H12
Lightly cold drawn. The usual temper for rivet wire: firm enough to feed and shear cleanly, soft enough to form a full head.
Fastener wire guide
5A06 Aluminium Wire for Rivets and Fasteners
5A06 is a high-magnesium aluminium alloy (about 6 % Mg) that gives the strongest non-heat-treatable rivets and small fasteners in the Al-Mg family. Supplied as drawn wire, usually lightly hardened (H12) or annealed, it heads into rivets, screws and sleeve nuts that need no heat treatment and stand up to seawater. This guide explains the alloy, its strength, its one important temperature limit and how to specify it.
- Alloy
- 5A06 (formerly LF6)
- Magnesium
- about 5.8 – 6.8 %
- Diameter
- 1.6 – 10 mm wire
- Shear strength
- about 165 MPa min
What is 5A06 aluminium?
5A06 is the GB/T 3190 designation for the alloy formerly called LF6, the Chinese counterpart of Russian AMg6. Its magnesium content is higher than any common Western 5xxx grade: 5083 has about 4.5 % and 5056 about 5 %, while 5A06 carries roughly 6 %. That extra magnesium, plus manganese and a trace of titanium and beryllium, gives it the highest strength available from an aluminium alloy that is not heat-treated.
For fasteners, that combination is useful. A 5A06 rivet carries noticeably more shear load than a 5A02 or 5052 rivet, yet is still driven as delivered, with no quench, no ageing and no refrigerated storage. Because it is free of copper, it is compatible with high-magnesium structural alloys such as 5A06 and 5083 plate, which is why it is the traditional rivet and screw material for welded Al-Mg ship structures, pressure vessels and aerospace parts built from the same alloy.
Its weakness is heat. Like every Al-Mg alloy above about 3 % magnesium, 5A06 can become sensitised if held for long periods between roughly 65 °C and 200 °C: β-phase forms along grain boundaries and the material becomes prone to intergranular and stress-corrosion cracking. 5A06 fasteners should be kept to parts that run cool.
5A06 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Limit | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 5.8 – 6.8 | Solid-solution strengthening |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 – 0.8 | Additional strength and grain control |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.02 – 0.10 | Grain refinement |
| Beryllium (Be) | 0.0001 – 0.005 | Limits magnesium oxidation during casting |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.40 | |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.40 | |
| Copper (Cu) | ≤ 0.10 | |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.20 | |
| Others each / total | ≤ 0.05 / 0.10 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Limits as registered in GB/T 3190. Some older data sheets quote slightly different magnesium and manganese ranges; the certificate for each heat reports the actual analysis against the standard on your order.
Strength of 5A06 wire and rivets
| Property | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Shear strength, rivet wire H12 | ≥ 165 MPa (requirement commonly quoted for 1.6 – 10 mm) | Double-shear test on wire |
| Upsetting test | Head to about 1.5 × diameter without cracking | Cold-heading quality check |
| Annealed tensile strength (sheet reference) | ≥ 315 MPa, yield ≥ 155 MPa | Shows the strength level of the alloy itself |
| Density | about 2.64 g/cm³ | Magnesium makes it lighter than pure aluminium |
Shear strength places 5A06 between the Al-Mg rivet alloys (1035, 3A21, 5A02, 5B05) and the heat-treatable ones (2A01, 2A10, 7A03). For a joint that must be all Al-Mg for corrosion reasons but needs as much load capacity as possible, it is the natural choice.
Which temper to order
O (annealed)
Lower heading force, better for large diameters, deep recesses in screw heads and complex fastener shapes. 5A06 work-hardens quickly, so annealed wire extends die life.
Harder drawn
Used for straight pins and machined parts where no heavy upset is needed. Agree properties with the supplier.
Because the alloy work-hardens fast, heading 5A06 needs more force than 5A02. Tooling should be designed for the higher flow stress, and multi-blow headers are preferred for screws with large heads.
Fasteners made from 5A06 wire
- Solid rivets for welded and riveted Al-Mg hulls, decks, pressure vessels and aircraft parts built from 5A06 or 5083 sheet
- Screws and machine screws where a stainless screw would cause galvanic corrosion in an aluminium structure
- Bolts, studs and pins for lightweight equipment and marine fittings
- Nuts and sleeve nuts headed or formed from wire
- Threaded rod in light structures and instrument frames
5A06 equivalents and alternatives
| System | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| China (old) | LF6 | Identical |
| Russia (GOST) | AMg6 (1560) | Close equivalent |
| Aluminum Association | No exact equivalent | 5056 (about 5 % Mg) is the nearest Western rivet alloy |
| Europe (EN) | EN AW-5019 / 5056A (AlMg5) | Lower magnesium |
If a design must be built to ASTM or EN standards, 5056 rivet wire is usually the substitute, accepting a little lower strength.
What to check when buying 5A06 fastener wire
- Specify fullyAlloy and temper, diameter and tolerance class, coil weight, surface condition (oiled, soap-coated) and the governing standard.
- Confirm testingChemistry, diameter, shear and upsetting tests per lot, reported on an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
- Check marking and traceabilityEvery coil tagged with alloy, temper, diameter, heat and lot number, so a quality issue can be traced to its source.
- Agree packingCoils wrapped and packed in cases or on pallets to keep moisture out; Al-Mg wire stains if it gets wet in transit.
- Review service temperatureConfirm the fastener will not run above about 65 °C for long periods.
References and standards
- GB/T 3190 – Chemical composition of wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys
- GB/T 3195 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy drawn round wire
- ASTM B565 – Standard Test Method for Shear Testing of Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivets and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- ASTM B316 – Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivet and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (Al-Mg alloys and sensitisation)
5A06 fastener wire: frequently asked questions
What is 5A06 aluminium used for?
Rivets, screws, bolts and other fasteners, plus welded plate and sheet structures in ships, pressure vessels and aerospace parts. It offers the highest strength of the non-heat-treatable Al-Mg alloys.
Is 5A06 the same as 5056 aluminum?
No. 5056 contains about 5 % magnesium; 5A06 about 6 %. 5A06 is somewhat stronger, but 5056 is the usual substitute when a design must follow ASTM or EN standards.
Can 5A06 rivets be used at high temperature?
Not for long-term service above about 65 °C. High-magnesium alloys can sensitise in that range and become susceptible to intergranular and stress-corrosion cracking.
Does 5A06 wire need heat treatment after heading?
No. It is not heat-treatable; strength comes from magnesium and cold work. Rivets are driven as made.
What shear strength does 5A06 rivet wire have?
H12 rivet wire is commonly specified at about 165 MPa minimum in shear for diameters up to 10 mm. Confirm the value against the standard edition on your order.
Sourcing 5A06 wire for fasteners?
Send diameter, temper and quantity. Metline will reply with availability, certification and delivered pricing worldwide.
