O (annealed)
Fully soft for deep drawing and spinning: pots, pans, lamp reflectors, containers.
Al-Mn general-purpose coil
3003 Aluminium Coil and Strip
3003 aluminium coil is rolled from the aluminium-manganese alloy that is about 20 % stronger than pure 1100 aluminium while keeping its excellent formability, corrosion resistance and brazeability. It is the standard coil for heat-exchanger fins and tubes, cookware, roofing, ductwork and insulation cladding. Metline supplies 3003 coil and slit strip from soft O to full-hard H18 tempers, to ASTM B209 and EN 485, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 3003 (Al-1.2Mn-Cu)
- Tempers
- O, H12 – H18, H22 – H26
- Thickness
- About 0.1 – 6 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B209 · EN 485
What 3003 aluminium coil is and why it is so widely used
3003 is the most widely used of the non-heat-treatable 3xxx alloys. About 1.2 % manganese, with a little copper, strengthens the aluminium by solid solution and fine dispersoids, without sacrificing the ductility that makes pure aluminium easy to draw, spin and bend.
The result is a coil that forms almost as easily as 1100 but is noticeably stronger, resists atmospheric and fresh-water corrosion, and takes paint, anodising and roll-coating well. Because its melting range (about 643 – 654 °C) sits comfortably above aluminium brazing temperatures, 3003 is also the classic core alloy for brazed heat exchangers and the base for clad brazing sheet.
Strength comes from cold rolling, so the temper you order sets the balance between strength and formability: O is fully soft for deep drawing, H14 is half-hard for general sheet-metal work and fins, and H18 is full-hard for stiff, flat parts that are not bent tightly.
3003 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.6 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.7 | Impurity; forms Al-Fe-Mn particles |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 | 0.20 | Adds strength, makes corrosion more uniform |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0 | 1.5 | Main strengthening element |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 96.8 – 99 % |
Aluminum Association registered limits, followed by ASTM B209 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-3003 / EN AW-AlMn1Cu).
3003 mechanical properties by temper
| Temper | Tensile strength (typical) | Yield strength (typical) | Elongation (typical) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 110 MPa | 40 MPa | 30 – 40 % | Deep drawing, spinning, cookware |
| H12 / H22 | 130 MPa | 125 MPa | 10 – 15 % | Moderate forming |
| H14 / H24 | 150 MPa | 145 MPa | 8 – 12 % | General sheet metal, fins, ducting |
| H16 / H26 | 175 MPa | 170 MPa | 5 – 8 % | Stiffer panels, roofing |
| H18 | 200 MPa | 185 MPa | 4 – 5 % | Flat, stiff parts; fin stock |
Typical values from the Aluminum Association and ASM; specified minimums in ASTM B209 and EN 485-2 vary with thickness (e.g. EN 485-2 gives H14 tensile 145 – 185 MPa). Elongation is lower for thin gauges.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Melting range
- About 643 – 654 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- 69 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 193 W/m·K (O); about 155 – 160 W/m·K (H18)
- Electrical conductivity
- About 50 % IACS (O); 40 % IACS (H18)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.2 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
H1x versus H2x tempers
In H1x tempers (H12, H14, H16, H18) the coil is cold-rolled straight to the required hardness. In H2x tempers (H22, H24, H26) it is rolled harder and then partially annealed back to the same strength. H2x coil has a little more elongation at the same strength, so it bends and stretches better; H1x is slightly flatter and cheaper. For fins and roll-formed profiles, both are used; if you have had cracking at bends with H14, try H24.
H14 / H24
The default general-purpose temper for ducting, insulation jacketing, signs, tanks and fins.
H16 / H26
Higher stiffness for roofing and cladding sheet, trailer and truck panels.
H18 / H19
Full hard for fin stock, packaging and parts that stay flat.
Standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Product standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 3003 | ASTM B209 (ASME SB-209) |
| UNS | A93003 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-3003 / EN AW-AlMn1Cu | EN 485-1/-2/-4, EN 573-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.0517 | DIN EN 485 |
| ISO | AlMn1Cu | ISO 6361 |
| Japan (JIS) | A3003P | JIS H4000 |
| China (GB) | 3003 (formerly close to 3A21) | GB/T 3880 |
| India (IS) | 31000 | IS 737 |
3003 coil sizes, slit strip and coil weights
Supply range
- Thickness
- About 0.1 – 6 mm; fin-stock gauges below 0.2 mm on request
- Width
- Master coils up to about 2000 mm; slit strip from about 10 mm
- Inner diameter
- 75, 150, 405, 505 or 508 mm, to suit your decoiler
- Coil weight
- From small slit coils to master coils of several tonnes
- Surface
- Mill finish, degreased, embossed (stucco), pre-painted or film-protected
- Processing
- Slitting, cut-to-length sheet and circles
Approximate weight of a 3003 coil on a 508 mm core, at a density of 2.73 g/cm³. Use the coil weight calculator for exact figures.
| Coil width (mm) | OD 1000 mm (kg) | OD 1200 mm (kg) | OD 1500 mm (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 795 | 1267 | 2135 |
| 1000 | 1591 | 2534 | 4271 |
| 1250 | 1989 | 3168 | 5339 |
| 1500 | 2386 | 3801 | 6406 |
Forming, joining and finishing
Forming
O temper can be bent flat on itself; H14 bends to about 0 – 1 × thickness for thin gauges. Spinning, deep drawing and roll forming are all routine.
Brazing
Melting range is well above the 577 – 600 °C used for Al-Si brazing, so 3003 is the standard core alloy and tube alloy for brazed heat exchangers.
Welding
Readily welded by TIG and MIG with ER1100 or ER4043 filler. The heat-affected zone softens to O-temper strength.
Finishing
Paints and roll-coats well. Anodised finishes are protective but slightly grey because of the manganese; use 5005 or 1050 for decorative anodising.
Where 3003 coil is used
- Heat exchangers: fin stock, tube strip and headers for radiators, condensers and evaporators
- Cookware and kitchen equipment: pots, pans, baking trays and food containers
- Building: roofing, siding, gutters, ceilings and insulation jacketing
- HVAC: ducting and air-handling components
- Transport: truck and trailer panels, fuel tanks
- Packaging and general fabrication: containers, signs, reflectors, chemical equipment
3003 compared with 1100, 3105 and 5052
| Property | 1100 H14 | 3003 H14 | 3105 H14 | 5052 H32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 125 MPa | 150 MPa | 170 MPa | 230 MPa |
| Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Good |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent | Very good | Very good | Excellent (marine) |
| Thermal conductivity | 218 W/m·K | 159 W/m·K | 172 W/m·K | 138 W/m·K |
| Typical use | Chemical, electrical | Fins, cookware, ducting | Building products, caps | Marine, tanks, panels |
Choose 1100 or 1050 where maximum conductivity or purity matters; 3003 for the best all-round balance; 5052 when you need clearly more strength or seawater resistance.
How to order 3003 coil
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 3003-H14), thickness, width, ID, maximum coil weight or OD, surface and standard.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification and terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ProcessCoils are slit or cut to length as ordered and inspected for dimensions and surface.
- DocumentMill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and mechanical results.
- ShipEye-to-wall or eye-to-sky on wooden pallets, wrapped against moisture, shipped by sea or air.
References and standards
- ASTM B209 – Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
- EN 485-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: sheet, strip and plate, mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
- ASM Handbook, Volume 2 – Properties of Wrought Aluminum Alloys
3003 aluminium coil: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 3003-H14 and 3003-H24?
Both have about the same strength. H14 is cold-rolled directly to half-hard; H24 is rolled harder and then partially annealed, which gives a little more elongation and better bendability.
Is 3003 coil suitable for cookware?
Yes. 3003-O is widely used for pots, pans and baking trays because it draws and spins well, is stronger than pure aluminium and resists corrosion from most foods.
Can 3003 be anodised?
Yes, for protection, but the film is slightly grey and less uniform than on 1050 or 5005. For decorative anodising choose an anodising-quality grade.
How much does a 3003 coil weigh?
Weight = width × π/4 × (OD² − ID²) × 2.73 g/cm³. A 1000 mm wide coil with 1200 mm OD on a 508 mm core weighs about 2.5 tonnes.
Is 3003 the same as 3A21?
3A21 is a Chinese grade close to 3003 but without the copper addition. The two are often interchangeable in non-critical uses; check the specification.
Can 3003 be used in marine environments?
It resists marine atmospheres reasonably well, but for immersion or structural marine use 5052 or 5083 is better.
Need 3003 coil or strip?
Send thickness, width, temper, coil size and destination. We will confirm availability and quote a delivered price.
