6156 Aluminum alloy,Aluminum 6156 alloy,E FORU

### **Aluminum 6156 Alloy: Product Introduction** **Overview** Aluminum 6156 is a modern, high-strength aluminum-magnesium-silicon-copper alloy specifically developed for **aerospace applications**. This alloy offers an **optimized combination of high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and good damage tolerance**, making it particularly suitable for fuselage skins and other critical aircraft structures. 6156 represents an advancement in aluminum alloy technology, providing improved performance characteristics over traditional aerospace alloys. --- #### **1. Chemical Composition (Weight %)** | Element | Minimum (%) | Maximum (%) | |---------|-------------|-------------| | Silicon (Si) | 0.50 | 0.9 | | Iron (Fe) | - | 0.20 | | Copper (Cu) | 0.20 | 0.6 | | Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 | 0.8 | | Magnesium (Mg) | 0.6 | 1.1 | | Chromium (Cr) | - | 0.20 | | Zinc (Zn) | 0.80 | 1.4 | | Titanium (Ti) | - | 0.10 | | Zirconium (Zr) | 0.05 | 0.15 | | Other (Each) | - | 0.05 | | Other (Total) | - | 0.15 | | **Aluminum (Al)** | **Balance** | | --- #### **2. Physical Properties** | Property | Metric Value | Imperial Value | |----------|--------------|----------------| | **Density** | 2.78 g/cm³ | 0.1004 lb/in³ | | **Melting Range** | 550-640 °C | 1022-1184 °F | | **Electrical Conductivity** | 36-40% IACS | 36-40% IACS | | **Thermal Conductivity** | 145-160 W/m·K | 840-930 BTU·in/(hr·ft²·°F) | | **Coefficient of Thermal Expansion** | 23.3 × 10⁻⁶/°C | 12.9 × 10⁻⁶/°F | | **Modulus of Elasticity** | 71.0 GPa | 10,300 ksi | --- #### **3. Mechanical Properties** **Typical Mechanical Properties for 6156-T6/T78:** | Property | T6 Temper | T78 Temper | |----------|-----------|------------| | **Tensile Strength** | 440-480 MPa | 420-460 MPa | | **Yield Strength (0.2% Offset)** | 400-440 MPa | 380-420 MPa | | **Elongation (in 50mm)** | 8-12% | 10-14% | | **Hardness (Brinell)** | 125-135 HB | 120-130 HB | | **Shear Strength** | 260-290 MPa | 250-280 MPa | | **Fatigue Strength** | 160-180 MPa | 170-190 MPa | | **Fracture Toughness (K_IC)** | 30-35 MPa√m | 32-38 MPa√m | --- #### **4. International Standards** * **Aerospace Standards:** * **AMS 4335**: Aluminum Alloy 6156 Plate and Sheet, Solution Heat Treated and Precipitation Treated * **AMS 4336**: Aluminum Alloy 6156 Plate and Sheet, Solution Heat Treated, Stress Relieved and Precipitation Treated * **European Standards (EN):** * EN 573-3: Chemical composition * EN 485-2: Mechanical properties for sheet and plate * **ISO Standards:** * ISO 6361-2: Wrought aluminum and aluminum alloy sheets, strips and plates * ISO 6362-2: Wrought aluminum and aluminum alloy extruded rods/bars, tubes and profiles --- #### **5. Product Applications** **Aerospace Primary Structures:** - Fuselage skins and stringers - Upper wing skins - Empennage components - Aircraft floor beams **Aerospace Secondary Structures:** - Aircraft doors and panels - Interior structural components - Wing-to-body fairings - Access panels and covers **Defense Applications:** - Military aircraft structures - Missile components - Defense vehicle structures - Military infrastructure **Space Applications:** - Satellite structures - Space vehicle components - Launch vehicle structures - Space exploration equipment --- #### **6. Key Characteristics & Advantages** * **High Strength-to-Weight Ratio:** Excellent mechanical properties for weight-critical applications * **Superior Damage Tolerance:** Excellent fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth resistance * **Good Corrosion Resistance:** Enhanced resistance to exfoliation and stress corrosion cracking * **Excellent Weldability:** Good performance with modern welding techniques including FSW and LBW * **Good Thermal Stability:** Maintains properties at elevated temperatures * **Improved Formability:** Better forming characteristics than traditional 2xxx series aerospace alloys * **Age-Hardenable:** Responsive to precipitation heat treatment --- #### **7. Heat Treatment Process** **Solution Heat Treatment:** - Temperature: 530-540°C (986-1004°F) - Time: 30-60 minutes depending on thickness - Quenching: Controlled water quenching or forced air cooling **Precipitation Treatment:** - T6 Temper: 160-170°C (320-338°F) for 10-16 hours - T78 Temper: Two-step aging for optimized properties - Cooling: Controlled air cooling --- #### **8. Processing and Fabrication** **Machining Characteristics:** - Good machinability with carbide tooling - Requires appropriate cutting parameters - Good surface finish achievable - Suitable for precision aerospace components **Forming Operations:** - Suitable for stretch forming - Good for brake pressing - Requires specialized tooling for complex shapes - Moderate springback characteristics **Joining Methods:** - Excellent for Friction Stir Welding (FSW) - Good for Laser Beam Welding (LBW) - Conventional MIG and TIG welding applicable - Mechanical fastening suitable **Surface Treatment Compatibility:** - Excellent for anodizing - Suitable for chemical conversion coatings - Good paint adhesion characteristics - Compatible with aerospace coating systems --- #### **9. Quality Assurance** **Testing Requirements:** - Comprehensive mechanical property testing - Fracture toughness testing - Fatigue and crack growth testing - Corrosion resistance testing (EXCO, ASS) - Ultrasonic inspection - Chemical composition verification **Aerospace Certification:** - NADCAP accreditation requirements - Aerospace OEM specifications compliance - Full traceability documentation - Third-party quality verification --- **Technical Note:** Aluminum 6156 represents a significant advancement in aerospace aluminum alloys, specifically developed to meet the demanding requirements of modern aircraft structures. The alloy's chemical composition, with optimized zinc, copper, and magnesium content combined with zirconium addition, provides an excellent balance of static strength, damage tolerance, and corrosion resistance. This makes 6156 particularly valuable for next-generation aircraft applications where weight reduction, manufacturing efficiency, and lifecycle costs are critical considerations. The alloy's compatibility with modern joining techniques like Friction Stir Welding further enhances its value in aerospace manufacturing, enabling more efficient production methods while maintaining the high reliability standards required in the aerospace industry.

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 2050 gallon liquid totes Special package is available on request.