5052-O
Fully annealed for deep drawing, spinning and severe forming.
Al-Mg general engineering coil
5052 Aluminium Coil, Strip and Sheet
5052 aluminium coil is rolled from a 2.5 % magnesium alloy that is the strongest of the commonly used, easily formed non-heat-treatable grades, with excellent resistance to seawater and industrial atmospheres. It is the standard coil for fuel tanks, truck and marine panels, electronics housings, honeycomb core and pressure-formed parts. Metline supplies 5052 coil, slit strip and cut sheet in O to H38 tempers, to ASTM B209 and EN 485, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5052 (Al-2.5Mg-Cr)
- Tempers
- O, H32, H34, H36, H38
- Thickness
- About 0.15 – 6 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B209 · EN 485
What makes 5052 coil different
5052 sits in the middle of the 5xxx family: enough magnesium (2.2 – 2.8 %) for real strength, but not so much that formability or long-term stability suffer. In H32 temper it is roughly 50 % stronger than 3003-H14 and still bends tightly.
Magnesium strengthens the aluminium by solid solution, and cold rolling adds more strength; chromium controls grain structure and improves resistance to stress corrosion. The H3x tempers used for 5052 are strain-hardened and then thermally stabilised, which prevents the gradual softening ("age softening") that unstabilised Al-Mg alloys show at room temperature.
Unlike the higher-magnesium alloys 5083 and 5456, 5052 is not prone to sensitisation, so it can be used at moderately elevated temperatures. It has very good fatigue strength for a non-heat-treatable alloy, which is why it is chosen for vibrating parts such as fuel tanks, fan blades and vehicle panels.
5052 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.25 |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.10 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 | 2.8 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 | 0.35 |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Aluminum Association limits, followed by ASTM B209 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-5052 / EN AW-AlMg2.5).
5052 mechanical properties by temper
| Temper | Tensile strength (typical) | Yield strength (typical) | Elongation (typical) | Fatigue strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 195 MPa | 90 MPa | 25 % | 110 MPa |
| H32 | 230 MPa | 195 MPa | 12 % | 115 MPa |
| H34 | 260 MPa | 215 MPa | 10 % | 125 MPa |
| H36 | 275 MPa | 240 MPa | 8 % | 130 MPa |
| H38 | 290 MPa | 255 MPa | 7 % | 140 MPa |
Typical values (Aluminum Association / ASM; fatigue at 5 × 10⁸ cycles). ASTM B209 specifies, for example, 5052-H32 tensile 215 – 265 MPa with yield ≥ 160 MPa; limits vary with thickness and are shown on the certificate.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³
- Melting range
- About 607 – 650 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- 70 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 138 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- 35 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.8 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
Choosing between O, H32, H34 and harder tempers
5052-H32
Quarter-hard and stabilised; the most popular temper. Bends to about 1 – 1.5 × thickness and suits most sheet-metal work, tanks and enclosures.
5052-H34
Half-hard; higher strength for panels and parts with gentler bends.
5052-H36 / H38
Three-quarter and full hard for stiff, flat parts, springs and honeycomb foil.
Standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Product standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 5052 | ASTM B209 (ASME SB-209) |
| UNS | A95052 | — |
| Aerospace (SAE) | 5052-O / H32 / H34 | AMS 4015, AMS 4016, AMS 4017 |
| European (EN) | EN AW-5052 / EN AW-AlMg2.5 | EN 485-1/-2/-4, EN 573-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.3523 | DIN EN 485 |
| ISO | AlMg2.5 | ISO 6361 |
| Japan (JIS) | A5052P | JIS H4000 |
| China (GB) | 5052 | GB/T 3880 |
In Europe 5754 (AlMg3) is often stocked where 5052 would be used elsewhere; it is slightly stronger and similar in behaviour. We can supply either.
5052 coil sizes and weights
Supply range
- Thickness
- About 0.15 – 6 mm in coil; thinner foil for honeycomb on request
- Width
- Master coils up to about 2000 mm; slit strip from about 10 mm
- Inner diameter
- 150, 405, 505 or 508 mm
- Surface
- Mill finish, PVC film, brushed, embossed or pre-painted
- Processing
- Slitting, cut-to-length sheet, blanks and circles
Approximate weight of a 5052 coil on a 508 mm core at 2.68 g/cm³:
| Coil width (mm) | OD 1000 mm (kg) | OD 1200 mm (kg) | OD 1500 mm (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 781 | 1244 | 2096 |
| 1000 | 1562 | 2488 | 4193 |
| 1250 | 1952 | 3110 | 5241 |
| 1500 | 2343 | 3732 | 6289 |
Tolerances, flatness and inspection for 5052 coil
Thickness and width tolerances for 5052 coil follow ANSI H35.2 (referenced by ASTM B209) or EN 485-4 for cold-rolled strip. Because 5052 is harder than 1xxx and 3xxx alloys, the standard tolerance bands are the same but rolling to the tighter end takes more passes, so state the tolerance you actually need rather than asking for "tight" by default.
