O
Fully annealed. Best for heavy bending, heading and flaring; lowest strength.
Corrosion-resistant aluminium-magnesium bar
5052 Aluminium Round Bar
5052 is an aluminium-magnesium alloy with about 2.5 % magnesium, the strongest of the common non-heat-treatable alloys used for general fabrication. As round bar and rod it combines good strength, high fatigue resistance, excellent weldability and very good resistance to sea water and marine air. Metline supplies 5052 round, hex and square bar, cold finished or extruded, to ASTM B211, ASTM B221 and EN 754 / 755, shipped worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5052 (Al-Mg2.5-Cr), non-heat-treatable
- Tempers
- O, H32, H34, H36, H38, H112
- Corrosion
- Very good in sea water and marine air
- Standards
- ASTM B211 · B221 · EN 754 · EN 755
What is 5052 aluminium round bar?
5052 sits in the middle of the 5xxx family: more magnesium than 5005 or 5050, less than 5754 or 5083. That balance makes it strong enough for many structural and machined parts while remaining easy to form, weld and anodise.
Magnesium strengthens the alloy in solid solution, and a small chromium addition controls grain structure and improves resistance to stress corrosion. Because 5052 is non-heat-treatable, its strength comes from cold work. Annealed (O) bar is soft and very ductile; H32 and H34 bar, drawn and then stabilised, are significantly stronger. With magnesium below 3 %, 5052 is not prone to the sensitisation that can affect higher-magnesium alloys after long exposure to heat.
As round bar, 5052 is chosen for parts that face moisture, salt or chemicals: marine fittings and hardware, fuel and hydraulic system components, fasteners and rivets, pressure-vessel parts, food-processing equipment and electronic chassis parts. Its fatigue strength is among the highest of the non-heat-treatable alloys, which suits parts subject to vibration.
5052 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits per the Aluminum Association registration and EN 573-3 (EN AW-5052, AlMg2,5). Every cast is analysed and reported on the mill test certificate.
| Element | Limit (%) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.25 max | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.40 max | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.10 max | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.10 max | Impurity |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 – 2.8 | Main strengthening element |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 – 0.35 | Grain control; resistance to stress corrosion |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
5052 mechanical properties by temper
Typical values from Aluminum Association / ASM data. Specified minimums for bar and rod are given in ASTM B211 (cold finished) and ASTM B221 (extruded); the mill test certificate reports values for your lot.
| Temper | Tensile strength (typical) | Yield strength (typical) | Elongation (typical) | Hardness | Fatigue strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 195 MPa / 28 ksi | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 25 – 30 % | 47 HB | 110 MPa |
| H32 | 230 MPa / 33 ksi | 195 MPa / 28 ksi | 12 – 18 % | 60 HB | 115 – 120 MPa |
| H34 | 260 MPa / 38 ksi | 215 MPa / 31 ksi | 10 – 14 % | 68 HB | 125 MPa |
| H36 | 275 MPa / 40 ksi | 240 MPa / 35 ksi | 8 – 10 % | 73 HB | 130 MPa |
| H38 | 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 255 MPa / 37 ksi | 7 – 8 % | 77 HB | 140 MPa |
| H112 (as extruded) | Near O – H32; set by section | — | — | — | — |
Fatigue values are typical rotating-beam endurance limits at 5×10⁸ cycles. Elongation is given as a range because round bar specimens show higher values than thin sheet.
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³ (0.097 lb/in³)
- Melting range
- about 607 – 650 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 70 GPa (10,200 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- about 138 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- about 35 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.8 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
5052 tempers explained
H32
Strain hardened and stabilised to quarter hard. The most popular temper: good strength with useful formability.
H34
Strain hardened and stabilised to half hard. Higher strength for machined parts and fasteners.
H36 / H38
Three-quarter and full hard. Highest strength, limited bending; used for rod and wire where strength matters most.
H112
As extruded, with incidental work. Economical for larger bars where tight tolerances are not needed.
Why "stabilised"
The H3x tempers receive a low-temperature heat treatment after cold work so that Al-Mg alloys do not soften slowly at room temperature (age softening).
5052 standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Bar and rod standards |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 5052 | ASTM B211 (cold finished), ASTM B221 (extruded) |
| UNS | A95052 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-5052 / AlMg2,5 | EN 573-3, EN 754-2 / 754-3, EN 755-2 / 755-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.3523 | — |
| ISO | AlMg2,5 | ISO 209 |
| Japan (JIS) | A5052 | JIS H4040 |
| GB | 5052 (5A02 similar) | GB/T 3190, GB/T 3191 |
5251 and 5754 are close European alloys with somewhat different magnesium and manganese limits. They are often interchangeable for general fabrication but not identical; certify to the designation on your drawing.
