Overview

Today will we be looking at two very popular and often used aluminum grades – 6061 vs 7075. We will also include the following:

What are aluminum grades

What is 7075

What is 6061

How we at Prototype Finder work with both

Main differences between the two

Products made with both of them

Which is best for you to choose for your next project

First, what are aluminum grades? Let us take a look to get a better understanding.

What are Aluminum Grades

To understand what are 6061 and 7075 we must first understand what are aluminum grades. See, aluminum in its purest sense is soft. Very much so. When it mixes with other metals – or alloyed – the properties of aluminum then transform. It becomes stronger and denser. It is often alloyed with elements like magnesium and copper. Or others like silicon, iron, manganese and zinc. Each of these alloys brings about different kinds of properties and results. Each grade is better suited for building different products. You can find more details of these grades below:

1XXX – This is the purest grade and made of 99% or more of pure aluminum. It has great corrosion resistance, thermal capabilities, electrical conductivity and is very malleable. This is a grade that produces transmission lines.

2XXX – Mixed with copper. A great combination of strength and toughness. Often used during aerospace production.

3XXX – Uses manganese. With decent strength and malleability. This creates aluminum soda cans and kitchen utensils.

4XXX – Silicon. It provides a lower melting point without making it more brittle. Used in welding wires and structural applications.

5XXX – We alloy this with magnesium. It has wonderful corrosion resistance often for aquatic environments. It has great strength and weldability. Used in building construction and marine applications.

6XXX – Alloyed with both silicon and magnesium. Often in the automotive industry. We will be looking at an alloy within this – 6061. More on this below.

7XXX – Alloyed with zinc. A strong grade which is used in the airline industry. Today we are looking at an alloy in this grade – 7075. More below.

There are different grades of aluminum and these build different products. Some are malleable and soft. Others are strong and durable. Aluminum is a fantastic metal used across many different industries.

6061 7075 Image 1 

What is 7075

7075 is an alloy that is part of the 7000 aluminum grade series. Known for having aluminum as its main element while also alloyed with zinc. It’s an aluminum famed for its increased strength. Because of this is often used in military defence and aerospace industries. It can be used to construct airplane frames. Also high-end cycling components and plastic mold tooling, among others. It also has decent machinability. Comparing the cost of this material to 6061, 7075 aluminum price is higher.

7075 is an aluminum alloy that alloys with zinc. Known for its strength, used in aerospace and military defence.

6061 7075 Image 2

What is 6061

This alloy is a part of the 6000 aluminum grading series. It contains a higher amount of silicon between the two. It is often considered to be a jack of all trades. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, reasonable low costs and versatility. It also boasts fantastic machinability, great corrosion resistance and fantastic tensile strength. Because of its workability, manufacturers often use this material for many extrusion projects. Suitable in a wide array of applications. From electrical products to automotive and aerospace. Down to consumer products, piping, and much more.

6061 is an aluminum alloy which includes silicon. 6061 aluminum price per pound is lower compared to 7075. It also has impressive mechanical properties and is very versatile.

6061 7075 Image 3

How Prototype Finder works with 6061 & 7075

We here at Prototype Finder are a manufacturing company. We specialize in prototype development and manufacturing. Also holding core competency in injection molding and CNC machining. We have worked with building aluminum parts for many years. Both with 6061 and 7075 applications. Do you need to work with one of the best manufacturers on the market? Or do you need expertise crafting your next aluminum product? Whatever the reason, don’t hesitate to request a quote or contact us. We will do our best to assist you.

6061 vs 7075: Main Differences

When it comes to 7075 vs 6061 aluminum we can break them down into two core differences . Their chemical composition, and their mechanical properties. By chemical composition, we mean the elements in the alloy. One has more zinc, while another has more chromium or magnesium, for example. By mechanical properties, we mean factors like yield strength. Or their thermal conductivity and how resistant they are to corrosion. Let’s look into these comparisons in further details below:

6061 vs 7075: Chemical Composition

Look below to see the full breakdown of 6061 and 7075s chemical composition. You may notice that the two have a lot of similarities, but they differ in a couple of crucial aspects. 7075 is a part of the 7XXX series, and as such both zinc and copper are the primary alloying components. 6061 is part of the 6XXX series, which utilizes magnesium and silicon.