What are the differences between 7075 and 6061 aluminum alloy?

We are going to talk about two common aluminum alloy materials —— 7075 and 6061. These two aluminum alloys have been widely used in aviation, automobile, machinery and other fields, but their performance, characteristics and applied range are vastly different. Then, what are the differences between 7075 and 6061 aluminum alloy?

1. Composition elements

7075 Aluminum alloys are mainly composed of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, copper and other elements. The zinc content is higher, reaching about 6%. This high zinc content give the 7075 aluminum alloy excellent strength and hardness. And 6061 aluminum alloy is aluminum, magnesium, silicon as the main elements, its magnesium and silicon content, giving it good processing performance and corrosion resistance.

6061 Chemical Composition WT(%)
Silicon	Iron	Copper	Magnesium	Manganese	Chromium	Zinc	Titanium	Others	Aluminum
0.4~0.8	0.7	0.15~0.4	0.8~1.2	0.15	0.05~0.35	0.25	0.15	0.15	Remainder

7075 Chemical Composition WT(%)
Silicon	Iron	Copper	Magnesium	Manganese	Chromium	Zinc	Titanium	Others	Aluminum
0.4	0.5	1.2~2	2.1~2.9	0.3	0.18~0.28	5.1~5.6	0.2	0.05	Remainder

 

2. Comparison of mechanical properties

The 7075 aluminum alloy stands out for its high strength and high hardness. Its tensile strength can reach more than 500MPa, the hardness is much higher than ordinary aluminum alloy. This gives the 7075 aluminum alloy a significant advantage in making high strength, high wear resistant parts. In contrast, the 6061 aluminum alloy is not as strong as the 7075, but it has better elongation and toughness, and is more suitable for manufacturing parts that require certain bending and deformation.

3. Differences in processing performance

The 6061 aluminum alloy has good cutting, welding and forming properties. 6061 Aluminum suitable for various mechanical processing and heat treatment. Due to high hardness and high melting point, 7075 aluminum alloy is much difficult to process, and it needs to use more professional equipment and process. Therefore, when choosing aluminum alloy materials, the selection should be based on specific processing requirements and process conditions。

4. Corrosion resistance

6061 aluminum alloy has better corrosion resistance, especially in the oxidation environment by forming a dense oxide film. Although 7075 aluminum alloy also has certain corrosion resistance, but due to its high zinc content, it may be more sensitive to some specific environments, requiring additional anti-corrosion measures.

5. Example of application

Due to the high strength and lightweight properties of the 7075 aluminum alloy, it is often used to manufacture spacecraft, bicycle frames, high-end sports equipment and other products with strictly strength and weight requirements. And 6061 aluminum alloy is widely used in construction, automobile, ship and other fields, used for the manufacture of doors and Windows frames, auto parts, hull structure, etc.

6. In terms of price

Due to the higher manufacturing cost of 7075 aluminum alloy, its price is usually slightly higher than that of 6061 aluminum alloy. This is mainly because of the high cost of zinc, magnesium and copper contained in the 7075 aluminum alloy. However, in some applications that require extremely high performance, these additional costs are worthy.

7. Summary and suggestions

Between 7075 and 6061 aluminum there are significant differences in mechanical properties, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, application range, and price.

In the select of aluminum alloy material, it should be considered according to the specific use environment and needs. For example, 7075 Aluminum alloy are better option which requiring high strength and good fatigue resistance. 6061 aluminum alloy would have more advantageous which required good machining performance and welding performance.

Although 7075 and 6061 aluminum alloys differ in many aspects, they are both excellent aluminum alloy materials with broad application prospects. With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous improvement of aluminum alloy manufacturing technology, these two aluminum alloys will be more widely and deeply applied in the future.