We are a specialist tubing company that provides many manipulation services. Using the likes of tube reduction, our team can offer utensils that meet particular needs. In addition, we are able to work with a considerable list of materials. It further increases our potential to offer products with the right attributes.
Aluminium is one of the materials manufacturers use for tubes. There are lots of options here, such as pure 1000 series grades and a large choice of alloys. The latter include series like 2000 with copper, 4000 with silicon, and 7000 with zinc. These extra elements augment the characteristics of the basic aluminium. For example, they can enhance conductivity, corrosion resistance, and strength.
In this article, we intend to compare 6061 aluminium alloy with its 7075 counterpart. These are two of the most common alloys, with uses in a huge array of industries.
A closer look at the alloys
Type 6061 aluminium belongs to the 6000 series of alloys. These contain silicon and magnesium as main constituents. Alloy 6061 has a specific elemental composition. It is 97.9% Al, 0.28% Cu, 0.2% CR, 1.0% Mg, and 0.6% Si. Thanks to the copper, it is sensitive to corrosion. Yet, this impact isn’t as strong as it is in separate copper-laden alloys.
The 6061 alloy also has outstanding formability and is easily joined by welding. In addition, it excels in extrusion projects. Realistically the aluminium works well as a general-purpose alloy. This is thanks to the fair corrosion resistance and moderately high strength. It has many applications in electronic parts and fasteners. Others include tubing, welded assemblies, and structural materials. It is appropriate for tube reduction and other processes too.
Aluminium alloy 7075 belongs to the 7000 series. As we said above, zinc is the leading alloying ingredient here. The occasional auxiliary metal is also employed. It includes 1.6% Cu, 0.23% Cr, 2.5% Mg, 5.6% Zn, and 90% Al. Sadly, the alloy doesn’t have the wonderful corrosion resistance other aluminium alloys possess. This is a requisite drawback.
The high copper concentration contributes to the alloy’s strength. In fact, 7075 is among the strongest types of aluminium you can acquire. Saying this, it is more difficult to weld and shape, and it corrodes faster. Such cons are offset by aluminium 7075’s ability to cope in high-stress situations like aerospace environments. Other applications include military, structural materials, and high-wear components.
Yield strength
Now that we know more about the two alloys, let’s look at how they differ. We will begin with yield strength. This is the largest amount of stress that won’t permanently deform a material. When you compare the strengths of 6061 and 7075 aluminium, the latter outperforms the former. It does so by a ratio of almost two. This is thanks to 7075’s chemical makeup, but you can enhance it with heat treatment. However, 6061 alloys are not thought of as weak. Their yield strength of 276 MPa is only just smaller than some low carbon steels.
Elasticity
The modulus of elasticity of a substance is a measurement of how it resists permanent deformation. You could use it to define a material’s “stiffness”. When you compare the moduli of these substances, the difference is minor. This indicates that they have similar behaviours when deformed. Come to us if you need stellar tube reduction services.
Thermal conductivity
This is a measure of how efficiently heat carries through a material. A decent thermal conductivity tells us two things; they rapidly conduct heat and aren’t good insulators. 6061 aluminium is generally superior. Since that is the case, it is the better choice for heat-dissipative jobs. Despite that, 7075’s thermal conductivity is still very good.
Melting point
It is important to know the temperature at which an alloy is going to phase-change to a liquid. 7075 aluminium has twice the strength of 6061 alloys. Despite that, it melts at a slightly lower temperature. Such a value is significant in heat treatment and high temperature operations.
Electrical resistivity
Here we measure how effectively the material resists electrical transmissions. It works similarly to thermal conductivity, but there is an electrical charge instead of heat. Both alloys come with low resistivity. This implies great conductivity, making them electrically conductive substances. Usually, 6061 aluminium is more appropriate for these projects. This is because it is more widely available. Also, you can weld and shape it more easily, and it is more conductive.
We are tube reduction experts
At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we are proud to be experts in tube alteration. We can use a series of techniques to adapt tubing to suit all kinds of needs. For example, we can adjust the tube ends, arrange bending, and even offer ring rolling. Additionally, we can work with many tubing materials.
So, if you would like to work with us for tube reduction or anything else, feel free to get in touch. We can give you the perfect service every time.