What is the aluminium equivalent of 6082?

6082 aluminium alloy is part of the European standard (EN) and belongs to the 6xxx series of heat-treatable alloys, with the main elements being magnesium and silicon. When looking for equivalent materials in other standards, especially in the American Aluminium Association (AA) system, the closest matching material is AA 6061.

6082 aluminium alloy is a medium-strength, heat-treatable alloy in the 6000 series, offering good machinability, weldability, and corrosion resistance. Its main alloying elements are silicon, magnesium, and manganese, giving it higher strength than alloys like 6063 while maintaining good formability. Regionally, 6082 aluminium alloy is designated as AA 6082 in North America, EN AW-6082 in Europe, DIN 3.2315 in Germany, ISO AlSi1MgMn internationally, H30 in British standards, and UNS A96082 in the Unified Numbering System for metals and alloys. Although not listed in ASTM standards, the closest equivalent in North America is 6061-T6, which shares over 99% of the composition with 6061-T6 but typically has slightly higher yield strength. Typical tempers for 6082 include O (soft), T4 (solution-treated and naturally aged), T6 (solution-treated and artificially aged), and T651 (T6 with stress relief). It is widely used in structural applications such as bridges, cranes, high-stress automotive and aerospace components, where its strength, formability, and corrosion resistance balance is valued.

Standard Designations

AA6082: Aluminium Association (North America) designation
EN AW-6082 / AlSi1MgMn: European and ISO chemical designation
DIN 3.2315: German standard number
H30: British Standard temper designation
UNS A96082: Unified Numbering System for metals and alloys
AFNOR A-SGM0,7: French standard designation

Equivalent Alloys and Nearest Grades

Closest North American grade: 6061-T6, sharing ~ 99 % of composition but with slightly lower yield strength
Alternate in 6000 series: 6005A or 6063 for applications prioritizing extrudability and surface finish
Aerospace‐grade equivalent: ASTM B221 specifies UNS A96082 profiles analogous to EN AW-6082 extrusions

Typical Tempers and Applications

O (Annealed): Maximum ductility for forming operations
T4: Solution‐treated and naturally aged; moderate strength, good formability
T6 / T651: Solution‐treated and artificially aged (and stress‐relieved in T651); highest strength for structural use
Applications: Highly stressed extruded sections such as bridge and crane components, automotive frames, marine structures, and aerospace fittings

6082 aluminium’s versatile balance of strength, formability and corrosion resistance, along with its wide range of recognized international designations, make it a go-to alloy for structural and machined parts where both performance and manufacturability are critical.

Chemical Composition

EN 6082:

Silicon: 0.7–1.3%
Magnesium: 0.6–1.2%
Manganese: ≤0.40–1.0%
Iron: ≤0.50%
Chromium: ≤0.25%

Other elements (copper, zinc, titanium) are trace amounts.

AA 6061:

Silicon: 0.4–0.8%
Magnesium: 0.8–1.2%
Copper: 0.15–0.4%
Chromium: 0.04–0.35%
Manganese: ≤0.15%

Main differences: 6082 contains higher silicon and manganese, while 6061 contains copper. Compared to 6061, 6082 improves machinability but has slightly lower corrosion resistance.

Mechanical Properties (T6 Condition)

Both alloys are typically used in the T6 condition (solution heat-treated and artificially aged):

Tensile Strength:

6082-T6: ~310–340 MPa
6061-T6: ~310 MPa

Yield Strength:

6082-T6: ~260–300 MPa
6061-T6: ~276 MPa

Their mechanical properties are nearly identical, so they can be interchangeable in many structural applications.

Equivalence Notes

Standards:

6082 is designated as EN AW-6082 in Europe.
6061 is designated as AA 6061 in the United States.

Both are internationally recognized (e.g., ISO 6082 and ASTM B308/B308M apply to 6061).

Substitution:

Due to ample supply, 6061 is often substituted for 6082 in the United States, but welding and corrosion resistance differences may require evaluation for critical applications.

Alternatives:

If higher strength than 6061 is needed, AA 6082 is available in the United States but is less common.