Joint preparation
Remove oxide mechanically or chemically just before welding. Contaminated joints in high-magnesium alloys give porosity.
Aerospace · High-magnesium wire
5A06 Aerospace Aluminium Wire
5A06 wire is drawn from the 6 % magnesium Chinese alloy formerly known as LF6, close to the Russian AMg6. It is used mainly as matching filler wire for welding 5A06 and similar high-magnesium structures, and as wire for rivets and cold-headed fasteners. Metline supplies 5A06 wire in O and hard-drawn tempers, on spools, in coils or as straight rods, to GB/T standards, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5A06 (Al-6.3Mg-0.65Mn)
- Tempers
- O, H14, H18
- Diameter
- About 0.8 – 10 mm
- Standards
- GB/T 3190 · GB/T 3195 · GB/T 10858
What 5A06 wire is used for
Welded 5A06 structures, such as launch-vehicle propellant tanks and high-strength marine and aerospace frames, need a filler that matches the parent metal's magnesium content. If a lower-magnesium filler is used, the weld becomes the weak point. 5A06 wire is the matching filler for this family.
The same alloy is also drawn into wire for rivets and cold-headed parts, where its high magnesium gives good shear strength without heat treatment. Annealed (O) wire is used for heading; hard-drawn (H14 or H18) wire is used for straight lengths, springs and filler rods that must feed reliably.
5A06 is a non-heat-treatable alloy. Tempers such as T4, T5 or T7, which sometimes appear in listings for this wire, do not apply to it; strength comes from magnesium in solid solution and cold drawing.
5A06 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 | 0.8 | Adds strength, refines grain |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 5.8 | 6.8 | Main strengthening element |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.20 | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.02 | 0.10 | Grain refiner |
| Beryllium (Be) | 0.0001 | 0.005 | Reduces oxidation and magnesium loss in melting and welding |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.10 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | — |
Limits per GB/T 3190. The beryllium addition is tiny but deliberate: it forms a protective film that reduces magnesium burn-off and oxide in the weld pool.
Wire properties
| Condition | Tensile strength (typical) | Elongation (typical) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed) | About 315 – 345 MPa | About 15 – 20 % | Rivets, cold heading |
| H14 (half hard) | Higher than O; depends on drawing reduction | Lower than O | Straight rods, formed parts |
| H18 (hard drawn) | Highest; depends on diameter and reduction | Low, a few percent | MIG and TIG filler, springs |
Wire properties depend strongly on diameter and the amount of drawing. Values here are indicative; the certificate reports the tested result for each lot.
As-welded joints in 5A06 plate made with matching filler typically reach tensile strengths of roughly 300 – 320 MPa, close to the annealed parent metal, provided the procedure is qualified and the joint is clean.
Physical properties
- Density
- About 2.64 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- About 70 – 71 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- About 115 – 120 W/m·K
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- About 24 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- About 570 – 635 °C
Diameters and packaging
Supply range
- MIG filler wire
- 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 mm on spools
- TIG filler rod
- 1.6 – 5.0 mm in 1000 mm straight lengths
- Rivet and fastener wire
- About 1.6 – 10 mm in coils, O temper, with clean drawn or shaved surface
- Tolerances
- Per the order standard; tighter limits for heading wire on request
- Packaging
- Sealed, moisture-protected spools and coils in export cartons or cases
| Diameter (mm) | Grams per metre | Metres per kg |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8 | 1.33 | 754 |
| 1 | 2.07 | 482 |
| 1.2 | 2.99 | 335 |
| 1.6 | 5.31 | 188 |
| 2 | 8.29 | 121 |
| 2.4 | 11.94 | 84 |
| 3.2 | 21.23 | 47 |
| 4 | 33.18 | 30 |
| 5 | 51.84 | 19 |
| 6 | 74.64 | 13 |
| 8 | 132.70 | 8 |
Welding practice and filler choice
Shielding
Pure argon is standard; argon-helium mixtures give deeper penetration in thick sections.
Alternative fillers
Where 5A06 wire is not specified, ER5556 or ER5183 is the nearest western filler, with slightly lower weld strength.
Service limits
Welds made with 5A06 wire share its sensitivity to heat; keep structures below about 65 °C in long-term service.
Typical uses
- Welding filler for 5A06, AMg6 and other high-magnesium aluminium structures, including propellant tanks and frames
- Rivets and pins headed from annealed wire for corrosion-exposed joints
- Cold-headed fasteners and small machined parts from straight rod
- Repair welding of existing 5A06 and AMg6 components
How to order 5A06 wire
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, diameter, temper and packaging, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (GB/T 3195, GB/T 10858 or your drawing).
- ConfirmWe confirm the specification can be met, the tolerance class, any extra tests and the delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectMaterial is checked for dimensions and surface condition; tests named on the order are carried out or arranged with an independent laboratory.
- DocumentEach lot ships with a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing chemistry and mechanical results, traceable to the cast or lot number.
- Pack and shipExport packing in sealed, moisture-protected wooden cases, crates or pallets, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- GB/T 3190 – Chemical composition of wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys
- GB/T 3195 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy drawn round wire
- GB/T 10858 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy welding wires and rods
- GOST 4784 – Aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys: grades (AMg6)
5A06 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) wire: FAQs
Is 5A06 wire used for welding?
Yes. It is the matching filler for 5A06 and similar high-magnesium alloys and is widely used for welded tanks and frames.
Can 5A06 wire be supplied in T4 or T6?
No. 5A06 is non-heat-treatable, so T tempers do not apply. Wire is supplied annealed (O) or hard drawn (H14, H18).
What is the western equivalent filler?
ER5556 is the closest common filler, followed by ER5183. Both contain less magnesium than 5A06 and give slightly lower weld strength.
Why does 5A06 contain beryllium?
A very small beryllium addition reduces oxidation and magnesium loss during melting and welding. The level is kept extremely low for safety.
Which wire temper is used for rivets?
Annealed (O) wire, which heads without cracking. The driven rivet gains strength from the cold work of heading.
Need 5A06 wire?
Send the diameter, temper, form, quantity and standard. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
