6063-T5
Cooled from the press and artificially aged. The most common architectural temper: adequate strength with the best surface and lowest cost.
Architectural and general-purpose tube
6063 Aluminium Tube & Pipe
6063 aluminium tube is the go-to round tube for railings, furniture, curtain rails, irrigation, telescopic poles and decorative work: it bends well, finishes beautifully and costs less than 6061. Metline supplies 6063 round tube and pipe (6063 aluminum tubing) extruded or cold-drawn, in T5, T6 and drawn tempers, cut to length and finished to order, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- 6063 (Al-Mg-Si)
- Tempers
- T5, T6, T52, T832
- OD range
- 4 – 300 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B221 · B210 · B241 · EN 755
What is 6063 aluminium tube?
6063 tube is round hollow stock in the "architectural" 6xxx alloy. It is the easiest of the heat-treatable alloys to extrude and draw, giving thin, smooth, bright tube at low cost, with enough strength in T5 or T6 for moderate loads.
Round 6063 tube is made two ways. Extruded tube comes straight from the press, usually press-quenched and aged to T5 or T6, and covers most diameters from about 10 mm upward. Drawn tube is cold-drawn from an extruded hollow, which tightens tolerances, polishes the surface and, in the T832 temper, raises strength close to 6061-T6. Drawn 6063 is common in small diameters for telescopic tubes, antenna sections, instrument tubing and furniture.
Compared with 6061, 6063 has less magnesium and silicon and almost no copper, so its peak strength is lower, but it bends more easily, polishes and anodises more evenly and resists corrosion slightly better. For pipe that must match standard fittings, 6063 is available in nominal pipe sizes to ASTM B241 and B429, and 6063-T6 pipe is widely used for railings and light structural piping.
6063 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Min | Max | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20 | 0.60 | Combines with Mg to form Mg2Si |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.35 | Kept low for a bright, even anodised finish |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.10 | |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.45 | 0.90 | Strengthening element with Si |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.10 | |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.10 | Grain refiner |
| Others each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium | Remainder |
Mechanical properties of 6063 tube
Drawn tube in T832 is roughly as strong as 6061-T6 in tension (typical tensile about 290 MPa). Extruded tube values are below.
| Temper / basis | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O, typical | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 48 MPa / 7 ksi | 25 % | 25 HB |
| T4, typical | 172 MPa / 25 ksi | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 22 % | 46 HB |
| T5, typical | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 145 MPa / 21 ksi | 12 % | 60 HB |
| T6, typical | 241 MPa / 35 ksi | 214 MPa / 31 ksi | 12 % | 73 HB |
| T5, ASTM B221 minimum (≤ 12.5 mm) | 150 MPa / 22 ksi | 110 MPa / 16 ksi | 8 % | — |
| T6, ASTM B221 minimum | 205 MPa / 30 ksi | 170 MPa / 25 ksi | 8 % | — |
| T6, EN 755-2 minimum (wall ≤ 10 mm) | 215 MPa | 170 MPa | 8 % | — |
| T66, EN 755-2 minimum (wall ≤ 10 mm) | 245 MPa | 200 MPa | 8 % | — |
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.69 g/cm³
- Elastic modulus
- 68.9 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- about 200 – 209 W/m·K (T6 / T5)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 53 – 55 % IACS (T6 / T5)
- Thermal expansion
- 23.4 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- 615 – 655 °C
6063 tube tempers
6063-T6
Fully solution treated and aged, about 30 % stronger than T5. Chosen when the section carries load, such as handrails or wide-span mullions.
6063-T52
Aged to a slightly lower strength than T5 for better bendability and stability; often used for thermal-break and bent sections.
6063-T66
A European higher-strength variant of T6 obtained by tighter process control, listed in EN 755-2.
6063-T4
Naturally aged; easier to bend and stretch-form, then age to T5 or T6.
6063-O
Annealed for maximum formability before final shaping.
T832 is a drawn-tube temper: solution heat-treated, cold-worked by a controlled amount and artificially aged. It is listed in ASTM B210 and B483 for drawn 6063 tube.
Standards and equivalents
| System | Designation | Typical tube standard |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM / Aluminum Association | 6063 | ASTM B221 (extruded), B210 (drawn seamless), B241 (seamless pipe), B429 (structural) |
| UNS | A96063 | — |
| Europe | EN AW-6063 (AlMg0.7Si) | EN 755-2 properties; EN 755-8 / EN 755-9 tolerances; EN 12020 precision profiles |
| Germany | 3.3206 | DIN EN 755 |
| Old British | HE9 | BS 1474 (superseded by EN 755) |
| Japan | A6063 | JIS H4100 (shapes), JIS H4080 (tubes) |
| India | 63400 | IS 733 / IS 1285 |
6063 round tube and pipe sizes
Supply range
- Drawn tube
- OD about 4 – 120 mm, wall 0.3 – 5 mm
- Extruded tube
- OD about 10 – 300 mm, wall 1 – 25 mm
- Pipe
- NPS 1/2 to NPS 8 in Schedule 10, 40 and 80
- Length
- 3 m, 6 m, 12 ft, 20 ft, cut lengths; small drawn tube in coils
- Finish
- Mill, polished, brushed, clear or colour anodised, powder coated
Weight in kg/m = π × (OD − wall) × wall × 2.70 / 1000 (6063 is marginally lighter at 2.69 g/cm³).
