Heat-treatable Aluminum filler

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Hi all,I am TIG welding 6061 aluminum and am looking to improve the strength properties of my welded joint (mitered). I plan to heat treat the part after welding to bring it to T6, but as I understand it the standard filler for my base material-- 4043-- is not heat treatable and will stay at a pretty low yield strength even after this process. Is there another filler alloy that I can use for welding that will regain at least some strength when heat treated? I am looking for something in the range of 20ksi (though ideally it'd be up near 36ksi, like the 6061-T6).I don't have a sense for how common it is to switch filler material, but haven't seen much at all about heat treatable filler alloys. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Reply:4643 or 4943 fillers are excellent choices (and about the only heat treatable ones recommended for 6061).Both have pretty similar properties to 4043.4643: as-welded tensile is ~30ksi. "tensile can go up to 90% of the tensile of the unwelded base metal"4943: As-welded tensile is ~35ksi, shear strength is 21ksiLast edited by MikeGyver; 01-07-2015 at 11:53 PM.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Er4643 1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Just for giggles. 5000 series fillers are not recommended for PWHT due to the high amounts of magnesium which can degrade the weld integrity. 4043 is indeed a recommended choice but is very dependent on base metal dilution. 4943 however is not dependent on base metal dilution and is still recommended for PWHT, so is a better choice.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Depending on the complexity of the weldment, you will need a fixture to secure the work when it goes in the furnace.  That could be costly.  Typically aluminum weldments are designed around the lower strength weld metal, as heat treating gets pricey.
Reply:Originally Posted by beboDepending on the complexity of the weldment, you will need a fixture to secure the work when it goes in the furnace.  That could be costly.  Typically aluminum weldments are designed around the lower strength weld metal, as heat treating gets pricey.