Drawn seamless
Extruded hollow, then cold drawn over a mandrel for tight tolerances, thin walls and a smooth bore. The usual form for condenser and evaporator tube. See 3003 seamless tube.
Heat-exchanger and general-purpose tube
3003 Aluminium Tube
3003 aluminium tube is a manganese-alloyed, non-heat-treatable tube that is about 20 % stronger than pure 1100 while keeping its easy forming, brazing and corrosion resistance. That balance makes it the standard tube for heat exchangers, air-conditioning and refrigeration coils, radiators, fuel and oil lines and general fabrication. Metline supplies 3003 tube drawn, extruded or welded, straight or coiled, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 3003 (Al-Mn-Cu)
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14, H16, H18, H112
- Process
- Drawn, extruded, welded
- Standards
- ASTM B210 · B234 · B221 · B241
What is 3003 aluminium tube?
3003 is aluminium with about 1.2 % manganese and a little copper. The manganese forms fine particles that strengthen the metal without heat treatment, and the copper raises strength slightly while keeping corrosion resistance close to that of pure aluminium.
In tube form, 3003 is the workhorse of heat transfer. It is soft enough in the O temper to be bent into hairpins, expanded into fin packs and flared for fittings, and its melting range sits well above the temperature of aluminium-silicon brazing filler, so it can be furnace or flame brazed into complete heat-exchanger cores. It also resists the moist, sometimes condensing conditions inside air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Beyond HVAC, 3003 tube is used for fuel and oil lines, instrument tubing, irrigation and chemical lines, ladder rails, furniture and decorative trim. When higher pressure or structural strength is needed, buyers move up to 5052 or 6061 tube; when maximum conductivity or ductility is needed, they move down to 1100 or 1060.
3003 chemical composition (wt %)
Registered Aluminum Association limits, equivalent to EN AW-3003 (AlMn1Cu) under EN 573-3.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.6 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.7 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 | 0.20 | Small addition; raises strength and shifts corrosion potential |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0 | 1.5 | Main alloying element: about 20 % more strength than 1100 |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 96.8 – 99 % |
Mechanical properties of 3003 tube by temper
Typical values from Aluminum Association and ASM data. Specified minimums depend on product route and wall: ASTM B210 and B234 for drawn tube, B221 and B241 for extruded tube. For example, drawn 3003-O tube must reach about 97 MPa (14 ksi) tensile and H14 about 138 MPa (20 ksi) tensile minimum.
| Temper | Condition | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | Annealed | 110 MPa / 16 ksi | 42 MPa / 6 ksi | 30 – 40 % | 28 HB |
| H12 | Quarter hard | 131 MPa / 19 ksi | 124 MPa / 18 ksi | 10 – 20 % | 35 HB |
| H14 | Half hard | 152 MPa / 22 ksi | 145 MPa / 21 ksi | 8 – 16 % | 40 HB |
| H16 | Three-quarter hard | 179 MPa / 26 ksi | 172 MPa / 25 ksi | 5 – 14 % | 47 HB |
| H18 | Full hard | 200 MPa / 29 ksi | 186 MPa / 27 ksi | 4 – 10 % | 55 HB |
| H112 | As extruded | Close to O; minimums per ASTM B221 | — | — | — |
Physical properties of 3003 (typical)
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- 68.9 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- About 193 W/m·K (O); 159 W/m·K (H14)
- Electrical conductivity
- About 50 % IACS (O); 41 % IACS (H14)
- Thermal expansion (20 – 100 °C)
- 23.2 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- 643 – 654 °C
Drawn, extruded and welded 3003 tube
Extruded seamless
Pressed through a die and mandrel from a hollow billet; for larger diameters and heavier walls in H112.
Port-hole extruded
Extruded through a bridge die, which leaves longitudinal weld lines. Economical for shapes and non-pressure uses.
Welded tube
Roll-formed from strip and high-frequency welded. Used for radiator and condenser tube, often from brazing-clad 3003 strip.
Coiled tube
Annealed tube supplied in level-wound or pancake coils for refrigeration lines and long continuous runs.
Shaped tube
Oval, flat and D-shaped tube for compact heat exchangers.
