6061 Aluminum Forgings

The most forgeable alloy is 6061 aluminum. It has relatively low flow strength at forging temperatures (Figure 3) and can fill cavities fairly easily. The series of common forgeable aluminum alloys are the ones in the 7xxx alloy series, primarily 7010, 7039, 7049, 7050, 7075 and 7079. These grades are alloyed with zinc (5-8%) along with small additions of copper and magnesium. Small amounts of chromium and manganese are also part of the alloy chemistry. These 7xxx alloys, when properly heat treated, are commercial grades that can achieve the highest strength of all forged aluminum alloys.