Aluminum alloys can be used to build amateur antennas, as well as for towers and supports. Light weight and high conductivity make aluminum ideal for these applications. Alloying lowers the conductivity ratings, but the tensile strength can be increased by alloying aluminum with one or more metals such as manganese, silicon, copper, magnesium or zinc. Cold rolling can be employed to further increase the strength.
 

Aluminum Numbers for Antenna Use
Common type	Characteristic
2024	Good formability, high strength
5052	Excellent surface finish, excellent corrosion resistance, normally not heat treatable for high strength
6061	Good machinability, good weldability, can be brittle at high tempers
7075	Good formability, high strength
Common Tempers	Characteristics
T0	Special soft condition
T3	Hard
T6	Very hard, possibly brittle
General use
Type	Uses
2024 T3	Chassis boxed, antennas, any that will be bend or flexed repeatedly.
7075 T3
6061 T6	Mounting plates, welded assemblies or machined parts

In the 6000 series, the 6061 alloy is commonly used for antenna applications. Type 6061 has good resistance to corrosion and has medium strength.Aluminum alloy 6061 and 6063 are most commonly used for seamless structural tube and pipe, which have high strength. It is popular in structural use for high strength, long lasting appearance. Alloy 6063 provides great resistance to general corrosion, including resistance to stress-corrosion cracking.
 
With excellent surface appearance, 6061 and 6063 are the best alloys for high strength, long lasting antenna application.
 

Alloy	Out diameter (mm)	Wall thickness (mm)
6061 / 6063 T6	9.5	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	12.7	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	15.9	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	19	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	22	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	25.4	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	28.6	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	31.75	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	34.9	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	38.1	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	44.45	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	47.63	1.5
6061 / 6063 T6	50.8	1.5
Special outside diameter and wall thickness can be customized