5052 Aluminum
Also: AA5052, UNS A95052, AlMg2.5, 5052-H32, 5052-H34, 5052-O, Al 5052, marine grade aluminum sheet
5052 is the sheet metal aluminum: the easiest common alloy to bend, weldable without losing much strength, and excellent in salt water. Values for H32.
Sourcing 5052 parts or stock?
- Welding & Fabrication companies that work with aluminum · 593
- Machine shops that work with aluminum · 572
- Finishing & Heat Treating companies that work with aluminum · 546
- All U.S. manufacturers working with aluminum · 2,300
- Find aluminum suppliers
At a glance
| Density | 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³) |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 228 MPa (33 ksi) |
| Yield strength | 193 MPa (28 ksi) |
| Hardness | 60 HB |
| Elongation | 12% (about 25% in O temper) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 70.3 GPa (10.2 Msi) |
| Thermal | Melts at 607-649 °C (1125-1200 °F); thermal conductivity ~138 W/m·K |
| Composition | Al, 2.2-2.8% Mg, 0.15-0.35% Cr, up to 0.4% Fe, up to 0.25% Si |
Typical values, H32 temper (strain hardened and stabilized, quarter hard). H34 is about 262 MPa (38 ksi) tensile, O is about 193 MPa (28 ksi). Confirm against the mill certificate and the purchase spec.
- MachinabilityFair
- Gummy, with long chips that wrap; H32 and H34 machine acceptably with sharp polished tools and high speed, the O temper smears. Rated about 40-50% of the 2011 benchmark. Use 6061 for parts that are mostly machined.
- WeldabilityExcellent
- Welds easily by TIG and MIG with 5356 filler (5183 or 5556 for higher strength). The heat-affected zone of H32 drops to about the O-temper strength, a much smaller loss than 6061-T6 sees.
- FormabilityExcellent
- The best-forming common alloy: H32 sheet bends at about 1x thickness inside radius, O at a sharp radius; it draws, spins and stretch-forms well. H34 and harder need larger radii.
- Corrosion resistanceExcellent
- Better than 6061 in salt water and salt spray, and it does not need coating for most marine and outdoor service. With under 3% magnesium it is not prone to sensitization at elevated temperature the way 5083 is.
5052 is a magnesium (5xxx series) alloy that cannot be heat treated; its strength comes from the magnesium in solution and from cold work. It is bought almost entirely as sheet and light plate, and it is the alloy sheet metal fabricators reach for when a part will be bent, punched, spun or drawn: it takes a tighter bend radius than 6061 in any temper, resists cracking on flanges, and forms deep boxes and pans without special tooling.
Because it is strain-hardened rather than precipitation-hardened, welding costs it much less strength than 6061: the heat-affected zone of an H32 part drops to about the annealed value, which is still most of the way to H32. Its corrosion resistance in seawater and salt spray is the best of the common alloys, so it is the standard for boat hulls, fuel tanks, marine enclosures and truck bodies.
It is not a machining alloy. Turned or milled 5052 is gummy and throws long stringy chips, and in the O temper it smears; if a part needs both sheet-metal work and much machining, 6061 is usually the better compromise. For thicker marine plate and higher weld strength, 5083 is the step up.
Heat treatment
Not heat-treatable. Strength comes from cold rolling; the H3x tempers are strain hardened then stabilized by a low-temperature heat treatment so they do not soften with time. Full anneal (O) is about 345 °C (650 °F). Any welding or heating above roughly 200 °C (400 °F) locally returns the metal toward O strength, and there is no way to restore the temper afterward.
Tempers and conditions
- O (annealed)
- H32 (quarter hard, stabilized)
- H34 (half hard, stabilized)
- H36 (three-quarter hard)
- H38 (full hard)
- H112 (as-fabricated plate)
Stock forms
- Sheet (the main form, 0.5-6 mm / 0.020-0.25")
- Plate to about 50 mm (2")
- Coil
- Tread plate
- Drawn tube (limited)
Relative cost
Tier 2 of 5. About the same as 6061 in sheet, and the cheapest route to a bent-and-welded aluminum part because it needs no special tooling or post-weld treatment.
