6000 series aluminium alloy vs 7000 series aluminium alloy
6000 series aluminium alloy and 7000 series aluminium alloy are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 4 measured properties, density most clearly.
6000 series aluminium alloy vs 7000 series aluminium alloy
6000 series aluminium alloy
The aluminium everything is extruded from — window frames, bike frames, heat sinks and structural profile.
7000 series aluminium alloy
The strongest aluminium there is — as strong as many steels, at a third the weight, and it does not like being welded or left in salt.
| Property | 6000 series aluminium alloy | 7000 series aluminium alloy |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.68–2.72 g/cm³ | 2.72–2.85 g/cm³ higher |
| Melting point | 580–650 °C higher | 475–640 °C |
| Tensile strength | 125–340 MPa | 220–620 MPa higher |
| Young's modulus | 69 GPa | 71 GPa higher |
Choosing between them
6000 series aluminium alloy is recorded as a substitute for 7000 series aluminium alloy — cheaper, more corrosion-resistant, easier to work.
What it gives up: Roughly half the strength. Where the section is set by strength rather than stiffness, a 6000 series part is simply bigger.
In this application, on the evidence cited above.