Machining
Good in T6 and T6511; chip breakers help because low copper makes chips longer than with 6061.
Aerospace · Structural extrusions
6082 Aerospace Aluminium Profiles & Extrusions
6082 extrusions are the European standard for load-bearing aluminium sections: angles, channels, tees, I-beams, rails and custom profiles with about 290 – 310 MPa minimum tensile strength in T6. In aerospace they are certified to BS L111 or EN 2326 for seat and cargo structures, interior frames, equipment rails and ground support equipment. Metline supplies standard and custom 6082 profiles in T4, T5, T6 and T6511, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 6082 (Al-Si-Mg-Mn)
- Tempers
- O, T4, T5, T6, T6510, T6511
- Section size
- Up to about 850 mm wide
- Standards
- BS L111 · EN 2326 · EN 755
Where 6082 extrusions fit in aerospace
Extrusion produces long sections with the exact cross-section a design needs, so material sits where it carries load. 6082 is the strongest of the common European 6xxx extrusion alloys and keeps good weldability and corrosion resistance, which makes it the default for structural profiles outside North America.
Aerospace documents recognise it as BS L111 (6082-T6 bars and extruded sections) and EN 2326 (AL-P6082-T6 bars and sections up to 200 mm), with EN 2636 adding a limit on peripheral coarse grain. Typical aircraft uses are seat legs and frames, cargo-loading rails and roller trays, interior monument and partition frames, equipment and avionics racks, cable-support rails and stiffening sections in secondary structure. On the ground, 6082 profiles form the frames of stairs, platforms, dollies and maintenance docks.
Primary airframe sections such as wing stringers, spar caps and fuselage frames in commercial aircraft use 2024, 7075, 7050, 7150 or aluminium-lithium extrusions, which are far stronger and more damage tolerant. Landing-gear parts use high-strength steels, titanium or 7xxx forgings. 6082 earns its place where moderate strength, weldability and corrosion resistance are the priorities.
6082 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits follow EN 573-3 and the Aluminum Association registration, and are called by BS L111 and EN 2326.
| 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 profiles
Minimums for extruded profiles from EN 755-2, by wall thickness. BS L111 gives 295 MPa tensile and 255 MPa proof up to 20 mm and 310 / 270 MPa from 20 to 150 mm for bars and sections.
| Temper / wall thickness | Tensile strength (min) | 0.2 % proof stress (min) | Elongation A (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O / H111, all | ≤ 160 MPa (max) | ≤ 110 MPa (max) | 14 % |
| T4, ≤ 25 mm | 205 MPa | 110 MPa | 14 % |
| T5, ≤ 5 mm | 270 MPa | 230 MPa | 8 % |
| T6, ≤ 5 mm | 290 MPa | 250 MPa | 8 % |
| T6, 5 – 25 mm | 310 MPa | 260 MPa | 10 % |
"T651" is a plate temper. For stress-relieved extrusions specify T6510 (stretched only) or T6511 (stretched with minor straightening).
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
Designing profiles in 6082
6082 is stiffer to extrude than 6060 or 6063, so it rewards sensible profile design. The guidance below is typical; the extruder confirms what a given die and press can achieve.
| Feature | Typical guidance for 6082 | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wall, open profiles | About 1.5 – 2 mm (thicker for large sections) | Thinner walls tear or lose shape |
| Minimum wall, hollows | About 2 – 3 mm | Porthole dies need metal to weld inside the die |
| Wall thickness variation | Keep adjacent walls within about 2:1 – 3:1 | Even cooling and quench response |
| Corner radii | At least 0.5 – 1 mm | Better metal flow and less cracking |
| Section envelope | Open profiles to about 850 mm wide; hollows to about 570 mm | Press and container size |
| Length | Standard 6 m; longer by agreement | Handling and ageing ovens |
Thick-walled 6082 profiles may need separate solution heat treatment rather than press quenching to reach full T6 properties throughout. Ask for peripheral coarse grain limits (EN 2636) on sections that will be heavily machined or fatigue loaded.
