EN AW aluminium alloys: 6060, 6063, 6082 and 5083 explained

EN AW is the European designation system for wrought aluminium alloys under EN 573-3. The four-digit number after it identifies the alloy and its main alloying elements. ULAMEX stocks the most widely specified EN AW grades for industry and construction: 6060, 6063 and 6082 for profiles and structural sections, 5083 and 5754 for marine and chemical environments, and 1050A and 5052 for sheet. This guide explains what each grade does, how the T6 and T66 tempers differ, and which alloy to specify for which application.

What the EN AW designation means

Every wrought aluminium alloy sold in Europe carries an EN AW code defined by EN 573-3 (chemical composition and designation). “EN” is the European standard, “A” stands for aluminium and “W” for wrought (rolled, extruded or drawn, as opposed to cast). The four digits that follow place the alloy in a series and identify it within that series.

You will also see older national codes alongside the EN AW number. The European 6082 is close to the North American 6061 in use, PA38 is the Polish designation for 6060, and AlMg3 is the chemical name for 5754. Where a drawing quotes one of these, the EN AW code is the reference that travels across borders, which is why a continental supplier specifies by EN AW.

The alloy series ULAMEX stocks

Aluminium alloys are grouped into series by their main alloying element. Three series cover almost all industrial and construction demand, and ULAMEX holds the common grades in each. All material is supplied to EN 573-3 (composition), with EN 755 governing extruded products and EN 485 governing sheet and plate.

The 6xxx series is heat-treatable and gives the best balance of strength, weldability and surface finish, which is why it dominates profiles and structural work. The 5xxx series is not heat-treatable but resists saltwater and chemicals better, so it is the marine and panel choice. The 1xxx series is the softest and most formable, used where electrical conductivity or deep forming is the priority.

Chemical composition of the main EN AW alloys

The alloying elements set the character of each grade. EN 573-3 fixes the composition limits: the defining elements are magnesium and silicon in the 6xxx series, and magnesium with manganese and chromium in the 5xxx series. The table below lists the main elements as weight percentages, with the balance aluminium.

The higher manganese and silicon of 6082 explain its strength advantage over 6060 and 6063, while the high magnesium of 5083 and 5754 drives their corrosion resistance. The exact analysis for a delivered batch is recorded on the EN 10204 3.1 certificate.

EN AW-6082: the structural workhorse

EN AW-6082 (AlSi1MgMn) is the highest-strength alloy in the common 6xxx range and the default for load-bearing aluminium. Fabricators specify it for carport and pergola frames, machine bases, bridges, walkways and any member that has to carry load while staying light. It machines and welds well, and in the T6 temper it reaches the strength most structural designs need.

Values are typical minimums to EN 755-2 for extruded products and depend on form and wall thickness. The exact figures for a delivered batch appear on the EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate, which ULAMEX supplies on request. For load-bearing work that has to satisfy a structural check, request the 3.1 certificate when you place the order.

EN AW-6060 and EN AW-6063: the extrusion and architectural alloys

EN AW-6060 and EN AW-6063 are the standard extrusion alloys. They are slightly softer than 6082 but extrude into fine, complex profiles with an excellent surface, which makes them the choice for window and door frames, architectural trim, slat fencing, balustrades and PV mounting rails. Both anodise cleanly and take powder coating in RAL colours consistently, so a fence, gate and matching posts read as one system.

For most PV mounting and fencing profiles, 6060 or 6063 in T6 or T66 is the right specification. Where a profile carries more load, for example a carport beam, 6082-T6 is the safer call. Values are typical minimums to EN 755-2; confirm the exact figures on the 3.1 certificate.

EN AW-5083 and EN AW-5754: the marine and corrosion alloys

The 5xxx series is alloyed with magnesium rather than silicon. It cannot be strengthened by heat treatment, but it resists saltwater, industrial atmospheres and chemicals far better than the 6xxx grades. EN AW-5083 (AlMg4.5Mn) is the marine-grade benchmark, used for boat hulls, offshore structures, tanks and pressure equipment. EN AW-5754 (AlMg3) is a workhorse sheet alloy for vehicle bodies, chemical plant and exterior cladding.

