Difference between T51 & T6 tempered aluminum poles
I currently have a round metal pole that my T14 style house (I built myself out of wood) is on; but it sways alot in higher winds. I have been looking at the 3 in square aluminum poles. There is a T51 and a T6 type aluminum poles I see listed in different catalogs. Can some one give me recommendations on either as to which is stronger or less likely to sway and how do you mount to the new pole? Thank you
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Dave Duit
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From what I have gathered, you would be better of with the T6.
T51 Temper
T51 treatment bakes the casting at a low-temperature to artificial age it. The temperature range is between 440˚F (227°C). The casting is heated in the oven for 3-5 hours and then allowed to cool naturally. The low temperature stabilizes the shape of the castings and reduces stresses in the aluminum.
T51 parts do not hold the same strength properties as T6. However, the T5 process’ naturally slower cooling method reduces part distortion and warping.
T51 temper is the most commonly requested heat treatment at TPi. The mechanical properties are 23 KSI (160 MPA) Ultimate Tensile Strength, 16 KSI (110 MPA) Yield Strength and 45-75 Brinell Hardness. It is typically utilized in non-structural applications such as instrumentation, medical, power electronics, semi-conductor and robotics and many others
Benefits of T51:
Less distortion than T6
Stress relief to improve machining of casting
Increased mechanical properties compared to as cast
T6 Temper
A T6 heat treatment is three steps. During the first step, the casting is heated at a very high temperature, 1,000°F (538⁰C) for 12 hours. The next step is quenching. The casting is lowered into a liquid solution bath resulting in rapid cooling. The solution bath is usually water or glycol at a temperature 150-214°F (66-100°C). After quench, the castings are aged in a furnace. They are heated to 310°F (154°C) for 3-5 hours and then allowed to cool naturally..
The quenching process often causes distortion and stresses in parts. This is because of the extreme temperature differentials between the heated casting and the quench cooling solution. A straightening process is performed after quench and prior to age to ensure parts are to print. This quenching is necessary to achieve the higher mechanical properties of T6. The mechanical properties are 34 KSI (235 MPA) Ultimate Tensile Strength, 24 KSI (165 MPA) Yield Strength, 3.5% Elongation and 70-105 Brinell Hardness.
T6 temper is the second most commonly requested heat treatment at TPi. It is typically utilized in structural applications such as automotive, robotics, aerospace, defense and marine among others.
Benefits of T6:
Higher mechanical properties
Less deformation under heavy loads
Harder aluminum
These are the two comparisons I found online. I'm not a metaluriist, so I don't know if this helps you out in any way.
Dave Duit
T51 Temper
T51 treatment bakes the casting at a low-temperature to artificial age it. The temperature range is between 440˚F (227°C). The casting is heated in the oven for 3-5 hours and then allowed to cool naturally. The low temperature stabilizes the shape of the castings and reduces stresses in the aluminum.
T51 parts do not hold the same strength properties as T6. However, the T5 process’ naturally slower cooling method reduces part distortion and warping.
T51 temper is the most commonly requested heat treatment at TPi. The mechanical properties are 23 KSI (160 MPA) Ultimate Tensile Strength, 16 KSI (110 MPA) Yield Strength and 45-75 Brinell Hardness. It is typically utilized in non-structural applications such as instrumentation, medical, power electronics, semi-conductor and robotics and many others
Benefits of T51:
Less distortion than T6
Stress relief to improve machining of casting
Increased mechanical properties compared to as cast
T6 Temper
A T6 heat treatment is three steps. During the first step, the casting is heated at a very high temperature, 1,000°F (538⁰C) for 12 hours. The next step is quenching. The casting is lowered into a liquid solution bath resulting in rapid cooling. The solution bath is usually water or glycol at a temperature 150-214°F (66-100°C). After quench, the castings are aged in a furnace. They are heated to 310°F (154°C) for 3-5 hours and then allowed to cool naturally..
The quenching process often causes distortion and stresses in parts. This is because of the extreme temperature differentials between the heated casting and the quench cooling solution. A straightening process is performed after quench and prior to age to ensure parts are to print. This quenching is necessary to achieve the higher mechanical properties of T6. The mechanical properties are 34 KSI (235 MPA) Ultimate Tensile Strength, 24 KSI (165 MPA) Yield Strength, 3.5% Elongation and 70-105 Brinell Hardness.
T6 temper is the second most commonly requested heat treatment at TPi. It is typically utilized in structural applications such as automotive, robotics, aerospace, defense and marine among others.
Benefits of T6:
Higher mechanical properties
Less deformation under heavy loads
Harder aluminum
These are the two comparisons I found online. I'm not a metaluriist, so I don't know if this helps you out in any way.
Dave Duit