O
Annealed for bending, flaring and beading. The temper of aerospace fuel and hydraulic line tube to AMS 4069 and 4070.
Corrosion-resistant, weldable tube
5052 Aluminium Tube
5052 aluminium tube is a magnesium-alloyed, non-heat-treatable tube that is roughly twice as strong as 3003 in the annealed state, with very good resistance to seawater and fuels and excellent fatigue strength for its class. It is the standard choice for aircraft fuel and low-pressure hydraulic lines, marine tubing and bent tube assemblies. Metline supplies 5052 drawn seamless and extruded tube in O, H32, H34 and H38, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5052 (Al-2.5Mg-Cr)
- Tempers
- O, H32, H34, H38, H112
- Process
- Drawn seamless, extruded
- Standards
- ASTM B210 · AMS 4069 · AMS 4070
What is 5052 aluminium tube?
5052 contains about 2.5 % magnesium and 0.25 % chromium. Magnesium in solid solution makes it the strongest of the common non-heat-treatable tube alloys after 5083 and 5086, and chromium protects it against stress corrosion. Strength comes from cold work, designated by H3x tempers that include a stabilising treatment.
Tube made from 5052 sits in a useful middle ground. It is strong and tough enough for fuel, oil and hydraulic lines that vibrate, yet ductile enough in the annealed O temper to be bent, flared and beaded into complex routings. It does not depend on heat treatment, so welding and brazing do not destroy a carefully aged temper as they do with 6061; the weld zone simply returns to O-temper strength, which is still higher than most other non-heat-treatable alloys.
Its corrosion resistance is excellent in marine atmospheres, salt spray and many fuels and hydraulic fluids, which is why aircraft fuel and vent lines, boat fuel and water lines and offshore instrument tubing are commonly 5052. Annealed drawn seamless 5052 tube is specified for aerospace under AMS 4069 (close tolerance) and AMS 4070.
5052 chemical composition (wt %)
Registered limits for 5052, matching EN AW-5052 (AlMg2.5) under EN 573-3.
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.25 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 | 2.8 | Solid-solution strengthening; seawater resistance |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 | 0.35 | Grain control; resistance to stress corrosion |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Mechanical properties of 5052 tube by temper
Typical values from Aluminum Association and ASM data. Minimums for drawn tube are set by ASTM B210 (and AMS 4069/4070 for O-temper aerospace tube), and for extruded tube by ASTM B221 and B241.
| Temper | Condition | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | Annealed | 193 MPa / 28 ksi | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 25 % | 47 HB |
| H32 | Quarter hard, stabilised | 228 MPa / 33 ksi | 193 MPa / 28 ksi | 12 – 18 % | 60 HB |
| H34 | Half hard, stabilised | 262 MPa / 38 ksi | 214 MPa / 31 ksi | 10 – 14 % | 68 HB |
| H36 | Three-quarter hard | 276 MPa / 40 ksi | 241 MPa / 35 ksi | 8 – 10 % | 73 HB |
| H38 | Full hard, stabilised | 290 MPa / 42 ksi | 255 MPa / 37 ksi | 7 – 8 % | 77 HB |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- 70.3 GPa
- Fatigue strength (H32, 5×10⁸ cycles)
- 117 MPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 138 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- 35 % IACS
- Thermal expansion (20 – 100 °C)
- 23.8 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- 607 – 649 °C
Choosing a 5052 tube temper
H32
Light cold work plus stabilisation: a good compromise for straight runs that still need moderate bends.
H34
Stiffer and stronger, for straight tube, handrails and structural uses.
H38
Full hard for maximum strength in straight lengths, such as antenna and instrument tubing.
H112
Extruded tube as pressed, for larger diameters and heavier walls.
Why "H3x"?
The 3 means the tube was stabilised by low-temperature heating after cold work, which prevents the gradual softening that 5xxx alloys otherwise show at room temperature.
Specifications and equivalents
| System | Designation | Tube specification |
|---|---|---|
| SAE AMS | 5052-O drawn seamless | AMS 4069 (close tolerance), AMS 4070; AMS-WW-T-700/4 |
| ASTM / ASME | 5052 | B210 (drawn seamless), B234 (heat-exchanger tube), B221 and B241 (extruded), B483 |
| UNS | A95052 | — |
| European (EN) | EN AW-5052 (AlMg2.5) | EN 754-2, EN 755-2 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.3523 | — |
| Japan (JIS) | A5052 | JIS H4080 (A5052TD, A5052TE) |
Common sizes and weight
Fluid-line tube is usually ordered in fractional-inch ODs with decimal-inch walls. Weight uses 2.68 g/cm³.
