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Aluminum Tube & Pipe

Help me find the right metal

Tube or pipe, how can you tell the difference? While similar in shape and form for round pipe and tube, there is one surefire way to tell tube and pipe apart—from the inside. The key difference comes down to their applications: pipe was initially designed to transport liquids, gases, and solids but has found its way into many load-bearing and structural applications, while tube can be used for a variety of structural applications, among others. Most tube is rolled and welded and comes in round, rectangular, and square shapes. It is measured based on the outside diameter (OD) and the inside diameter (ID) or the wall. Pipe is made slightly different and can be welded or seamless. It is tested for the amount of pressure it can withstand before bursting. This is where the term ‘schedule’ comes into play, which relates to the thickness of the wall on the pipe. Pipe is usually ordered in nominal size (OD) and to “schedule” (wall thickness). A higher schedule number indicates a thicker wall. There are some instances, however, in which different sized pipes have the same schedule number but the actual wall thicknesses differ. Talk with your rep to learn more about the differences.

Shop By Shape

Shape

Grade

Type

Size

6063, 6061

Extruded Seamless, Seamless Drawn, Welded

OD: 0.75" thru 8.5"

Wall Thickness: 0.035" thru 1"

6061, 6063

Extruded, Welded

Widths 0.5" thru 8"

Wall Thickness: 0.125" thru 0.25"

6061, 6063

Extruded, Welded

Widths 0.75" thru 6"

Thickness: 0.062" thru 0.375"

6061-T6, 6063-T6, 6063

Extruded, Welded

Length: 240" thru 288"

Schedule: 5, 10, 40 and 80

Applications

Aluminum tube and pipe is corrosion resistant, heat treatable, and weldable.

Marine
Outdoor railing and trim
Structural
Characteristics
& Properties
Light Weight

Light Weight

The reduced weight of aluminum is very beneficial in transportation equipment where it improves fuel economy and increases payload.

Corrosion Resistance

Corrosion Resistance

When exposed to atmospheric conditions, aluminum forms a thin layer of aluminum oxide. This protects the material from corrosion caused by oxygen, moisture, and various chemicals.

Easily Formed

Easily Formed

Aluminum can be easily formed. For example, grade 3003 aluminum has excellent formability. Other grades such as 5052, 6061, 6063 have good formability.

Highly Conductive

Highly Conductive

Heat moves quickly through aluminum, which is ideal for exchangers, heat sinks, cooling vanes, plastic injection molds, and process vessels.

Strength

Strength

Commercially pure aluminum has a tensile strength of 13 KSI. Through cold working methods and/or the addition of alloying elements, the strength of aluminum can read 100 KSI for use in structural applications.

Grade
Primary Alloying Elements
Characteristics
6061
Major alloying elements of 6061 are magnesium (1.0%) and silicon (0.6%).
This grade is highly resistant to corrosion, stress, and cracking, and features good formability and weldability.

6061 T6
T6 refers to the temper or degree of hardness, which is achieved by precipitation hardening.
Good strength-to-weight ratio and is also heat-treatable with great formability and weldability.

6063 T52
This temper is achieved by cooling from an elevated temperature shaping process. It is then stress-relieved through compression before being artificially aged.
Lightweight with a smooth surface.

6063 T6
The primary alloying elements for 6063 are magnesium and silicon. 'T6' is an indication that it has been thermally treated.
6063 is weldable and heat treatable, suitable for fabrications that require strength and corrosion resistance.

By The Numbers

73%

recycled content in Aluminum

#1

abundant metal in Earth's crust

75%

of aluminum produced still in use

What Our Customers Say

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Metal Capabilities


From cut-to-length sheets to laser-cut parts, our specialized processing centers convert coil to sheet and light plate in standard or custom lengths.

Plate Processing

Capabilities
From simple finished parts to fabricated subassemblies, we take your stock plate through first and second-stage processing to provide high quality parts or assemblies.

Your bar, tube, pipe, or structural shape needs to be cut to length and finished for assembly. Our in-depth metal experts help ensure you use the right process and most optimal equipment.