Standards and equivalent designations
| System | Designation | Tube standard |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM / ASME | 3003 | B210 (drawn seamless, general), B234 (drawn seamless for condensers and heat exchangers), B221 (extruded), B241 (seamless pipe), B313 (welded round tube), B483 (drawn tube) |
| UNS | A93003 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-3003 (AlMn1Cu) | EN 754-2, EN 755-2, EN 573-3 |
| ISO | AlMn1Cu | ISO 6363, ISO 6362 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.0517 | — |
| Japan (JIS) | A3003 | JIS H4080 (A3003TD, A3003TE) |
Common sizes and weight per metre
Heat-exchanger tube is usually ordered in inch-based ODs (1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 in) or metric equivalents with thin walls. Mass per metre below uses 2.73 g/cm³.
| OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | ID (mm) | Mass (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.35 | 0.71 | 4.93 | 0.034 |
| 7 | 0.6 | 5.8 | 0.033 |
| 8 | 0.8 | 6.4 | 0.049 |
| 9.52 | 0.81 | 7.9 | 0.061 |
| 10 | 1 | 8 | 0.077 |
| 12 | 1 | 10 | 0.094 |
| 12.7 | 0.89 | 10.92 | 0.090 |
| 15.88 | 1 | 13.88 | 0.128 |
| 16 | 1.2 | 13.6 | 0.152 |
| 19.05 | 1.24 | 16.57 | 0.189 |
| 20 | 1.5 | 17 | 0.238 |
| 22 | 1.5 | 19 | 0.264 |
| 25.4 | 1.65 | 22.1 | 0.336 |
| 30 | 2 | 26 | 0.480 |
| 38.1 | 2 | 34.1 | 0.619 |
| 50 | 3 | 44 | 1.209 |
Supply range
- Round tube
- Small-bore drawn tube up to large extruded tube
- Wall thickness
- Thin heat-exchanger walls to heavy extruded walls
- Lengths
- Straight lengths, cut pieces, hairpins on request, or coils
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14, H16, H18 drawn; H112 extruded
- Testing
- Eddy-current, leak (pneumatic or hydrostatic) and expansion tests where the specification calls for them
Bending, brazing and joining 3003 tube
Bending
O-temper tube makes tight hairpin bends; use a mandrel for thin walls. H14 holds shape better in straight runs.
Expanding
Ductile enough for mechanical or hydraulic expansion into fins for tube-and-fin coils.
Brazing
Furnace, flame or induction brazes with Al-Si filler such as 4047; works with clad fin stock. Brazing anneals the tube to near O.
Welding
TIG and MIG weld readily with ER4043 or ER1100 filler.
Corrosion
Good in most refrigerants, fresh water and atmospheres. For aggressive coastal air, zinc-diffused or coated tube can be specified.
Cleaning
Tube for refrigeration can be supplied with cleaned, dry and capped bores.
Where 3003 tube is used
- HVAC and refrigeration: condenser and evaporator coils, connecting lines, return bends
- Automotive: radiator, heater-core and charge-air-cooler tube, fuel and oil lines
- Industrial heat exchangers: oil coolers, air-cooled exchangers, solar-thermal absorbers
- Fluid handling: chemical, irrigation and instrument tubing
- Fabrication: ladder rails, furniture, signage frames and trim
3003 compared with 1100, 5052 and 6063 tube
| Property | 1100-O | 3003-O | 5052-O | 6063-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 90 MPa | 110 MPa | 193 MPa | 241 MPa |
| Brazeability | Excellent | Excellent | Poor (Mg) | Fair |
| Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair |
| Thermal conductivity | About 222 W/m·K | About 193 W/m·K | About 138 W/m·K | About 200 W/m·K |
| Typical use | General, chemical | Heat exchangers, HVAC | Fuel and hydraulic lines | Structures, architecture |
How to order 3003 tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, OD and wall, route (drawn, extruded or welded), straight lengths or coils, standard and test requirements.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, testing and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- PrepareCutting, cleaning, end capping and coiling as ordered.
- ShipCrated or palletised with an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate.
References and standards
- ASTM B234/B234M – Drawn Seamless Aluminium-Alloy Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers
- ASTM B210/B210M – Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B221 – Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- EN 754-2 / EN 755-2 – Cold drawn and extruded rod, bar and tube: mechanical properties
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
3003 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
What is 3003 aluminium tube used for?
Mainly heat exchangers: air-conditioning and refrigeration coils, radiators and oil coolers. It is also used for fuel and oil lines, instrument tubing, ladders, furniture and trim.
Can 3003 tube be brazed?
Yes. Its melting range (about 643 – 654 °C) sits comfortably above Al-Si brazing filler, so it brazes reliably by furnace, flame or induction. Brazing anneals the tube to near the O temper.
Is 3003 stronger than 1100?
Yes, by about 20 % in each temper, thanks to the manganese addition, while keeping similar formability and corrosion resistance.
Can 3003 tube be heat-treated?
No. 3003 is non-heat-treatable; strength comes from cold work. Choose H14 or H18 for more strength, or 6061 tube if heat-treated strength is required.
Which temper should I order for bending?
O (annealed) for tight bends, hairpins and expansion; H14 for straight lengths that need to stay rigid.
Do you supply 3003 tube in coils?
Yes. Annealed small-bore 3003 tube can be supplied in coils, alongside straight lengths and cut pieces.
Need 3003 tube for heat exchangers?
Send size, temper, form and test requirements with quantity and destination for a delivered quote.
