6012 (AlMgSiPb, 3.0615, A96012) Aluminum
6012 aluminum is a 6000-series aluminum alloy: there is significant alloying with both magnesium and silicon, and the alloy is formulated for primary forming into wrought products. 6012 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-6012. AlMgSiPb is the EN chemical designation. A96012 is the UNS number. Additionally, the AFNOR (French) designation is A-SGPb.
It originally received its standard designation in 1979.
The properties of 6012 aluminum include two common variations. This page shows summary ranges across both of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare 6012 aluminum to: 6000-series alloys (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
69 GPa 10 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
9.1 to 11 %
Fatigue Strength
55 to 100 MPa 8.0 to 15 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.8 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
130 to 190 MPa 19 to 28 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
220 to 320 MPa 32 to 47 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
110 to 260 MPa 17 to 37 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
400 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
170 °C 330 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1180 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
570 °C 1050 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
890 J/kg-K 0.21 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
160 W/m-K 91 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
23 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
45 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
140 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.9 g/cm3 180 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.2 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 65 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1170 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
21 to 28 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
94 to 480 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
13 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
48 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
22 to 32 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
29 to 37 points
Thermal Diffusivity
62 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
10 to 14 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 6012 aluminum is notable for including lead (Pb) and bismuth (Bi). Lead is used to improve machinability at the cost of toxicity and a decrease in weldability. Bismuth is used to improve machinability at the cost of a decrease in weldability.
| Al | 92.2 to 98 | |
| Pb | 0.4 to 2.0 | |
| Si | 0.6 to 1.4 | |
| Mg | 0.6 to 1.2 | |
| Mn | 0.4 to 1.0 | |
| Bi | 0 to 0.7 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.5 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.3 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.3 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
EN 754-2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Cold drawn rod/bar and tube. Mechanical properties
Aluminum: Properties and Physical Metallurgy, John E. Hatch (editor), 1984
EN 755-2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles. Mechanical properties
EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993