6012A Aluminum alloy,Aluminum 6012A alloy,E FORU

### **Product Introduction: 6012A Aluminum Alloy** **6012A Aluminum Alloy** is an advanced, high-performance variant within the aluminum-magnesium-silicon (Al-Mg-Si) family, specifically optimized for automotive body sheet applications. This alloy represents an improved version of standard 6012, offering enhanced combination of formability, bake-hardening response, and surface quality, making it particularly suitable for modern automotive manufacturing processes requiring lightweight structural components with complex geometries. --- ### **1. International Standards** 6012A Aluminum Alloy is recognized under the following international standards: - **EN (European Norm):** EN AW-6012A - **AA (Aluminum Association, USA):** Equivalent to modified AA 6012 composition - **ISO (International Organization for Standardization):** AlMg1.0SiCu - **VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry):** VDA 239-100 - **ASTM:** ASTM B209 (Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate) --- ### **2. Chemical Composition** The chemical composition limits (in weight percentage) for EN AW-6012A are specified as follows: | Element | Content (%) | |:---------|:------------| | **Aluminum (Al)** | Balance | | **Silicon (Si)** | 0.50 - 1.0 | | **Magnesium (Mg)** | 0.40 - 1.0 | | **Manganese (Mn)** | 0.40 - 0.9 | | **Copper (Cu)** | 0.15 - 0.50 | | **Iron (Fe)** | ≤ 0.30 | | **Chromium (Cr)** | ≤ 0.20 | | **Zinc (Zn)** | ≤ 0.15 | | **Titanium (Ti)** | ≤ 0.10 | | **Others (each)** | ≤ 0.05 | | **Others (total)** | ≤ 0.15 | **Key Takeaway:** The optimized copper content (0.15-0.50%) provides improved corrosion resistance while maintaining excellent bake-hardening response. The controlled manganese level enhances strength without compromising formability. --- ### **3. Physical Properties** The typical physical properties of 6012A aluminum alloy are: | Property | Metric Value | Imperial Value | |:----------|:-------------|:---------------| | **Density** | 2.70 g/cm³ | 0.0975 lb/in³ | | **Melting Range** | 590 - 650 °C | 1094 - 1202 °F | | **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion** | 23.4 × 10⁻⁶/°C (20-100°C) | 13.0 × 10⁻⁶/°F (68-212°F) | | **Thermal Conductivity** | 155 - 175 W/m·K | 895 - 1010 BTU·in/(hr·ft²·°F) | | **Electrical Conductivity** | 40-45% IACS | 40-45% IACS | | **Modulus of Elasticity** | 69 GPa | 10,000 ksi | | **Shear Modulus** | 26 GPa | 3,770 ksi | | **Poisson's Ratio** | 0.33 | 0.33 | --- ### **4. Mechanical Properties** Mechanical properties are optimized for automotive forming and service conditions: **Temper: T4** (Solution heat-treated and naturally aged) - **Tensile Strength:** 230 - 280 MPa (33 - 41 ksi) - **Yield Strength (0.2% Offset):** 120 - 170 MPa (17 - 25 ksi) - **Elongation (% in 50mm):** 18-24% - **Strain-Hardening Exponent (n-value):** 0.20 - 0.24 - **Plastic Strain Ratio (r-value):** 0.60 - 0.75 **After Automotive Paint-Bake** (185°C/365°F for 20-30 minutes): - **Yield Strength Increase:** 90 - 130 MPa (13 - 19 ksi) - **Final Yield Strength:** 210 - 300 MPa (30 - 44 ksi) - **Final Tensile Strength:** 280 - 350 MPa (41 - 51 ksi) --- ### **5. Product Applications** 6012A is extensively used in modern automotive body-in-white applications: - **Automotive Outer Body Panels:** - Door outer panels with complex curvature - Hood outer panels requiring high dent resistance - Fender assemblies - Tailgate and liftgate panels - **Structural Components:** - Body side panels - Roof panels and reinforcements - Cross car beams - Seat reinforcement panels - **Closure Systems:** - Door inners and outers - Hinge reinforcement areas - Lock reinforcement sections - **Premium Automotive Applications:** - Luxury vehicle body structures - Electric vehicle battery enclosures - Lightweight chassis components --- ### **6. Key Characteristics & Advantages** - **Enhanced Formability:** Superior deep-drawing and stretch-forming capabilities compared to standard 6012, allowing for more complex part geometries with reduced risk of splitting. - **Optimized Bake-Hardening Response:** Provides consistent and predictable strength increase during automotive paint-bake cycles, achieving excellent final strength properties. - **Improved Surface Quality:** Enhanced surface characteristics suitable for Class A automotive body panels with reduced orange peel effect. - **Superior Hemming Performance:** Excellent edge-hemming characteristics with minimal risk of cracking, crucial for automotive closure panel assemblies. - **Good Corrosion Resistance:** Balanced chemistry provides improved corrosion performance compared to higher-copper aluminum alloys. - **Consistent Mechanical Properties:** Tight control of composition and processing ensures reproducible mechanical behavior in high-volume production. - **Weight Reduction Potential:** Enables significant mass reduction while meeting automotive structural and durability requirements. --- ### **7. Processing Characteristics** **Heat Treatment Parameters:** - Solution Heat Treatment: 535-555°C (995-1030°F) - Quenching: Controlled cooling rate to optimize T4 properties - Natural Aging: Stabilized within 24-72 hours at room temperature - Paint-Bake Aging: Optimal response at 175-190°C (345-375°F) **Forming Guidelines:** - Excellent formability window in T4 condition - Suitable for deep-drawing operations with drawing ratios up to 2.2 - Low springback characteristics for improved dimensional accuracy - Compatible with all standard automotive stamping lubricants **Joining Capabilities:** - Excellent spot weldability with consistent nugget formation - Compatible with MIG and laser welding processes - Good self-piercing rivet (SPR) performance - Suitable for adhesive bonding applications --- ### **8. Quality and Performance Standards** **Automotive Compliance:** - Meets VDA 239-100 standards for automotive sheet materials - Compliant with major automotive OEM material specifications - Suitable for safety-critical automotive applications **Surface Requirements:** - Excellent surface quality for exposed automotive panels - Low roping and streaking tendencies - Good paint adhesion characteristics - Suitable for high-gloss and metallic paint finishes --- ### **9. Comparative Advantages** **vs. Standard 6012:** - Improved formability and surface quality - Better consistency in high-volume production - Enhanced corrosion resistance - More predictable aging response **vs. 6014 Alloy:** - Higher strength potential after baking - Better dent resistance for outer panels - Superior deep-drawing capability **vs. 6181A Alloy:** - Enhanced bake-hardening response - Higher strength in T4 condition - Better suitability for complex formed parts In summary, **6012A Aluminum Alloy** represents a sophisticated evolution in automotive aluminum sheet technology, specifically engineered to meet the demanding requirements of modern vehicle lightweighting strategies. Its optimized balance of formability, strength, and surface quality makes it an ideal choice for automotive manufacturers seeking to maximize weight reduction while maintaining structural performance and manufacturing efficiency in body-in-white applications.

Packing of Standard Packing: Typical bulk packaging includes palletized plastic 5 gallon/25 kg. pails, fiber and steel drums to 1 ton super sacks in full container (FCL) or truck load (T/L) quantities. Research and sample quantities and hygroscopic, oxidizing or other air sensitive materials may be packaged under argon or vacuum. Solutions are packaged in polypropylene, plastic or glass jars up to palletized 1957 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request.