Our Location
About 5052 Aluminum Alloy (Composition, Strength, and Uses)
5052 aluminum alloy is a member of the Al-Mg series alloy and is widely used in construction. It is considered one of the most promising alloys due to its excellent properties. This alloy has good corrosion resistance, weldability, cold working performance, and moderate strength. The main alloying element in 5052 aluminum alloy is magnesium, which makes it highly formable, corrosion-resistant, weldable, and moderately strong. This alloy is used to manufacture aircraft fuel tanks, oil pipes, sheet metal parts for vehicles and ships, instruments, street lamp brackets, rivets, hardware products, and electrical casings.
Characteristics of Aluminum Alloy 5052
Aluminum alloy 5052 is a versatile material with several desirable properties. It has excellent workability, medium static strength, high fatigue strength, good weldability, and exceptional corrosion resistance, particularly in marine environments. Additionally, it has a low density and excellent thermal conductivity, which is typical of other aluminum alloys. However, alloy 5052 cannot be heat-treated to achieve higher strength and can only be hardened through cold work. After cold work, the alloy spontaneously ages at room temperature, so all flat-rolled mill products have stable properties. This stabilization is achieved through a low-temperature thermal treatment or heat introduced during rolling, resulting in the H3x tempers.
Al 5052 Chemical Composition
The following are the allowed weight percentage limits for the Chemical Composition as stated in the ASTM B209 and ASME SB209 documents:
| Element | % Composition |
| Cu | 0.1 Max |
| Mn | 0.1 Max |
| Si | 0.25 Max |
| Fe | 0.4 Max |
| Mg | 2.2-2.8 By weight |
| Zn | 0.1 Max |
| Cr | 0.1-0.35 |
| Others Each | 0.05 |
| Others Total | 0.15 |
| Al | Balance |
Al Alloy 5052 Mechanical Properties
| Hardening | Yield MPa | Yield (PSI) | Ultimate MPa | Ultimate (PSI) | Yield Strength acc. ASTM B209 [KSI] | Tensile Strength acc. ASTM B209 [KSI] |
| 5052 O | 89.6 | 13000 | 195 | 28000 | ||
| 5052 H32 | 193 | 28000 | 228 | 33000 | >23.0 | 31.0 – 38.0 |
| 5052 H34 | 214 | 31000 | 262 | 38000 | >26.0 | 34.0 – 41.0 |
| 5052 H36 | 241 | 35000 | 276 | 40000 | >29.0 | 37.0 – 44.0 |
| 5052 H38 | 255 | 37000 | 290 | 42000 | >32.0 | >39.0 |
Physical Properties For Alloy 5052
| Property | English | Metric |
| Density | 0.0968 lb/in3 | 2.68 g/cm3 |
Thermal Properties For 5052 Aluminum Alloy
| Thermal Properties | Value |
| CTE, linear 68°F（µm/m-°C） | 23.8 |
| CTE, linear 250°C（ µm/m-°C） | 25.7 |
| Specific Heat Capacity（J/g-°C） | 0.88 |
| Thermal Conductivity（W/m-K） | 138 |
| Melting Point（ °C） | 607 – 649 |
Processing Properties
| Temperature | English（°F） | Metric（°C） |
| Hot-Working | 500 – 950 | 260 – 510 |
| Annealing | 650 | 343 |
Standards For Alloy 5052
Typical standards for Alloy 5052 are as follows:
– ASTM B209
– ASME SB209
Corrosion Resistance
5052 aluminum alloy is highly resistant to corrosion and is particularly useful in caustic or corrosive environments. It doesn’t contain copper, making it ideal for marine and chemical applications. While it may cause corrosive effects in alkaline soil, this varies widely due to differences in soil composition. With its high magnesium content, 5052 is particularly resistant to corrosion from concentrated nitric acid, ammonia, and ammonium hydroxide. Coating it with a protective coating can prevent any other caustic influences.
5052 Al Alloy Applications
5052 aluminum alloy is a commonly used rust-resistant aluminum known for its high strength and fatigue resistance. It has good plasticity and corrosion resistance but cannot be strengthened through heat treatment. The alloy is ideal for low-load parts requiring good weldabilities and high plasticities, such as fuel tanks, lubricating oil pipes, gasoline, and various liquid containers. It can also be polished. However, it has poor machinability and low plasticity during cold work hardening. Wire made from this alloy is suitable for rivets.
Weldability
Solderability: Not advised
Brazability: Generally OK
Weldability – Gas: Good
Weldability – Arc: Excellent
Weldability – Resistance: Excellent
5052 aluminum welding
Machinability
5052 aluminum is easily machinable with sharp tools, high cutting speeds, and abundant lubrication to prevent thermal distortion. Use high-speed steel or tungsten carbide, deep and continuous cuts. Woodworking machinery may be suitable for short runs.
Heat Treatment
Anneal Aluminium 5052 at 345°C; time and cooling rate are unimportant. Stress relief at 220°C is optional, but stress relief tests are recommended if strength loss is a concern.
FAQS
Can 5052 aluminum be bent?
Aluminum 5052 is ideal for bending. It has good strength and corrosion resistance. It is also affordable after annealing.
What are the differences between 5052 and 6061 aluminum?
Both 6061 and 5052 aluminum sheets are available at Enze. The main difference is that 6061 aluminum is stronger, more stress-resistant, and less malleable than 5052 aluminum. It is used for structural and engineering applications, while 5052 is ideal for forming intricate shapes. We may suggest 6061 aluminum, depending on your project needs.
What is the difference between 5052 and 5052 H32 Aluminum?
5052 aluminum is an alloy belonging to the 5000 series. It mainly consists of magnesium as the primary alloying addition. When the aluminium alloy 5052 h32 undergoes a strain hardening and stabilization process, it achieves a strength level between approximately annealed and full-hard.
5052 h32 aluminum sheet
Summary
Please contact us if you want to learn more about aluminium 5052 sheet and other alloys data. Enze offers various manufacturing capabilities and value-added services for aluminum parts and production needs.
