Aluminum is the default material for the majority of CNC quotes on Uretyco. The three big alloys — 6061-T6, 7075-T6, and 2024-T3 — solve different problems. Choosing well costs nothing; choosing wrong can cost weeks.
Headline properties side by side
| Property | 6061-T6 | 7075-T6 | 2024-T3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (MPa) | 310 | 572 | 470 |
| Yield strength (MPa) | 276 | 503 | 324 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 2.70 | 2.81 | 2.78 |
| Modulus (GPa) | 68.9 | 71.7 | 73.1 |
| Hardness (HB) | 95 | 150 | 120 |
| Machinability (Al rating) | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Weldability | Excellent | Poor | Poor |
| Anodize quality | Excellent | Good | Average |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent | Average | Average |
| Relative cost | 1.0x | 1.6-1.9x | 1.4-1.7x |
6061-T6 is the safe default
If you do not have a specific reason to pick another alloy, choose 6061-T6. It anodizes beautifully, welds without distortion, and resists corrosion in most non-marine environments. Mechanical performance is sufficient for housings, brackets, structural plates, and fluid handling components.
If your part will be cosmetic anodized, 6061-T6 is the only consistent choice among the three. 7075 streaks under Type II dye and 2024 anodizes unevenly due to its copper content.
7075-T6 when you need strength
7075-T6 is roughly 1.7-1.8x stronger than 6061. Aerospace structural parts, mountain bike frames, weapons systems, and high-performance racing components are typical use cases. Two costs come with that performance: 7075 corrodes faster and is significantly harder to weld.
- Use 7075 when you need strength-to-weight, not just strength.
- Plan for protective treatments (alodine, hardcoat anodize, paint).
- Avoid welding; bolt or rivet instead.
- Stock thicknesses are limited; check availability before designing.
2024-T3 for fatigue performance
2024 is the long-time aerospace fuselage skin alloy. Its high copper content gives excellent fatigue performance, but the same copper makes it prone to galvanic corrosion. It is most often supplied alclad (clad with pure aluminum on both faces) for outdoor structural use.
Decision matrix
| Need | Pick |
|---|---|
| General machined housing | 6061-T6 |
| Cosmetic anodize | 6061-T6 |
| Welded assembly | 6061-T6 |
| Maximum strength to weight | 7075-T6 |
| Cyclic fatigue (aerospace skin) | 2024-T3 |
| Marine / saltwater exposure | 5052 or 6061 with paint |
| Food contact / sanitary | 6061 (passivated) or 5052 |
How to specify on Uretyco
Uretyco material dropdowns include 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 by default. 2024-T3 is available on request. The platform tracks alloy in the order, requests an MTR (material test report) from the supplier, and includes it in the delivery package — useful for aerospace and regulated industries.
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