted and custom hollow profiles from customer dies
- Length
- Standard 6 m lengths or cut to size
- Finish
- Mill, anodised (clear, colour), powder coated, brushed or polished
Bending, finishing and joining 6060 tube
Bending
Bend in T4 or T64 for tight radii; T6 accepts moderate bends with mandrel support.
Anodising
Gives a bright, uniform finish in clear and colour anodising; specify decorative quality and visible faces.
Powder coating
Excellent adhesion after pretreatment; standard for window and door systems.
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER4043 or ER5356; heat-affected zone strength drops towards T4 level.
Machining
Fair in T6; softer than 6061, so use sharp tools and good chip clearance.
Mixed walls
Specify wall and temper together: on profiles with several wall thicknesses the lowest requirement applies.
Where 6060 tube is used
- Architecture: window and door frames, curtain-wall mullions, louvres and handrails
- Furniture and interiors: chair and table frames, shopfitting, display and exhibition systems
- Lighting and electrical: luminaire bodies, LED housings, heat-sink tube
- Bathroom and kitchen: shower rails, towel rails, appliance trims
- Leisure: ladders, tent poles and garden structures
6060 compared with 6063, 6061 and 6082 tube
| Property | 6060-T6 | 6063-T6 | 6061-T6 | 6082-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum tensile (thin wall) | 190 MPa | 215 MPa | 260 MPa | 310 MPa |
| Extrudability | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Anodised appearance | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair–good |
| Typical use | Decorative, architectural | Architectural, general | Structural | Structural (Europe) |
Minimums from EN 755-2 for 6060, 6063 and 6082; 6061 extruded minimum from producer data for walls up to 6.3 mm.
How to order 6060 tube
- SpecifyShape and size, wall, temper, EN 755 or EN 12020 tolerance class, finish, length and quantity.
- QuoteWe confirm availability or die requirements, finish options and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ShipInterleaved or film-wrapped for visible finishes, crated with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
References and standards
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- EN 12020-1/-2 – Extruded precision profiles in EN AW-6060 and EN AW-6063
- European Aluminium – Aluminium in building and construction
6060 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 6060 and 6063 tube?
6060 has slightly less magnesium and silicon, so it extrudes faster and gives a very good surface, but has lower strength: about 190 MPa minimum tensile in thin-wall T6 against 215 MPa for 6063. They are often interchangeable for architectural tube.
Is 6060 tube strong enough for structures?
For lightly loaded frames, handrails and furniture, yes. For primary structures, use 6082 or 6061, which are roughly 40 – 60 % stronger.
Which 6060 temper is best for bending?
T4 for tight bends, followed by ageing if needed, or T64, which is designed as a bending temper with better strength than T4.
Does 6060 anodise well?
Yes. Its low alloy content and controlled iron give a bright, uniform anodised finish, which is why it is popular for visible architectural and interior tube.
Is 6060 available in the US as AA 6060?
6060 is a registered alloy but is mainly produced in Europe. In the US, 6063 is the usual equivalent for the same uses.
Need 6060 tube?
Send size, temper, finish and quantity. We will reply with availability and a delivered price.
