Welding
MIG and TIG with ER5356 or ER5183 for strength, or ER4043 to reduce crack risk. Design to heat-affected-zone values from EN 1999-1-1.
European structural tube
6082 Aluminium Tube
6082-T6 is Europe's main structural aluminium alloy, and 6082 tube is the standard choice for welded frames, scaffolding, offshore structures, trailers and machine parts designed to EN standards. It is slightly stronger than 6061 in most section sizes and has very good corrosion resistance. Metline supplies 6082 round, square and rectangular tube, extruded or cold-drawn, to customers worldwide.
- Alloy
- EN AW-6082 (AlSi1MgMn)
- Tempers
- T6, T651X, T4, O
- OD range
- 6 – 400 mm
- Standards
- EN 755-2 · EN 754-2 · EN 573-3
What is 6082 aluminium tube?
6082 is a medium-to-high strength Al-Si-Mg-Mn alloy. Its manganese addition controls grain structure during extrusion, giving strong, tough tube with good resistance to atmospheric and marine corrosion. In the T6 temper it is the most widely used structural tube in Europe.
6082 replaced the older British HE30 (BS 1474) and is specified throughout the EN system, including the structural design code EN 1999 (Eurocode 9). Where a North American drawing calls for 6061-T6, a European engineer will normally specify 6082-T6; the two are close substitutes but not identical. 6082 has higher silicon and manganese and almost no copper, so it is marginally stronger in thick walls and slightly better in corrosion, while 6061 gives a somewhat better anodised finish and is easier to source in drawn small-diameter sizes in the Americas.
Most 6082 tube is extruded, either seamless over a mandrel or through a porthole die, and press-quenched or separately solution heat-treated before ageing to T6. Thick-walled tube is often supplied as T6511-type stretched material so that it stays straight when machined into sleeves, rollers and hydraulic components. Cold-drawn 6082 tube to EN 754-2 is available for precision applications.
EN AW-6082 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Min | Max | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.70 | 1.30 | Excess Si raises ageing response |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 | 1.00 | Grain control and toughness |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.60 | 1.20 | Strengthening with Si |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.25 | Grain control |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.20 | |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.10 | Grain refiner |
| Others each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium | Remainder |
Limits per EN 573-3 and the Aluminum Association registration.
Mechanical properties of 6082 tube
EN 755-2 sets minimums by wall thickness. Thin-walled tube has slightly lower guaranteed values because it is often press-quenched; thicker walls reach higher minimums.
| Temper / basis | Tensile Rm | Proof Rp0.2 | Elongation A |
|---|---|---|---|
| O, maximum (EN 755-2) | ≤ 160 MPa | ≤ 110 MPa | 14 % |
| T4, minimum | 205 MPa | 110 MPa | 12 – 14 % |
| T6, minimum, wall ≤ 5 mm | 290 MPa | 250 MPa | 8 % |
| T6, minimum, wall 5 – 25 mm | 310 MPa | 260 MPa | 10 % |
| T6, typical | 330 – 340 MPa | 300 – 310 MPa | 10 – 12 % |
| T6 heat-affected zone (EN 1999 design) | about 185 MPa | — | — |
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.70 g/cm³
- Elastic modulus
- 70 GPa
- Thermal conductivity (T6)
- about 170 – 180 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (T6)
- about 40 – 45 % IACS
- Thermal expansion
- 23.1 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- about 555 – 650 °C
6082 standards and equivalents
| System | Designation | Tube standard |
|---|---|---|
| European | EN AW-6082 / EN AW-AlSi1MgMn | EN 755-2 (extruded), EN 754-2 (drawn), EN 755-7 / 755-8 tolerances |
| Germany | 3.2315 (AlMgSi1) | DIN EN 755 |
| UK (old) | HE30 / H30 | BS 1474 (superseded) |
| UNS | A96082 | — |
| ISO | AlSi1MgMn | ISO 6362 |
| India | 64430 | IS 733 / IS 1285 |
| Closest US alloy | 6061 | ASTM B221 / B241 |
6082 tube sizes and weights
Supply range
- Extruded round tube
- OD about 10 – 400 mm, wall 1.5 – 50 mm
- Drawn tube
- OD about 6 – 120 mm, wall 0.5 – 8 mm
- Square and rectangular tube
- 20 × 20 to 200 × 200 mm; rectangular up to about 250 × 150 mm
- Length
- 3 – 6 m standard, cut lengths on request
- Finish
- Mill, anodised or powder coated
Round tube weight in kg/m = π × (OD − wall) × wall × 2.70 / 1000. The 48.3 × 4 mm size is the common aluminium scaffold tube.
