7075-T6 is the high-strength aluminum: roughly 570 MPa tensile, approaching mild steel at a third of the weight. It is also more abrasive on tooling, noticeably worse at corrosion resistance, and effectively unweldable. It is the right choice when strength genuinely governs the design, and an expensive habit when it does not.
| Tensile strength | 572 MPa |
|---|---|
| Yield strength | 503 MPa |
| Hardness | 150 HB |
| Density | 2.81 g/cm³ |
| Elongation | 11% |
| Thermal conductivity | 130 W/m·K |
| Series | 7xxx series (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) |
Typical values for the standard condition (Aluminum 7075-T6). Heat treatment, temper and product form move these numbers — confirm against the mill certificate for your order.
Highest strength of the common machinable aluminum grades
Excellent strength-to-weight ratio — the aerospace structural standard
Machines well despite its strength, with the right tooling
Hard anodizes well, which suits wear surfaces
Starting parameters for carbide tooling. These are the shop's working numbers, not brochure values — adjust for machine rigidity, tool geometry and workholding.
| Surface speed | 250–400 m/min |
|---|---|
| Feed per tooth | 0.10–0.20 mm/tooth |
| Tooling | Sharp carbide, 2–3 flute; keep tools fresh |
| Coolant | Flood preferred |
Tool wear runs 20–30% faster than 6061. Anodizes noticeably darker and less uniformly than 6xxx, and is prone to stress corrosion cracking in humid or chloride environments unless supplied as T73.
Material costs 60–100% more than 6061, and faster tool wear adds machining cost on top. A finished 7075 part typically lands 25–40% above the same part in 6061 — not the 80% the material price alone suggests.
For the full cost structure — material, programming, setup, cycle time, finishing and inspection — see CNC machining cost per hour, and for how price changes with quantity see machining by production volume.
Two reasons. The material itself costs roughly 60–100% more per kilogram, and it is more abrasive on tooling — expect 20–30% faster tool wear at comparable parameters. It also cannot be welded, so assemblies that would be welded in 6061 must be redesigned with fasteners or machined as one piece.
T6 gives maximum strength but is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in humid or salt-laden environments. T73 sacrifices 10–15% of strength for a large improvement in SCC resistance. For marine, aerospace or long-service outdoor parts, T73 is usually the correct call — and it is worth raising if a drawing says only "7075".
Yes, and hard anodizing works particularly well for wear surfaces. The catch is color: 7075 anodizes darker and less uniformly than 6061 because of its zinc and copper content. For cosmetic parts where color matches matter, use 6061 instead.
Thick plate in T6 can move significantly when material is removed. For flatness-critical parts, order 7075-T651 (stress relieved by stretching) and leave a finishing pass. On a 200mm pocketed plate the difference between T6 and T651 can be several tenths of a millimetre of bow.
Tell us the grade and temper, the quantity and what the part has to do. You get a line-item quote within 24 hours, with DFM feedback on anything that is raising the cost.