5052 bar forms, sizes and weights
| Form | Typical range | Tempers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-finished round rod | About 3 – 75 mm diameter | O, H32, H34, H36, H38 | Tight tolerance, smooth finish |
| Extruded round bar | About 10 – 250 mm diameter | H112, O | Larger diameters for machining |
| Hex bar | About 6 – 75 mm across flats | H112, H32 | Marine fittings and fasteners |
| Square and flat bar | Extruded or cut from plate | H112, H32 | Brackets and machined blocks |
| Rod and wire coils | Smaller diameters | O, H32, H38 | Rivets and cold heading |
Weights for solid round 5052 bar at 2.68 g/cm³:
| Diameter (mm) | kg per metre | 3 m bar (kg) | 6 m bar (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.076 | 0.23 | 0.45 |
| 10 | 0.210 | 0.63 | 1.26 |
| 12 | 0.303 | 0.91 | 1.82 |
| 16 | 0.539 | 1.62 | 3.23 |
| 20 | 0.842 | 2.53 | 5.05 |
| 25 | 1.32 | 3.95 | 7.89 |
| 30 | 1.89 | 5.68 | 11.37 |
| 40 | 3.37 | 10.10 | 20.21 |
| 50 | 5.26 | 15.79 | 31.57 |
| 60 | 7.58 | 22.73 | 45.47 |
| 80 | 13.47 | 40.41 | 80.83 |
| 100 | 21.05 | 63.15 | 126.29 |
| 120 | 30.31 | 90.93 | 181.86 |
| 150 | 47.36 | 142.08 | 284.16 |
| 200 | 84.19 | 252.58 | 505.17 |
Machining, welding, forming and finishing
Machining
Fair in O, good in H32 – H38. Use sharp, polished, high-rake carbide tools, high speeds and plenty of coolant; harder tempers give shorter chips and better finish.
Welding
Excellent by TIG and MIG with 5356 or 5554 filler (5554 for service above about 65 °C). The weld zone returns to near-O strength.
Forming
Good cold formability in O and H32; bend radii should increase with temper.
Brazing
Not recommended: the magnesium content interferes with fluxes. Use 3003 for brazed assemblies.
Anodising
Good response with a clear, protective film; suitable for marine hardware.
Corrosion
Very good in sea water, marine atmosphere and many industrial environments. Avoid direct contact with copper alloys or carbon steel in wet conditions.
Tolerances and inspection
Cold-finished 5052 rod follows the tolerances of ASTM B211 or EN 754-3; extruded bar follows ASTM B221 or EN 755-3. State a tolerance class if your design needs closer control.
- Spectrographic chemical analysis per cast
- Tensile testing per lot to confirm temper
- Diameter, ovality, straightness and length checks
- Surface inspection for scratches, die lines and pick-up
- Heat and lot traceability on bundles, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate
5052 compared with 3003, 5083 and 6061
| Property | 3003-H14 | 5052-H32 | 5083-H112 | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 150 MPa | 230 MPa | ≈300 MPa | 310 MPa |
| Typical yield strength | 145 MPa | 195 MPa | ≈150 – 190 MPa | 276 MPa |
| Sea-water corrosion | Good | Very good | Excellent | Good |
| Weld strength retained | High | High | High | Reduced in heat-affected zone |
| Machinability | Fair | Fair – good | Fair | Good |
| Heat treatable | No | No | No | Yes |
Use 5052 for welded or corrosion-exposed parts with moderate loads. Step up to 5083 for heavily loaded marine structures, or to 6061 when machinability and yield strength matter more than sea-water performance. Choose 3003 where brazing is needed.
Where 5052 round bar is used
- Marine: deck fittings, cleats, hinges, shafts and hardware
- Fluid systems: hydraulic and fuel line fittings, valve parts and manifolds
- Fasteners: rivets, screws and pins that need corrosion resistance
- Transport: tank and trailer fittings, truck and bus components
- Food and chemical: equipment parts and fittings
- Electronics: chassis parts, standoffs and spacers
How to order 5052 round bar from Metline
- SpecifyAlloy 5052, temper (O, H32, H34, H36, H38 or H112), diameter, length and quantity.
- Confirm the standardASTM B211 for cold-finished rod or ASTM B221 / EN 755 for extruded bar, plus any tolerance class or surface requirement.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance class, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination port or site.
- Process and inspectBar is cut to length, checked for diameter, straightness and surface, and packed with interleaving to protect the finish.
- Document and shipEach lot ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate and packing list. Bars are bundled or cased in seaworthy wooden boxes with moisture protection; third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
References and standards
- ASTM B211 / B211M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- ASTM B221 / B221M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products (EN AW-5052)
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
5052 aluminium (aluminum) round bar: frequently asked questions
Is 5052 aluminium marine grade?
Yes. With about 2.5 % magnesium and low copper, it resists sea water and salt air very well and is widely used for marine fittings and hardware.
Can 5052 be heat treated?
No. It is non-heat-treatable; strength comes from cold work. H3x tempers are stabilised with a low-temperature treatment to prevent age softening.
Which is stronger, 5052 or 6061?
6061-T6 is stronger, especially in yield (about 276 MPa against 195 MPa for 5052-H32). 5052 has better sea-water resistance and keeps more strength after welding.
What filler is used to weld 5052?
5356 is the usual choice; 5554 is preferred for parts that operate above about 65 °C. 4043 can be used but gives lower weld strength and poorer colour match after anodising.
Is 5052 good for machining?
It machines acceptably in H32 – H38 with sharp, high-rake tools and coolant. For heavy CNC machining, 6061 or 2011 machine more easily.
What does a 50 mm 5052 round bar weigh?
About 5.26 kg per metre at a density of 2.68 g/cm³.
Need 5052 round bar?
Send diameter, temper, length, quantity and standard. Our team will confirm availability, certification and delivered terms.
