One Family, Three Personalities
All three alloys belong to the 6xxx series (magnesium-silicon), yet each is optimised for a different job. 6060 and 6063 are extrusion-friendly alloys designed for complex cross-sections and beautiful finishes, while 6061 adds strength through higher alloying content. Specifying the right one is the cheapest performance upgrade you can make.
Strength: When the Profile Must Carry Load
6061-T6 delivers a tensile strength of roughly 310 MPa — about 50% higher than 6063-T5 at 205 MPa. Choose 6061 for structural frames, machine bases, and load-bearing industrial profiles. For heat sinks, radiator profiles and decorative applications, 6063 provides more than enough strength with better thermal and finishing performance.
Extrudability, Thermal Use and Finishing
6063 is the industry standard for heat sink extrusion: thermal conductivity around 200 W/m·K, thin walls and dense fin geometries extruded in a single pass, and the smoothest anodized surface of the three. 6060, common in European specifications, behaves similarly to 6063 with marginally lower strength. 6061 is harder to extrude — expect thicker minimum walls and slightly rougher surface after anodizing.
A Simple Selection Rule — and Where Cost Hides
Load-bearing structure? Specify 6061-T6. Heat dissipation, aesthetics or complex geometry? 6063-T5 or 6060. The mistake that costs buyers most is over-specifying: choosing 6061 for a heat sink adds material and machining cost while slightly hurting thermal performance. Send your drawing to our engineers and we will confirm the alloy, temper and tolerances before tooling — the drawing review is free, the wrong alloy is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
6063, 6061 or 6060 – which alloy should I choose?
6063 is the extrusion-friendly default for complex fin and frame geometries with good surface finish. 6060 offers similar extrudability with slightly higher strength for general framing. 6061 provides the highest strength of the three and machines well, but is harder to extrude into thin sections.
Does alloy choice affect thermal performance?
Only slightly – 6xxx alloys all conduct around 170-200 W/m.K depending on temper, so for heat sinks choose alloy by shape complexity, strength and surface requirements, not conductivity.
Can I combine alloys in one order?
Yes, we can run different alloys for different parts of the same program, each with its own temper and surface finish. Tell us the function of each part and we will recommend the most economical alloy.