6061 Aluminum Alloy Bike Frame

You can hang 45000 pounds from a one inch square rod of 6061 t6 before it will break in two.

6061 aluminum alloy bike frame.

There are two main aluminium alloys in use in the bike industry today 6061 and 7005. Of the two 6061 is slightly better due to its lower weight. How do they differ apart from geometry. One of the most common aluminium blends for componenets and frames is good ole al 6061 t6.

Usually aluminum is mixed with silicon magnesium or zinc to make it stronger and more durable. However the lower density will result in a frame weighing around 30 less than a steel frame. I don t need to know why 6061 t6 is not as good as steel carbon ti as i am already aware of the different properties there that make them great. See the difference in tensile strength and proof strength for 6061 alloy that hasn t been heat treated 0 as opposed to the peak aged t6 alloy.

Are all 6061 t6 frames not equal. It s a decent workhorse material you ll see boatloads of bars posts and low to mid level frames made of trusty 6061 t6. Pure aluminum isn t strong enough to use for bicycle frame building. 6061 uns designation a96061 is a precipitation hardened aluminum alloy containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements.

The heat treated aluminum is a lot stronger for reasons we talked about last time. The tensile strength of the alloy is 7005 t6 350 mp and alloy 6061 310 mpa yield stress 290 and 275 mpa respectively. Originally called alloy 61s it was developed in 1935. The newer crop of quality aluminium frames are setting their sights on a better fancier blend.

6061 and 7005 are the most common types of aluminum used for bike frames. About 12 of these are bicycle frame 16 are bicycle. The only way a 7075 frame is going to be a noodly ride is if you use smaller diameter tubing than the one that used say 6013 or 6061. Often considered that the aluminum alloy 6061 more suitable for bicycle frames than an alloy 7005 although the alloy 7005 and somewhat more durable.

A wide variety of aluminum 6061 bike frame options are available to you such as use material and foldable. It has good mechanical properties exhibits good weldability and is very commonly extruded second in popularity only to 6063. There will be a further designation indicating the tempering process often t6 the alloy has gone through.