6063 T5 Aluminum Extrusion

6063 T5 is an aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy (EN AW-6063) that is cooled directly from the extrusion press and then artificially aged. It combines a minimum tensile strength of 175 MPa (EN 755-2, walls up to 10 mm) with a smooth surface ready for anodizing and very good corrosion resistance.
At Profall we extrude 6063 T5 profiles in Italy: bars, tubes, angles, channels and custom sections, with standard tolerances of ±0.15 mm. Composition, properties and shapes are all below.

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6063 T5 chemical composition

6063 belongs to the 6xxx series: magnesium and silicon combine into magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), the compound that hardens the metal during aging. The limits below are those of EN 573-3 and the Aluminum Association, which coincide for this alloy. The T5 temper does not change the chemistry: it only changes how the profile is cooled and aged.

The low limits on iron and copper help keep the surface bright and uniform after anodizing, one of the reasons 6063 is known as the architectural alloy.

Available 6063 T5 shapes

We extrude 6063 T5 in the standard shapes below, plus custom sections drawn to your specification. Click a shape to see its description, sizes and main applications.

Every shape below can be extruded in 6063 T5 and in the other alloys we work with. Supply conditions are the same for the whole range:

• made to order: each profile is extruded for your order, with no warehouse stock;
• minimum order: 300 kg (661 lbs) in bar format;
• standard tolerance: ±0.15 mm, tighter on request;
• lead time: generally around two weeks;
• finishing: anodizing, RAL powder coating, cutting to size, drilling and micro drilling, milling, CNC machining, bending and calendering;
• worldwide shipping, including the United States.

Custom profiles

Is the shape you need missing from the list? We extrude it from your drawing. 90% of our production is dedicated to special profiles, including complex cross-sections and tolerances that are hard to find on the market. From the feasibility check to prototyping and pre-series, our team follows the project with you.

Create without limits: ask for a quote for your 6063 T5 aluminum extrusions.

Mechanical properties of 6063 T5

Two sets of values matter when you specify 6063 T5. Minimum values guaranteed by the standard are the ones to use for design and acceptance testing. Typical values describe how the material usually performs.

Minimum values (EN 755-2 and ASTM B221)

When a cross-section combines walls that fall into different thickness bands, EN 755-2 applies the lowest specified value to the whole profile. On sections with a thick base and thin fins, check the thick part first.

Typical values

Working to a specific strength target? Send us the drawing: our technical department checks feasibility and tells you whether T5 is enough or the section needs T6.

Physical properties of 6063 T5

Thermal conductivity of 209 W/m·K is why 6063 T5 is the default alloy for extruded heat sinks and LED profiles: fins and thin walls carry heat quickly to the surrounding air.

Thermal expansion matters on long runs. A 6 m profile grows by about 2.8 mm with a 20 °C temperature rise, so joints in facades and frames need room to move.

What the T5 temper means

Under EN 515 and ANSI H35.1, T5 means cooled from an elevated temperature shaping process and then artificially aged. The profile leaves the die hot, is cooled at the press exit with forced air or water mist, then goes into an aging oven, typically at 175 to 205 °C for several hours. There is no separate solution heat treatment.

Aging at room temperature is natural aging and corresponds to other tempers (T1, T4). T5 always requires the oven step, which is where the strength comes from.

Choosing T5 over T6 brings practical advantages:

• lower residual stress and better dimensional stability after extrusion;
• less distortion on thin walls and asymmetric sections, because there is no aggressive quench;
• a shorter production chain, which helps with cost and lead time;
• surface quality preserved for anodizing and powder coating.

For an overview of the alloy in all its tempers, see our page on 6063 aluminum extrusion.

6063 T5 vs other aluminum alloys

6063 sits in the middle of the 6xxx family: stronger than 6060, easier to extrude and finish than 6061 and 6082. The table compares EN 755-2 minimum values for thin-walled extruded profiles with the properties that usually drive alloy choice.

How to read the comparison:

• choose 6063 T5 when appearance, anodizing and corrosion resistance come first and loads are moderate;
• move to 6063 T6 when you need about 20% more strength without changing the finish;
• look at 6005A, 6061 or 6082 when structural loads dominate and the surface is less critical.

Profall extrudes the alloys 1050, 1070, 3003, 3103, 3004, 6060, 6063 and 6005; 6061 and 6082 appear in the table for comparison only. 

Learn more about each family on our aluminum alloys page.

Applications of 6063 T5 extrusions

6063 T5 works wherever a profile has to look good and last: visible parts, outdoor exposure, finishes that must stay uniform over time.

• Architecture and building: window and door frames, curtain wall mullions, glazing beads, handrails and railings.
• Furnishing and technical furnishing: frames, handles, partition walls and shelving systems. See furnishings and technical furnishing elements.
• Lighting: LED housings and diffuser channels, where 209 W/m·K of thermal conductivity helps dissipate heat. See lighting.
• Electronics and electromechanics: heat sinks, enclosures, rails and cable ducts. See electronics and electromechanical.
• Transport and automotive: interior and exterior trims and light components. See transport and automotive.
• Automation and machinery: T-slot frames, guards and workstation structures.
• Marine: railings, ladders, gangways and deck supports, thanks to good resistance to salt and humidity.

Is your application not on the list? That is often where the most interesting projects start. Tell us what the profile has to do and we will find the way to extrude it.