What is 6082 aluminium?

6082 aluminium, known as a structural alloy, is in the wrought aluminium-magnesium-silicon family (6000 or 6xxx series). The addition of a large amount of manganese controls the grain structure which in turn results in a stronger alloy; it has the highest strength of the 6000 series alloys.

Basic properties

In plate form, 6082 is the most commonly used alloy for machining. It is a relatively new alloy and has replaced 6061 in many applications. Although it can be difficult to produce thin walled, complicated extrusion shapes in alloy 6082 and its extruded surface finish is not as smooth as others in the 6000 series, it has excellent corrosion resistance.

Applications

6082 is typically used in highly stressed applications, such as bridges, cranes and trusses. It is also used for foils, radiator tubes, printing plates, boiler making, kitchenware, chemical and food industry equipment containers, automotive trim, light reflectors, beer barrels and milk churns.