Grade reference
6063 aluminium — the architectural extrusion alloy.
Lower strength than 6061, but it extrudes into thin complex sections and anodises to an even finish. Almost every aluminium window system you have seen is built from it.
- Alloy system
- Al-Mg-Si (6000 series)
- Heat treatable
- Yes — T5, T6
- Density
- 2.70 g/cm³
- Forms we hold
- Extruded profiles
What 6063 is
Highly extrudable, excellent anodised finish, good corrosion resistance, moderate strength.
Properties in practice
- Strength. Moderate — adequate for framing, below 6061 for structural duty
- Extrudability. Excellent; supports thin walls and intricate sections
- Anodising. Excellent and even — the main reason it is specified for visible work
- Corrosion resistance. Good in general atmospheric exposure
- Weldability. Good by TIG and MIG
- Machinability. Fair; softer and gummier than 6061 under the tool
Where it is used
- Window, door and sliding systems — frames, sashes, beads
- Curtain wall and glazing — mullions, transoms, capping, pressure plates
- Railings, partitions, shopfronts and louvres
- LED and lighting profiles, heat sinks
- Furniture, interior trim and display systems
- Irrigation pipe and general thin-wall tube
Nominal composition
Magnesium 0.45 – 0.9 % · Silicon 0.2 – 0.6 % · Iron 0.35 % max · Aluminium Balance
Figures on this page are indicative typical values for comparison only. The mill test certificate supplied with your consignment is the governing document.
Tempers
6063 tempers and typical properties.
Indicative values for comparing tempers. Figures move with product form and thickness, and the mill test certificate governs.
| Temper | Tensile, MPa | Yield, MPa | Elongation, % | Condition and usual use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6063-T6 | ~241 | ~214 | ~12 | Solution treated and artificially aged. Used where the section carries load. |
6063-T5 | ~186 | ~145 | ~12 | Cooled from extrusion and artificially aged. The common condition for architectural profiles. |
6063-T4 | ~172 | ~90 | ~18 | Naturally aged. More formable, for sections that get bent after extrusion. |
Figures on this page are indicative typical values for comparison only. The mill test certificate supplied with your consignment is the governing document.
Forms
How we supply 6063.
Cut to size, cut to length or slit to width before dispatch, so the first operation on your floor is the one that adds value.
Comparing grades?
Before you order
6063: what buyers ask.
Grade questions are the ones worth asking before the order, not after.
Why is 6063 used for windows instead of 6061?
Two reasons. It flows through the die more easily, so thin and complex sections with integral channels can be pulled at all; and it anodises to a far more even colour, which matters when fifty frames have to look identical on a façade.
Should I specify T5 or T6?
T5 is the usual condition for architectural profiles and is what most window systems are built from. T6 is for sections carrying real load. If your drawing does not say, tell us what the section does and we will confirm it on the quotation.
Can 6063 profiles be powder-coated as well as anodised?
Yes, both. Anodising to a stated micron class is common on tendered façade work; powder coating to a RAL shade is common on windows and doors. Specify the class or coating system on the enquiry.
Do you supply custom 6063 profiles?
Yes. Send a section drawing or sample and we quote the die alongside the metal. See aluminium extrusions for how that works.