Slit strip is supplied with burr height controlled to a fraction of the thickness and with edge camber limited per metre of length. For stamping and roll-forming lines, tell us the maximum camber and coil set your tooling can tolerate; tension levelling before slitting removes most of the residual shape from hard tempers such as H34 and H36.
| Check | How it is done | Recorded on |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Spectrometer analysis of the cast | EN 10204 3.1 certificate |
| Tensile, yield, elongation | Test pieces from each lot, per ASTM B557 or EN ISO 6892-1 | EN 10204 3.1 certificate |
| Thickness and width | Micrometer and tape or laser gauge along the coil | Inspection report |
| Flatness and camber | Measured on a flat table over a set length | Inspection report on request |
| Surface | Visual check for scratches, roll marks, oil stains and corrosion | Packing list remarks |
Bend tests to the minimum radius in EN 485-2 or ASTM B209 can be added where parts are formed tightly; this is worthwhile for H34 and harder tempers, where the permitted radius rises quickly with temper.
Forming, welding and finishing 5052
Forming
H32 bends well across and along the rolling direction. Allow more springback than with 3003 and use generous radii for H34 and harder.
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER5356 (stronger) or ER5554 for elevated-temperature service. Avoid ER4043 where the weld will be anodised.
Machining
Gummy in soft tempers; harder tempers machine acceptably with sharp, high-rake tools and lubricant.
Finishing
Anodises well with a clear, protective film; paints and powder-coats well after chromate-free conversion coating.
Where 5052 coil is used
- Transport: fuel tanks, truck bodies, trailer panels, bus and rail interior panels
- Marine: small-boat hulls and superstructures, deck fittings, marine enclosures
- Electronics: laptop and appliance housings, enclosures and chassis
- Honeycomb core: thin 5052 foil expanded into honeycomb for panels and energy absorbers
- Pressure and storage: tanks, pressure vessels and hydraulic tube
- Industrial: fan blades, signage, appliance parts and road signs
5052 compared with 3003, 5083 and 6061
| Property | 3003-H14 | 5052-H32 | 5083-H111 | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 150 MPa | 230 MPa | 290 MPa | 310 MPa |
| Formability | Excellent | Very good | Good | Poor in T6 |
| Seawater resistance | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Fair |
| Weld strength retained | High | High | High | Low |
| Supplied in coil | Yes | Yes | Mostly plate | Limited |
Our article on the differences between 5052 and 6061 explains when each is the better choice.
How to order 5052 coil
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 5052-H32), thickness, width, ID, coil weight or OD, surface and standard.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance, certification and terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ProcessSlitting or cut-to-length as ordered; dimensional and surface inspection.
- DocumentMill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and tensile results.
- ShipCoils on wooden pallets or skids, 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
5052 aluminium coil: frequently asked questions
What does H32 mean for 5052?
H32 means strain-hardened to quarter-hard and then thermally stabilised. Stabilising prevents the slow softening at room temperature that unstabilised aluminium-magnesium alloys show.
Is 5052 marine grade?
5052 has excellent seawater resistance and is widely used on small boats and marine fittings. For large welded hull structures, 5083 or 5086 to ASTM B928 is normally specified.
Can 5052 be heat-treated to increase strength?
No. It is non-heat-treatable; strength comes from magnesium and cold work. Annealing softens it to O temper.
How much does a 5052 coil weigh?
Weight = width × π/4 × (OD² − ID²) × 2.68 g/cm³. A 1250 mm wide coil with 1200 mm OD on a 508 mm core weighs about 3.1 tonnes.
Is 5052 better than 6061 for sheet-metal parts?
Usually, yes. 5052-H32 bends much more easily than 6061-T6 and resists corrosion better. 6061 is chosen when higher strength or machining is needed.
Need 5052 coil or strip?
Send thickness, width, temper, coil size and destination. We will confirm availability and quote a delivered price.