| OD × wall (mm) | kg/m | I (cm⁴) | Z (cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 2 | 0.31 | 0.5 | 0.46 |
| 25 × 2.5 | 0.48 | 1.1 | 0.91 |
| 30 × 3 | 0.69 | 2.3 | 1.56 |
| 40 × 3 | 0.94 | 6.0 | 3.00 |
| 48.3 × 4 | 1.50 | 13.8 | 5.70 |
| 50 × 5 | 1.91 | 18.1 | 7.25 |
| 60 × 5 | 2.33 | 32.9 | 10.98 |
| 80 × 5 | 3.18 | 83.2 | 20.80 |
| 100 × 6 | 4.78 | 196.5 | 39.30 |
| 120 × 10 | 9.33 | 527.0 | 87.83 |
| 150 × 10 | 11.88 | 1083.1 | 144.41 |
| 200 × 20 | 30.54 | 4637.0 | 463.70 |
| 250 × 25 | 47.71 | 11320.8 | 905.66 |
Tolerances and inspection
Extruded seamless tube follows EN 755-7, porthole tube EN 755-8, and drawn tube EN 754-7 or EN 754-8. Thick-walled tube for machining should be checked for wall eccentricity, which determines how much stock remains after boring. Ultrasonic or eddy-current testing can be added for critical parts.
Inspection and documents
- Dimensional
- OD, wall, eccentricity, straightness and length
- Mechanical
- Tensile test per lot to EN ISO 6892-1
- Optional
- Ultrasonic or eddy-current testing, hardness, third-party witness
- Certificate
- EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate
Welding, machining, bending and finishing
Machining
Machines very well in T6 with short chips. Thick-walled stretched tube stays straight after boring.
Bending
T6 tube bends to moderate radii; for tight bends use T4 or O and re-age.
Anodising
Anodises well for protection; the colour is slightly less even than 6063.
Corrosion
Very good in marine atmospheres; widely used for offshore walkways and boat structures.
Fastening
Isolate stainless or steel fasteners to prevent galvanic corrosion in wet conditions.
Applications of 6082 tube
- Access equipment: scaffold tubes, ladders, mobile towers and stage structures
- Transport: trailer chassis members, truck bodies, rail vehicle frames and bus structures
- Marine and offshore: walkways, gangways, handrails and helideck structures
- Machinery: rollers, pneumatic and hydraulic cylinder bodies, sleeves and bushes
- Construction: space frames, bridges, towers and lighting columns designed to EN 1999
- Lifting: crane jibs, gantries and lifting frames
6082 vs 6061 vs 6063 tube
| 6082-T6 | 6061-T6 | 6063-T6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical yield | 300 – 310 MPa | 276 MPa | 214 MPa |
| Copper content | ≤ 0.10 % | 0.15 – 0.40 % | ≤ 0.10 % |
| Marine corrosion | Very good | Good | Very good |
| Anodised appearance | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Main market | Europe, Middle East, India | Americas, Asia | Worldwide |
6082 and 6061 are often interchangeable for structural tube, but confirm with the designer, because minimum properties and standards differ.
How to order 6082 tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (for example EN AW-6082-T6, 48.3 × 4 mm), section size and wall thickness, length, quantity and the governing standard (EN 755-2 or EN 754-2). 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
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tubes and profiles: mechanical properties (with EN 755-7 / -8 / -9 dimensional tolerances)
- EN 754-2 – Cold drawn rod/bar and tube: mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- EN 1999-1-1 (Eurocode 9) – Design of aluminium structures: general structural rules
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
6082 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
Is 6082 the same as 6061?
No, but they are close substitutes. 6082 has more silicon and manganese and less copper; it is slightly stronger in thicker walls and a little better in corrosion. Confirm substitution with the designer and the governing standard.
What is the minimum strength of 6082-T6 tube?
Under EN 755-2, 290 MPa tensile and 250 MPa proof for walls up to 5 mm, and 310 / 260 MPa for walls from 5 to 25 mm.
Can 6082 tube be welded?
Yes. It welds well by MIG and TIG, usually with ER5356 or ER5183 filler. The heat-affected zone loses strength, so welded structures are designed to reduced values from EN 1999-1-1.
What size is aluminium scaffold tube?
The common size is 48.3 mm OD with a wall of about 4 mm in 6082-T6, which weighs roughly 1.5 kg per metre.
Is 6082 tube suitable for marine use?
Yes. Its low copper content gives very good resistance to marine atmospheres, and it is widely used for walkways, handrails and boat structures.
Need 6082 tube?
Send OD, wall, temper, length, quantity and destination, and we will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
