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Aluminum Tread Plate, also known as Diamond Plate, provides traction, slip resistance, and protection in high traffic areas. Online Metals stocks inventory in two varieties:Aluminum 6061 and Aluminum 3003 Brite.

Aluminum Tread Plate is much lighter than Steel Tread Plate and Stainless Steel Tread Plate.

Both Aluminum 6061 and 3003 provide excellent corrosion resistance, workability, weldability, and are easy to clean.  So what's the difference between 6061 and 3003 Brite Tread Plate?

6061-T6

6061 is heat treatable, provides very good corrosion resistance, and is almost as strong as mild steel. Because of this, it is a popular general purpose alloy. This material has a T6 temper. Which means it has been solution heat-treated and artificially aged to a stable condition. Because of this, it has higher strength and hardness than base 6061.

It has a high strength to weight ratio, making 6061-T6 an excellent alternative to Steel or Stainless Steel. 6061 is the most frequently used structural alloy and the most versatile of the heat-treatable aluminum alloys. Also, it has excellent machinability.

Our 6061 Tread Plate comes with a mill finish and takes finish well.

Because of its durability and light weight, this material is often used in vehicles. Truck ramps and step rails frequently use 6061-T6.

3003-H22 BRITE

Aluminum 3003 is not heat-treatable. But it welds very well and has excellent workability. Also, it may be deep drawn, spun, welded, or brazed. Although  3003 is about 20% stronger than pure aluminum, it is noticeably weaker than 6061. Additionally, 3003 is somewhat soft, making it more difficult to machine and vulnerable to scratches.

This material has a H22 temper meaning it has been strain-hardened and partially annealed. This has brought the metal up to about ¼ hard. These plates have a Brite Finish, giving it a brilliant shine. Additionally, they are highly reflective and easy to clean. Because of the finish, 3003-H22 Tread Plate is more commonly used in decorative and cosmetic applications. You will often notice them inside food trucks, as an example.

Pros and Cons 6061-T6 3003-H22

Raised Diamond Pattern Yes Yes

Skid Resistant Yes Yes

Corrosion Resistance Good Excellent

Durability Excellent Good

Weldability Excellent Excellent

Finish Mill Brite

Heat Treatable Yes No

Strength Good Average

Hardness Good Average

Machinability Excellent Average

Formability Average Good

Ductility Average Good

Ease of Cleaning Good Excellent

Common Application Structural Cosmetic

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