| OD × wall (mm) | kg/m | I (cm⁴) | Z (cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 1 | 0.059 | 0.014 | 0.034 |
| 12.7 × 1.2 | 0.117 | 0.072 | 0.114 |
| 16 × 1 | 0.127 | 0.133 | 0.166 |
| 19.05 × 1.2 | 0.182 | 0.269 | 0.283 |
| 22 × 1.5 | 0.261 | 0.510 | 0.464 |
| 25 × 1.5 | 0.299 | 0.768 | 0.614 |
| 25.4 × 1.6 | 0.323 | 0.851 | 0.670 |
| 32 × 2 | 0.509 | 2.130 | 1.331 |
| 38.1 × 1.6 | 0.495 | 3.061 | 1.607 |
| 42.4 × 2 | 0.685 | 5.192 | 2.449 |
| 50 × 2 | 0.814 | 8.701 | 3.480 |
| 50.8 × 3.2 | 1.292 | 13.614 | 5.360 |
| 63.5 × 3 | 1.540 | 26.153 | 8.237 |
| 76.2 × 3 | 1.863 | 46.285 | 12.148 |
| 101.6 × 3 | 2.509 | 113.035 | 22.251 |
Tolerances and inspection
Extruded tube follows ANSI H35.2 or EN 755-7 / 755-8; drawn tube follows ASTM B210 or EN 754-7 and is held to tighter diameter, wall and ovality limits. For telescopic tubes the fit between sizes is critical: specify OD and ID tolerances together, not just OD and wall.
Inspection
- Dimensions
- OD, ID or wall, ovality and length
- Form
- Straightness per metre and total length
- Mechanical
- Tensile test per lot; hardness for drawn tube
- Surface
- Visual inspection; polishing or anodising grade as ordered
- Certificate
- EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate
Bending, finishing and joining 6063 tube
Anodising
6063 is the reference alloy for decorative anodising: low iron and copper give a clear, uniform film in natural, bronze, black and champagne colours.
Powder coating
Accepts polyester and PVDF coatings to Qualicoat or AAMA 2603/2604/2605 specifications after chromate or chrome-free pre-treatment.
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER4043 or ER5356. Strength near the weld falls towards O-temper values, so weld at low-stress points.
Bending
Bends more readily than 6061. T5 or T52 tube suits stretch bending and roll bending for curved façades and furniture.
Machining
Softer than 6061 and can be gummy in T5; sharp, polished tools and lubricant give the best finish.
Corrosion
Very good resistance in urban and rural atmospheres, and good in coastal locations when anodised or coated.
For handrails, mandrel bending of 6063-T5 or T52 tube to a centreline radius of about 2 – 3 × OD is common; T6 needs larger radii. Polishing before anodising gives the bright "chrome-like" finish used on shower rails and furniture.
Applications of 6063 tube and pipe
- Railings and balustrades: handrails, grab rails, pool and deck railings
- Furniture and interiors: chair frames, wardrobe and curtain rails, shower rails, hospital beds
- Poles: telescopic poles, flagpoles, tent poles, antenna and camera masts
- Fluid and air: irrigation pipe, low-pressure air and vacuum lines, solar thermal collectors
- Lighting and electronics: lamp stems, LED tubes and heat-sink tubes
- Transport interiors: grab poles and luggage racks in buses, trains and boats
6063 tube vs 6061, 6060 and 3003
| 6063-T5 | 6063-T6 | 6061-T6 | 3003-H14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical yield | 145 MPa | 214 MPa | 276 MPa | 145 MPa |
| Heat-treatable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Finish / anodising | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Bending | Very good | Good | Fair in T6 | Excellent |
| Typical use | Railings, furniture | Light structures | Structural | Heat exchangers, bends |
How to order 6063 tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (for example 6063-T5, 25.4 × 1.6 mm, polished and anodised), section size and wall thickness, length, quantity and the governing standard (ASTM B221, B210, B241 or EN 755-2). A drawing helps for cut parts.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessMaterial is cut to length, de-burred and, if you ask, bent, machined or finished before packing.
- DocumentEach shipment carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and tensile results, plus the packing list. Third-party inspection can be arranged.
- ShipBundled with end caps and interleaving or packed in seaworthy wooden cases, then shipped by sea or air.
References and standards
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- ASTM B210/B210M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B241/B241M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tubes and profiles: mechanical properties (with EN 755-7 / -8 / -9 dimensional tolerances)
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
6063 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
Is 6063 tube strong enough for handrails?
Yes. 6063-T6 pipe and tube are widely used for handrails and guard rails; the post spacing and wall thickness are set by the governing building code load. For heavy-duty industrial rails, 6061-T6 gives extra margin.
What is 6063-T832 tube?
A drawn-tube temper that is solution treated, cold-drawn by a controlled amount and aged. It reaches a typical tensile strength around 290 MPa, close to 6061-T6, while keeping the good finish of 6063.
How much does 25 × 1.5 mm 6063 tube weigh?
About 0.30 kg per metre (π × 23.5 × 1.5 × 2.70 / 1000).
Can 6063 tube be bent?
Yes. 6063 bends more easily than 6061; T5 or T52 tube suits mandrel bending to about 2 – 3 × OD centreline radius.
Is 6063 pipe suitable for pressure?
Seamless 6063 pipe to ASTM B241 is used for low and moderate pressure duty. For higher pressures, 6061-T6 seamless pipe has higher allowable stresses.
Need 6063 tube or pipe?
Send OD, wall, temper, finish, length and destination, and we will reply with availability and a delivered price.
