Closed-die forgings
Near-net shapes for fittings, housings and brackets; best grain flow and lowest machining allowance.
Aerospace · Medium-strength forgings
6082 Aerospace Aluminium Forgings (T6, T4)
6082 forgings combine the grain flow and soundness of forged metal with an alloy that resists corrosion, welds and machines well. Covered in the British aerospace series by BS L112 and commercially by EN 586, 6082-T6 forgings are used for fittings, housings, wheels and hubs for ground equipment, brackets and rings where 6061-class strength is enough. Metline supplies 6082 die forgings, hand forgings, rings, discs and blocks to order, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 6082 (Al-Si-Mg-Mn)
- Tempers
- T6, T652, T4
- Forms
- Die forgings, rings, discs, blocks, forged bar
- Standards
- BS L112 · EN 586
Why forge 6082 for aerospace parts
Forging works the metal under compression so the grain follows the part contour, closes internal porosity and removes the cast structure. Compared with machining the same part from plate or bar, a forging gives better fatigue and impact performance, more consistent properties in all directions and less material waste.
6082 is the most common European 6xxx forging alloy. It forges easily over a wide temperature range, responds well to solution treatment and ageing, and keeps the corrosion resistance and weldability that make it attractive for exposed parts. The British aerospace series lists it as BS L112 (forging stock and forgings), alongside L111 bar and L114 tube.
Strength is in the 6061 class, about 310 MPa minimum tensile, so 6082 forgings are chosen for moderately loaded parts: equipment and seat fittings, brackets, hinge bodies, actuator housings, ground-equipment wheels and hubs, rings and flanges. Highly stressed airframe and landing-gear forgings use 7050, 7075, 7175 or 2014, and engine hot-section parts use nickel or titanium alloys, not aluminium.
6082 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits follow EN 573-3 and the Aluminum Association registration; BS L112 uses the same chemistry.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.70 | 1.30 | Excess Si over the Mg2Si ratio raises aged strength |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.50 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 | 1.00 | Suppresses recrystallisation and coarse grain; adds strength |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.60 | 1.20 | Main strengthening element with Si |
| Chromium (Cr) | — | 0.25 | Grain control |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.20 | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.10 | Grain refiner |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 95.2 – 98.3 % |
Mechanical properties of 6082 forgings
Forging properties depend on section thickness and test direction. Indicative minimums for T6 die forgings under EN 586-2 and BS L112 are shown below; the governing specification and the drawing set the exact acceptance values, including any transverse or short-transverse requirements.
| Temper / direction | Tensile strength (min) | 0.2 % proof stress (min) | Elongation (min) | Typical hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T6, longitudinal (≤ 100 mm) | about 310 MPa | about 260 MPa | about 6 % | 95 – 100 HB |
| T6, transverse (≤ 100 mm) | about 290 MPa | about 250 MPa | about 5 % | — |
| T4 (typical) | about 230 – 250 MPa | about 120 – 140 MPa | 12 % or more | about 65 HB |
Minimums fall for thicker sections because the core cools more slowly during quenching. Ask us to confirm the values for your forging thickness before finalising the design.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.70 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 70 GPa
- Thermal conductivity (T6)
- about 170 – 180 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (T6)
- about 40 – 45 % IACS (24 – 26 MS/m)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.4 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- about 575 – 650 °C
How 6082 forgings are made
- StockHomogenised cast billet or extruded forging stock is cut to weight; extruded stock gives finer grain for small die forgings.
- ForgingHeated to roughly 450 – 500 °C and forged in open or closed dies, or ring-rolled, with dies preheated to limit chilling.
- Solution treatmentHeated to about 525 – 545 °C and quenched rapidly in water or polymer to hold magnesium and silicon in solution.
- Stress relief (T652)Large forgings can be cold-compressed 1 – 5 % after quenching to cut residual stress and machining distortion.
- AgeingArtificially aged at about 160 – 180 °C for several hours to reach T6; T4 parts are left to age naturally.
