Round flat
The standard slug for backward-extruded cans, tubes and housings.
Higher-strength impact extrusion slugs
3003 Aluminium Slug
3003 aluminium slugs are annealed blanks of an aluminium-manganese alloy that is about 50 % stronger than pure aluminium while remaining very formable. They are chosen when an impact-extruded part such as a battery case, pressure-bearing can or automotive housing needs more strength than 1050 or 1070 can give. Metline supplies 3003 slugs punched or sawn to your size, shape and surface specification, worldwide.
- Alloy
- Al-Mn (1.0 – 1.5 % Mn)
- Temper
- O (annealed)
- Strength
- About 110 MPa in O
- Standard
- EN 570 · EN 573-3
Why choose 3003 slugs?
Manganese in solid solution and fine manganese-bearing particles raise the strength of 3003 without heat treatment. In the annealed condition it still has ample ductility for impact extrusion, and the part it makes is stiffer and more dent- and pressure-resistant than the same part in pure aluminium.
The cost is a higher flow stress, so 3003 needs more press force than 1070 and walls cannot be quite as thin for the same tooling. In return the designer can reduce wall thickness for a given strength, or meet burst and swelling limits that pure grades cannot. 3003 also keeps the excellent corrosion resistance of pure aluminium, is brazeable, and has good thermal conductivity.
Typical users are makers of cylindrical and prismatic battery cases, capacitor cans that must resist internal pressure, automotive receiver/dryers and filter housings, and technical aerosol containers.
3003 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Limit |
|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.6 max |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.7 max |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 – 0.20 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0 – 1.5 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 max |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Aluminum Association and EN 573-3 (EN AW-3003, AlMn1Cu) limits. Equivalent to JIS A3003 and GB/T 3190 3003.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed), typical | About 110 MPa | About 42 MPa | About 30 – 40 % | About 28 HB |
| H14, typical (for reference) | About 150 MPa | About 145 MPa | About 8 – 16 % | About 40 HB |
| 1070-O, for comparison | About 60 – 80 MPa | About 20 – 35 MPa | About 35 – 42 % | About 16 – 20 HB |
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Melting range
- About 643 – 654 °C
- Thermal conductivity
- About 190 W/m·K (O)
- Electrical conductivity
- About 50 % IACS (O)
- Modulus of elasticity
- About 69 GPa
Values are typical and for comparison. Hardness, mass and dimensional limits for slugs are agreed with each order and certified per lot.
Sizes, shapes and weights
Typical supply range
- Diameter
- About 10 – 200 mm; oval and rectangular outlines to drawing
- Thickness
- About 2 – 25 mm
- Temper
- O (annealed)
- Surface
- Tumbled, shot-blasted or sand-blasted
- Tolerances
- EN 570 or customer drawing
Perforated (centre hole)
For open-ended collapsible tubes, nozzles and parts with a through bore.
Domed, concave or conical
Pre-shaped faces that improve metal flow and reduce the force needed for deep parts.
Oval, square and rectangular
For non-round cans, prismatic battery cases and rectangular housings.
| Diameter (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Mass per slug (g) | Slugs per 25 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 3 | 2.6 | 9716 |
| 25 | 4 | 5.4 | 4663 |
| 27 | 5 | 7.8 | 3198 |
| 35 | 5 | 13.1 | 1903 |
| 40 | 6 | 20.6 | 1214 |
| 45 | 6 | 26.1 | 959 |
| 50 | 7 | 37.5 | 666 |
| 54 | 8 | 50.0 | 499 |
| 63.5 | 8 | 69.2 | 361 |
| 74 | 10 | 117.4 | 212 |
| 90 | 12 | 208.4 | 119 |
| 116 | 15 | 432.8 | 57 |
Mass = π/4 × d² × t × density, for a solid round slug with no centre hole. Perforated, domed or grooved slugs weigh less; the exact slug mass is set from the volume of your finished part plus trim allowance.
Production and press considerations
| Route | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Punched from strip | Cast or rolled strip is cold rolled to thickness, slugs are blanked on high-speed presses, then annealed and finished | Thin to medium slugs in high volume: aerosol, tube and capacitor slugs |
| Sawn from rod or bar | Cast or extruded rod is sawn to length, then annealed and finished | Thick slugs, large diameters and short runs; low scrap |
- Expect higher press loads than with 1070; check press capacity and tool stresses when switching grades
- A well-blasted surface and even lubricant coverage matter more as flow stress rises
- Rectangular and oval slugs for prismatic battery cases need close control of outline and flatness
- Finished parts can be brazed, welded, anodised or lacquered
Applications of 3003 slugs
- Batteries: cylindrical and prismatic cell cases and covers
- Capacitors: cans that must resist internal pressure
- Automotive: receiver/dryers, filter and sensor housings, air-conditioning parts
- Packaging: technical aerosol containers needing higher burst strength
- Thermal: brazed heat-exchanger components and housings
How to order 3003 slugs
- SpecifyGrade (3003), diameter or outline, thickness, centre hole, temper, surface treatment, tolerance and quantity; a drawing of the slug or the finished part helps.
- ConfirmWe confirm the production route (punched or sawn), tolerance basis (EN 570 or your drawing), test documents and EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms.
- SampleTrial quantities can be supplied so you can run them on your press before a production order.
- Produce and inspectSlugs are cut, annealed, surface treated, then checked for dimensions, mass, hardness and surface.
- Pack and shipMoisture-protected cartons or bags on export pallets, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
References and standards
- EN 570 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: impact extrusion slugs obtained from wrought products, specification
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties of Wrought Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys: 3003
3003 aluminium (aluminum) slugs: FAQs
How much stronger is 3003 than 1070?
In the annealed condition 3003 has a typical tensile strength of about 110 MPa against roughly 60 – 80 MPa for 1070, so parts can be stronger or thinner-walled.
Can 3003 slugs be impact extruded as easily as pure aluminium?
They extrude well but need higher press force, and very thin walls are harder to achieve. Good surface preparation and lubrication become more important.
Is 3003 heat-treatable?
No. It gains strength from manganese and from cold work, not from heat treatment. Finished parts are strengthened by the deformation of extrusion.
Why is 3003 used for battery cases?
It combines good formability for deep, often rectangular cases with higher strength to resist swelling, plus good corrosion resistance and weldability for sealing.
What certificate comes with 3003 slugs?
An EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate with chemical analysis and agreed test results, such as hardness and dimensions, for each lot.
Need 3003 aluminium slugs?
Send the slug size or drawing, surface and quantity for a quotation with certification.