6082 extrusion standards and designations
| System | Designation / standard | Note |
|---|---|---|
| European | EN AW-6082 (EN AW-AlSi1MgMn) | EN 573-3 chemistry |
| UK aerospace | BS L111 (bar & sections), L112 (forgings), L113 (sheet), L114 (tube), L115 (plate) | British aerospace L-series |
| European aerospace | EN 2326 / EN 2636 (AL-P6082-T6 bars and sections) | EN 2636 adds peripheral coarse-grain control |
| UK (legacy) | HE30 / H30 (BS 1474, BS 1470) | Superseded by EN 755 / EN 485 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.2315 (AlMgSi1) | — |
| ISO | AlSi1MgMn | — |
| UNS | A96082 | — |
| USA | Registered 6082; ASTM B221 lists it | Nearest common US grade: 6061 |
| Tolerances | EN 755-9 (profiles), EN 755-3/-4/-5/-6 (bars) | ANSI H35.2 when ordered to ASTM B221 |
Some trade listings name AMS 4150 – 4153 for 6082 extrusions. Those AMS documents cover other alloys, chiefly 6061, so they are not 6082 specifications. If your drawing calls an AMS document, we will confirm the alloy it actually covers before quoting.
6082 profile supply and weights
Typical supply
- Standard shapes
- Equal and unequal angles, channels, tees, I- and H-sections, Z-sections, rails
- Custom profiles
- Open, semi-hollow and hollow profiles to drawing, with new or existing dies
- Weight per metre
- From about 0.05 kg/m to over 100 kg/m
- Tempers
- T6 and T6511 most common; T4, T5 or O on request
- Finish
- Mill finish, anodised or painted
- Processing
- Cut to length, drilled, machined or bent on request
Weight per metre is the cross-sectional area in mm² × 0.0027. A 60 × 60 × 6 mm angle (about 684 mm²) weighs roughly 1.85 kg per metre.
Machining, welding and finishing 6082 profiles
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER4043, ER5356 or ER5183, and friction stir welding. Expect the heat-affected zone to fall to about half of T6 strength unless re-heat-treated.
Bending
Stretch-bend or roll-bend in T4, then age. T6 sections bend only to generous radii.
Anodising
Good for protective and hard anodising; aerospace processes (chromic, boric-sulphuric) as specified.
Corrosion
Very good in atmospheric and marine service; isolate from carbon fibre and dissimilar metals.
Inspection
Dimensional checks against EN 755-9, tensile tests per lot, macro-etch for PCG where specified.
Typical aerospace uses of 6082 extrusions
- Seat structures: legs, spreaders and frames, often in T6511 for machining
- Cargo systems: rails, roller trays, guides and restraint fittings
- Cabin interior: partition, galley and monument frames and luggage-rack supports
- Equipment installation: avionics rack rails, shelf supports and cable-tray rails
- Ground support equipment: stairs, platforms, maintenance docks and towing equipment
- UAV and small aircraft: spars, booms and frames where 6082 strength is sufficient
6082 profiles compared with 6063, 6061 and 7075
| Property | 6082-T6 | 6063-T6 | 6061-T6 | 7075-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum tensile (typical walls) | 290 – 310 MPa | 205 – 215 MPa | 260 MPa | 540 MPa and up |
| Extrudability | Fair–good | Excellent | Fair–good | Poor |
| Weldability | Good | Very good | Good | Poor |
| Corrosion resistance | Very good | Very good | Good | Fair |
| Typical aerospace role | Seat, cargo and GSE structure | Trim and interiors | Secondary structure (US) | Primary structure |
How to order 6082 aerospace profiles
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, profile drawing or standard section, length, finish, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (BS L111, EN 2326, EN 2636 or EN 755-2).
- 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 L111 – Aluminium Alloy 6082-T6 Bars and Extruded Sections (British aerospace series)
- EN 2326 – Aerospace series: Aluminium alloy AL-P6082-T6, bars and sections, D ≤ 200 mm
- EN 755-9 – Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: profiles, tolerances on dimensions and form
- EN 755-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles, mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
6082 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) extrusions: FAQs
Which aerospace specifications cover 6082 extrusions?
BS L111 covers 6082-T6 bars and extruded sections, and EN 2326 covers AL-P6082-T6 bars and sections up to 200 mm. EN 2636 is the same material with peripheral coarse-grain control.
Do AMS 4150 – 4153 apply to 6082?
No. Those AMS documents cover other alloys, mainly 6061. 6082 aerospace extrusions are normally certified to BS L111 or EN 2326.
What is the strength of 6082-T6 extrusions?
Under EN 755-2 the minimum is 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 profiles be supplied in T651?
T651 is a plate temper. Stress-relieved extrusions are T6510 or T6511, with T6511 the usual choice for machined parts.
What is the thinnest wall possible in a 6082 profile?
Roughly 1.5 – 2 mm for open sections and 2 – 3 mm for hollows, depending on profile size. For thinner walls, consider 6063 or 6005A if the strength allows.
Need 6082 extrusions for aircraft or GSE structures?
Send the drawing or section size, temper, specification, length and quantity. We will reply with die, certification and delivered cost.