Typical applications
- Sheet metal enclosures, chassis and panels
- Boat hulls, decks and marine hardware
- Fuel, oil and hydraulic tanks
- Truck and trailer bodies, toolboxes and tread plate
- Appliance panels, signs and architectural trim
- Pressure vessels and refrigeration components
- Spun and deep-drawn parts
Process compatibility
How 5052 takes each process, and what to specify. Each process links to its own guide and to the shops that do it.
| Process | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Metal Fabrication | ExcellentExcellent | The default aluminum for punched, bent and welded sheet parts; forms tighter than any other common alloy. |
| Press Brake Forming | ExcellentExcellent | Bend H32 at about 1x thickness inside radius, O tighter; H34 needs about 1.5x. Minimal springback issues for aluminum. |
| Laser Cutting | ExcellentExcellent | Fiber lasers cut it cleanly with nitrogen assist to about 12 mm (1/2"); the standard blanking route for sheet parts. |
| Metal Stamping | ExcellentExcellent | Stamps, blanks and draws well in O and H32; use O for deep draws and H32 where the finished part needs stiffness. |
| Deep Drawing | GoodGood | Draws deeper than 6061 or 3003-H14; anneal between draws for severe shapes. |
| Welding | ExcellentExcellent | TIG or MIG with 5356 filler; low strength loss in the weld zone. Use 5183 filler for the highest joint strength. Can 5052 aluminum be welded? |
| TIG Welding | ExcellentExcellent | AC TIG on thin sheet gives clean, leak-tight seams for tanks and enclosures; clean the oxide first. |
| Anodizing | GoodGood | Clear and dyed Type II look clean and bright; colour is consistent within a lot but may differ slightly from 6061 next to it. |
| Chem Film (Chromate Conversion Coating) | ExcellentExcellent | MIL-DTL-5541 chromate is the usual paint base and conductive finish for 5052 enclosures. |
| Powder Coating | GoodGood | Common on enclosures and truck bodies after a conversion coating; keep the bake below about 200 °C (400 °F) to protect the temper. |
| CNC Machining | FairFair | Gummy with stringy chips; fine for holes, pockets and edges on a sheet part, a poor choice for parts that are mostly machined. |
| Aluminum Extrusion | PoorPoor | Not an extrusion alloy; 5052 shapes are rare. Use 6063 or 6061 for extruded profiles. |
| Heat Treating | Not recommendedNot recommended | Cannot be hardened by heat; the only heat treatment is annealing to O. Strength is set by the mill temper. |
Compare 5052
Design and sourcing tips
- Specify "5052-H32" for most sheet parts; H34 when the flat panels need more stiffness and bends are gentle; O for spinning and deep draws.
- Inside bend radius of 1x thickness for H32 is safe on most brakes; note the grain direction if bends are tight and the part is critical.
- Design welded joints to about the O-temper strength (193 MPa / 28 ksi tensile), not H32; there is no post-weld heat treatment.
- Use 5052 for the sheet metal and 6061 for the machined details in the same assembly; they weld and anodize together without trouble.
- For tanks and pressure parts call out the ASTM B209 or AMS spec and leak testing; 5052 welds are reliably leak-tight when the oxide is cleaned before welding.
- Above about 6 mm (1/4") and for the highest welded strength, switch to 5083-H116 or H321.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 5052 and 6061 aluminum?
- 5052 is a non-heat-treatable sheet alloy: it bends tighter, welds with less strength loss and resists salt water better, but it is weaker (228 vs 310 MPa tensile) and machines poorly. 6061 is stronger and machines well, and is stocked in bar, plate and extrusions as well as sheet. Use 5052 for formed and welded sheet parts, 6061 for machined and structural parts.
- Can 5052 aluminum be heat treated?
- No. It is strengthened only by cold work, so the tempers (H32, H34, H38) are set at the mill. Heating it anneals it. Welding softens the heat-affected zone to about the O-temper strength, which is why 5052 is designed to the annealed numbers across welds.
- What bend radius does 5052-H32 need?
- About 1x the sheet thickness on the inside of the bend for typical gauges, and tighter is often possible. H34 wants about 1.5x, and O temper bends to nearly zero radius. This is the main reason 5052 replaces 6061-T6, which needs 1.5-2.5x and still cracks on tight bends.
- Is 5052 aluminum good for salt water?
- Yes. It is one of the best common alloys in seawater and salt spray, which is why it is used bare for small boat hulls, marine enclosures and fuel tanks. It is not subject to the sensitization that limits 5083 at elevated temperatures, so it is also fine for warm marine service.
Processes that commonly use it
Related materials
Where to verify these values
- ASTM B209 (mechanical property minimums by temper)
- AMS 4015, AMS 4016 and AMS 4017
- Aluminum Association, Aluminum Standards and Data
- AWS D1.2 (structural welding code, aluminum) for as-welded strengths