For a coastal or chemical environment, 5083 or 5754 is the durable choice, and an anodised finish improves outdoor life further. For PV fasteners and fixings on coastal sites the corrosion logic is the same, which is why ULAMEX pairs aluminium with A4 (1.4404 / 316) stainless hardware for those locations.

EN AW-1050A and EN AW-5052: sheet alloys

EN AW-1050A is commercially pure aluminium, soft and highly formable, with good electrical conductivity. It suits deep-drawn parts, signage, reflectors and electrical applications where strength is secondary to forming and conductivity. EN AW-5052 sits between the pure and the marine grades: a moderate-strength AlMg sheet alloy with good corrosion resistance, common in tread plate, panels and general fabrication. ULAMEX stocks smooth sheet and checker (tread) plate in 1050A, 5754 and 5052.

Temper designations: T5, T6, T66, H111 and more

The letters and numbers after the alloy code describe the temper, the condition that sets the mechanical properties. The 6xxx alloys are heat-treated (T tempers); the 5xxx and 1xxx alloys are strain-hardened or annealed (H and O tempers). Getting the temper right matters as much as the alloy: a soft trim temper substituted for a structural temper changes how the section performs.

The practical point of T66 is that it guarantees higher proof and tensile values than standard T6 on the same alloy, which is why PV mounting and architectural specifications often call for 6060-T66 or 6063-T66. ULAMEX stocks the common 6xxx profiles in T6 and T66, and 5xxx sheet in standard tempers H22, H24 and H111.

Weldability and filler alloy selection

All the EN AW alloys ULAMEX stocks are weldable by TIG and MIG, but the right filler wire depends on the base alloy, and getting it wrong costs strength or, on the 5xxx grades, risks a brittle weld.

The 6xxx alloys (6060, 6063, 6082) are usually welded with 4043 (AlSi5) filler for general work, or with 5356 (AlMg5) where higher weld strength is needed. One practical caveat: if a 6063 profile is welded with 4043 and then anodised, the weld shows as a dark line, so 5356 is preferred where the anodised finish has to look uniform.

The 5xxx alloys behave differently. High-magnesium grades such as 5083 must not be welded with 4043, because the combination forms brittle Mg2Si in the weld; use 5356, 5183 or 5556 instead. Lower-magnesium 5754 is welded with 5356 or a matching 5xxx filler. All 6xxx alloys lose some strength in the heat-affected zone after welding, which the structural designer allows for in the joint design.

Anodising, powder coating and surface finish

Surface finish often decides which 6xxx alloy a fabricator specifies. EN AW-6063 gives the cleanest, brightest anodised finish, which is why it dominates window frames, architectural trim and visible profiles; EN AW-6060 anodises well too. EN AW-6082, with its higher alloying content, is the structural choice but gives a slightly less uniform decorative anodise, so it is specified for strength rather than appearance.

For coloured finishes, all the 6xxx profiles take powder coating in standard RAL colours. ULAMEX confirms the RAL colour on the order line and the dispatch note, so a fence, gate and matching posts read as one system across a job. Common architectural colours include RAL 9005 (jet black), RAL 7016 (anthracite grey), RAL 9016 (traffic white) and RAL 6005 (moss green).

For the 5xxx marine and sheet alloys, anodising adds further corrosion protection in coastal and chemical environments. Where appearance and outdoor durability both matter, an anodised or powder-coated finish on the right alloy is the durable combination.

Corrosion resistance and galvanic pairing

Aluminium forms a natural oxide layer that protects it in most atmospheres, which is why the 6xxx grades perform well in general outdoor and architectural use without further treatment. For aggressive environments the 5xxx grades are the answer: EN AW-5083 and 5754 resist saltwater, marine air and many chemicals far better, which makes them the standard for coastal, marine and chemical-plant work.

