Marine Grade Aluminum 6063

2024-10-23

Marine grade aluminum 6063 is a heat-treatable reinforced aluminum alloy containing mainly magnesium and silicon, which belongs to the 6000 series aluminum alloys. It is widely used in a variety of industrial and engineering applications, including shipbuilding. 6063 aluminum alloy is known for its good corrosion resistance, high strength, good weldability and machinability, especially in extrusion molding, so it is widely used in construction, transportation and other fields

1. Chemical composition of marine grade aluminum 6063:

- The main components include aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), of which the proportion of aluminum is the highest, the addition of magnesium and silicon can improve the mechanical properties of the alloy.

The main chemical composition of 6063 aluminum alloy usually includes:
- Aluminum (Al): balance
- Silicon (Si): 0.2% - 0.6
- Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.35
- Copper (Cu): ≤ 0.1%
- Manganese (Mn): ≤0.1%
- Magnesium (Mg): 0.45% - 0.9
- Chromium (Cr): ≤ 0.1%
- Zinc (Zn): ≤ 0.1%
- Other elements: ≤0.05% (each) and ≤0.15% (total)

2. Physical and mechanical properties of marine grade aluminium 6063:
- Density: about 2.68 g/cm³
- Tensile strength: Approx. 200-300 MPa (specific value varies according to heat-treated condition)
- Yield strength: approx. 150-250 MPa
- Ductility: good, easy to process and mold
- Corrosion resistance: 6063 aluminum alloy has good corrosion resistance and is particularly suitable for use in marine environments.

3. Characteristics of marine grade aluminum 6063:
- Machinability: 6063 aluminum alloy is easy to be extruded and shaped, suitable for making complex profiles, commonly used in the frame and structural parts of aluminum alloy ships.
- Weldability: 6063 aluminum alloy has good welding performance, suitable for welding components of ships.
- Surface treatment: 6063 aluminum alloy can be anodized to enhance its corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
- It has good corrosion resistance and is suitable for marine environment.
- Moderate strength, after appropriate heat treatment, higher strength can be achieved.

In shipbuilding, 6063 aluminum sheet is widely used in the manufacture of non-load-bearing parts of ships, such as window frames, handrails, bulkheads, etc. Because of its good corrosion resistance and machinability, 6063 aluminum alloy is commonly used in:

- Ship hull structure
- Ship frames
- Deck and cabin components
- Ship interior decoration
- Brackets and fittings for marine equipment
6063 marine grade aluminum alloy is approved by China Classification Society (CCS) and Lloyd's Register (LR), a material with high credibility and frequency of use in the shipbuilding industry. Being able to obtain the certification of classification societies indicates that it meets the standards and specifications of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in terms of design, material selection, production and testing, which ensures the safety and reliability of its use in the marine environment.

To sum up, marine grade aluminum 6063 is a suitable material for shipbuilding, and is widely used in hull structures and other related components due to its good physical properties and processing characteristics. Its corrosion resistance makes it excellent in the marine environment and suitable for use in various types of ships, especially in the application of non-load-bearing parts, it shows high practical value.

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