The　microstructure　and　mechanical　properties　of　as-homogenized　6061　aluminum　alloy　with　0.2wt.%　Er　were　investigated.　The　microstructures　of　the　as-casted　and　homogenized　alloys　were　analyzed　using　optical　microscopy　(OM)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM).　Energy　dispersion　X-ray　spectroscopy　(EDS)　was　used　to　analyze　the　phase　chemical　composition.　The　results　showed　that　the　homogenizing　treatment　had　a　significant　influence　on　the　precipitate　morphology　of　the　alloy.　With　increasing　homogenization　temperature,　the　long　strip-like　Fe-rich　grain　distributed　on　the　boundary　phase　became　discontinuous　and　sparseness,　transforming　to　short　rod　and　granular　shape.　In　addition,　the　Fe-rich　phase　with　a　large　fish-bone　structure　became　smaller.　During　homogenizing　treatment,　a　large　number　of　dispersive　Mg2Si　phase　appeared　inside　grains,　and　large　number　of　the　phases　containing　Er　were　dissolved　into　the　matrix.　©　2017　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.