- InspectionHardness, conductivity, tensile tests on prolongations, ultrasonic testing and macro-etch as specified.
6082 forging types and sizes
Open-die (hand) forgings
Blocks, cubes and simple shapes for low quantities or large parts machined from solid.
Forged discs
Upset discs for wheels, hubs, flanges and covers.
Rolled rings
Seamless rings for flanges, bearing housings and structural rings, with circumferential grain flow.
Forged bar and shafts
Round and stepped bars where forged structure is wanted beyond extruded sizes.
Size range
From small die forgings of under 1 kg to large discs, rings and blocks; achievable sizes depend on the forge, so send the drawing for confirmation.
Inspection and documentation for aerospace forgings
- Ultrasonic testing to a stated class, for example AMS-STD-2154 Class A or AA, for internal soundness
- Grain flow and macro-etch checks on first articles to confirm the flow follows the part contour
- Mechanical tests from integral test prolongations or sacrificial forgings, in the directions required
- Hardness and conductivity on every piece to confirm heat treatment
- Marking and traceability: alloy, temper, heat lot and part number on each forging, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate
Typical aerospace uses of 6082 forgings
- Equipment and seat fittings that are machined from die forgings for weight and fatigue performance
- Housings and covers for actuators, valves and avionics enclosures
- Ground support equipment: wheels, hubs, towbar heads, jacking pads and lifting fittings
- Rings and flanges for ducts, test rigs and structural joints
- Space and defence hardware: brackets and mounts where corrosion resistance and weldability help
6082 forgings compared with 6061, 2014 and 7075
| Property | 6082-T6 | 6061-T6 | 2014-T6 | 7075-T73 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 330 – 340 MPa | 310 MPa | 480 MPa | 500 MPa |
| Corrosion resistance | Very good | Good | Poor | Good (T73) |
| Weldability | Good | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Forgeability | Very good | Very good | Good | Fair |
| Typical role | Moderate-load fittings, GSE | Moderate-load fittings (US) | Highly loaded fittings, wheels | Highly loaded airframe parts |
How to order 6082 aerospace forgings
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, forging or machined-part drawing, test directions, ultrasonic class, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (BS L112, EN 586 or a customer forging specification).
- 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, straightness and surface condition; tests named on the order are carried out or arranged with a third party.
- 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 or on pallets, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- BS L112 – Aluminium Alloy 6082 Forging Stock and Forgings (British aerospace series)
- EN 586-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: forgings, mechanical properties and additional property requirements
- SAE AMS 2772 – Heat Treatment of Aluminum Alloy Raw Materials
- SAE AMS-STD-2154 – Inspection, Ultrasonic, Wrought Metals
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
6082 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) forgings: FAQs
Which specification covers 6082 aerospace forgings?
BS L112 covers 6082 forging stock and forgings in the British aerospace series. Commercial forgings are usually ordered to EN 586, with ultrasonic and test requirements added for aerospace parts.
How strong are 6082-T6 forgings?
Longitudinal minimums are about 310 MPa tensile and 260 MPa proof stress for sections up to about 100 mm, with slightly lower transverse and thick-section values.
Are 6082 forgings used in jet engines?
Not in the hot section. Turbine blades and discs use nickel and titanium alloys. 6082 forgings can serve in cool-running brackets, housings and ground equipment.
What is the T652 temper?
A T6 condition in which the forging is cold-compressed after quenching to relieve residual stress, reducing distortion during machining.
Can 6082 forgings be welded?
Yes, with ER4043 or ER5356 filler, but the weld zone loses part of its T6 strength unless the part is re-heat-treated.
Do you supply 6082 forgings machined?
Metline supplies forgings as-forged or rough-machined to your drawing, heat-treated and inspected, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate, worldwide.
Need 6082 forgings for an aerospace or GSE part?
Send the drawing, quantity, specification and inspection requirements. We will reply with forging route, certification and delivered cost.