One point matters when aluminium meets other metals: galvanic corrosion. Where aluminium is fixed with stainless steel fasteners the pairing is generally compatible, and ULAMEX supplies A2 (1.4301 / 304) and A4 (1.4404 / 316) stainless fixings for inland and coastal sites respectively. Direct contact with carbon steel or copper in a wet environment should be avoided or isolated, and anodising the aluminium adds a further barrier where exposure is severe.

Dimensional tolerances and documentation

For fabricators and engineers working to an architect’s or main contractor’s specification, the tolerance standard matters as much as the alloy. Extruded profiles for general applications are supplied to EN 755-9. Precision profiles in 6060 and 6063, held to closer tolerances on dimensions and form, are covered by EN 12020-2. Sheet, strip and plate tolerances follow EN 485-4.

ULAMEX supplies the relevant EN 755, EN 12020 or EN 485 tolerance data on request, traceable to the delivered section, so a query from an architect or a main contractor can be answered first time. Material documentation, including the mill test certificate 3.1 per EN 10204, is available on request and assigned per shipment. Specify the tolerance class and the certificate requirement when you submit your quote request.

How to choose the right EN AW alloy

Grade selection comes down to the job: load, environment, finish and form. The table below maps the common applications to the alloy ULAMEX would recommend as a starting point. For a borderline case, send the drawing or the duty with your quote request and the technical desk will confirm the grade and temper.

Forms, sizes and standards available from ULAMEX

ULAMEX supplies EN AW alloys as semi-finished products across three groups. Aluminium profiles and sections cover T-slot, L-angle, U-channel, flat bar, T-bar and gate profiles in 6060, 6063 and 6082, in standard lengths of 3,000 and 6,000 mm. Aluminium pipes and rods include round, square and rectangular tube plus smooth round bars, flat bars and T-bars. Aluminium sheet covers smooth sheet and checker (tread) plate in 1050A, 5754 and 5052, in thicknesses from 0.5 to 15 mm and standard formats of 1,000 x 2,000 and 1,250 x 2,500 mm.

Stock is delivered Europe-wide from the ULAMEX warehouse in Poland. A mill test certificate 3.1 per EN 10204 is available on request: specify it when you order, as each certificate is batch-traceable and assigned per shipment.

EN AW alloys in PV mounting, fencing and structural work

The same handful of alloys covers most of the sectors ULAMEX supplies, with the grade and temper changing to suit the duty.

PV mounting. Solar mounting rails, clamps and triangles use EN AW-6060 and 6063 in T6 or T66: light enough to handle on a roof, strong enough for standard panel spans, and corrosion resistant for a service life of 25 years or more. ULAMEX supplies these alongside A2 and A4 stainless fasteners as part of its PV mounting components range.

Fencing, gates and carports. Aluminium fencing, slat louvres, gates and balustrades are built from 6060 and 6063 profiles for the fine sections and the clean RAL finish, while load-bearing carport and pergola frames step up to 6082-T6. This pairing runs through the ULAMEX modern fencing system and aluminium profile ranges.

Structural and machine-building. Where an aluminium member carries load, 6082-T6 is the default: machine bases, walkways, frames and supports that need strength at low weight, backed by EN 1090-1 EXC2 execution.

Marine, chemical and sheet metal. Tanks, vehicle bodies, cladding and any coastal or chemical exposure call for 5083 and 5754, while 1050A and 5052 sheet cover forming, signage and tread-plate work.

Why source EN AW alloys from ULAMEX

ULAMEX has been active in the metal wholesale trade since 1988, supplying steel and aluminium to professional buyers across continental Europe. Aluminium is a priority sector, and the stock list is built around the alloys fabricators, installers and distributors actually order rather than a token range.

Need EN AW aluminium for a project? Send your alloy, temper, profile or sheet specification and ULAMEX will return a non-binding quotation with current availability, lead time and pricing for your exact requirement. Contact the export desk at [email protected] or +48 504 424 761. For our full range, certification and quote process, see steel and aluminium supply capabilities.

Frequently asked questions