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Why Is EN AW 6016 Need in Car Manufacturing

EN AW 6016 belongs to the 6XXX series (Al-Mg-Si) and is a heat-strengthenable wrought aluminum alloy developed specifically to meet the lightweighting needs of the automotive industry.

Its primary alloying elements are silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg), with Si content ranging from 0.8% to 1.5% and Mg content from 0.25% to 0.8%. These two elements synergistically form a Mg2Si strengthening phase, laying the foundation for the alloy's improved performance.

Key Properties Meeting Automotive Requirements

Mechanical properties

6016 aluminum alloy exhibits excellent mechanical properties in automotive applications. For example, in its T4P state, its yield strength is 100-110 MPa. After a paint treatment, this can be significantly increased to 180-200 MPa, with a strength increase of ≥80 MPa. Its tensile strength in the T4P state is 210-220 MPa, with an elongation at break of ≥27% and a uniform elongation of ≥22.5%. This ensures the material maintains strength while maintaining excellent plasticity, effectively absorbing collision energy and ensuring passenger safety. Its fatigue strength surpasses that of ordinary steel, making it particularly suitable for high-frequency vibration components such as automotive hoods.

Machinability

6016 aluminum alloy also demonstrates excellent machinability. With an elongation of 22%-25%, its excellent stampability allows for easy forming of complex curved surfaces, such as the streamlined shape of an engine hood. Furthermore, with a springback angle of only 3-5°, this material offers high dimensional accuracy, significantly reducing the difficulty of subsequent machining. Regarding weldability, 6016 aluminum alloy is highly compatible with resistance welding, with weld strength exceeding 90% of the parent material, ensuring secure connections between vehicle body components. Its machined surface finish of Ra ≤ 0.8μm meets the stringent requirements of precision automotive component manufacturing.

Surface treatment and corrosion resistance

6016 aluminum alloy offers excellent surface treatment. After anodizing, a dense oxide film forms, increasing corrosion resistance by 3-5 times while imparting a vibrant color and excellent wear resistance. After spray coating, the surface exhibits no orange peel and resists fading even after long-term use. In terms of corrosion resistance, this alloy outperforms 5052 alloy in atmospheric environments, exhibiting no corrosion after a 96-hour salt spray test. Even in mildly acidic and alkaline environments, it maintains excellent stability, making it ideal for automotive applications in complex environments such as coastal and industrial areas.

Common Tempers of 6016 Aluminum Alloy

Common tempers of 6016 aluminum alloy used in automotive manufacturing include T4, T4P, and T6. The 6016 t4 aluminum is achieved through solution treatment followed by natural aging, offering excellent overall performance and commonly used for components requiring both strength and ductility.

The T4P temper, based on the T4 temper, is specifically optimized for automotive panels, meeting the stringent requirements for paint hardening and formability. The T6 temper, after solution treatment and artificial aging, offers higher strength but slightly lower ductility than the T4 temper, making it suitable for automotive structural parts requiring extremely high strength.

6016 T4 aluminum mechanical properties

Density

6016 T4 aluminum alloy has a density of approximately 2.7g/cm³, significantly lower than traditional automotive materials like steel. This low density makes it an ideal choice for lightweighting vehicles, effectively reducing weight while maintaining structural strength. For example, the BMW 7 Series uses a 6016 alloy hood, successfully reducing weight by 15kg and improving fuel efficiency by 8%.

Thermal expansion coefficient

The thermal expansion coefficient of 6016 T4 is approximately 23×10⁻⁶/°C, a value similar to other aluminum alloys. 6016 T4's moderate thermal expansion coefficient ensures excellent dimensional stability under various operating conditions, reducing component deformation and cracking caused by thermal expansion and contraction, and effectively ensuring automotive reliability and safety.

Electrical conductivity

6016 T4 aluminum alloy has an electrical conductivity of approximately 30% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard), demonstrating excellent electrical conductivity. This excellent conductivity meets the requirements of these systems for highly efficient conductive materials, helping to improve battery charging and discharging efficiency and motor performance.

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