| OD (in) | Wall (in) | OD × wall (mm) | kg/m | lb/ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.125 | 0.028 | 3.17 × 0.71 | 0.015 | 0.010 |
| 0.1875 | 0.028 | 4.76 × 0.71 | 0.024 | 0.016 |
| 0.25 | 0.035 | 6.35 × 0.89 | 0.041 | 0.027 |
| 0.3125 | 0.035 | 7.94 × 0.89 | 0.053 | 0.035 |
| 0.375 | 0.035 | 9.52 × 0.89 | 0.065 | 0.043 |
| 0.5 | 0.049 | 12.70 × 1.24 | 0.120 | 0.081 |
| 0.625 | 0.049 | 15.88 × 1.24 | 0.153 | 0.103 |
| 0.75 | 0.058 | 19.05 × 1.47 | 0.218 | 0.146 |
| 1 | 0.065 | 25.40 × 1.65 | 0.330 | 0.222 |
| 1.25 | 0.083 | 31.75 × 2.11 | 0.526 | 0.354 |
| 1.5 | 0.095 | 38.10 × 2.41 | 0.725 | 0.487 |
| 2 | 0.125 | 50.80 × 3.17 | 1.273 | 0.855 |
Supply range
- Drawn seamless
- Small-bore line tube to medium diameters; AMS 4069/4070 walls 0.25 – 11.43 mm
- Extruded
- Larger diameters and heavy walls in H112 or O
- Shapes
- Round, square, rectangular and oval to order
- Lengths
- Straight lengths, cut pieces or O-temper coils
Bending, flaring, welding and finishing
Bending
O-temper tube bends to tight radii on rotary-draw benders; H32 accepts moderate bends. Use mandrels on thin walls.
Flaring and beading
Accepts 37° flares and hose beads for fittings without cracking in O temper.
Welding
TIG and MIG weld well with ER5356 (higher strength, better colour match) or ER5554 for elevated temperature service. Avoid ER4043 if anodising.
Brazing
Not recommended: the magnesium content interferes with flux-based brazing. Use 3003 if brazing is required.
Machining
Fair; harder tempers machine better than O. Use sharp tools and lubricant.
Finishing
Anodises well with good colour uniformity; takes paint and powder coatings.
Where 5052 tube is used
- Aerospace: fuel, oil, vent and low-pressure hydraulic lines in annealed drawn tube
- Marine: fuel and water lines, rails, T-tops and fittings on boats
- Automotive and motorsport: fuel and coolant lines, intercooler pipework
- Industrial: instrument and pneumatic tubing, chemical lines, pressure gauge tube
- Structures and furniture: handrails, ladders and outdoor furniture near the coast
5052 tube compared with 3003, 5083 and 6061
| Property | 3003-O | 5052-O | 5083-O | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 110 MPa | 193 MPa | 290 MPa | 310 MPa |
| Seawater resistance | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Fair–good |
| Weld-zone strength | O level | O level (unchanged) | O level (unchanged) | Large drop from T6 |
| Brazeable | Yes | No | No | Limited |
| Typical use | Heat exchangers | Fuel and marine lines | Marine, cryogenic pipe | Structural tube |
More on the trade-offs: 5052 vs 6061.
How to order 5052 tube
- SpecifyTemper, OD and wall, length or coil, specification and revision (e.g. AMS 4070, ASTM B210), quantity.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance class, testing and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ShipCapped tube in crates with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate and lot traceability.
References and standards
- SAE AMS 4069 – Drawn Round Seamless Tubing, Close Tolerance, 5052-O
- SAE AMS 4070 – Drawn Round Seamless Tubing, 5052-O
- ASTM B210/B210M – Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B241/B241M – Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube
- ASM International – Properties of Wrought Aluminium Alloys: 5052
5052 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
Is 5052 tube good for hydraulic lines?
Yes, for low and medium pressure lines. Annealed drawn seamless 5052 tube to AMS 4069 or 4070 is widely used for aircraft fuel, oil and low-pressure hydraulic lines. High-pressure aircraft hydraulics normally use 6061-T6 tube, titanium or stainless steel.
Can 5052 tube be welded?
Yes, by TIG or MIG with ER5356 filler. Because 5052 is not heat-treated, welds keep O-temper strength, about 193 MPa tensile, with no large loss.
Can 5052 tube be brazed?
Generally no. Its magnesium content makes flux brazing unreliable. Use 3003 tube for brazed heat exchangers.
What is the difference between 5052-O and 5052-H32 tube?
O is fully annealed (about 193 MPa tensile) for maximum bendability. H32 is lightly cold worked and stabilised (about 228 MPa tensile), stiffer and better for straight runs.
Is 5052 tube suitable for seawater?
Yes. It has excellent resistance to seawater and marine atmospheres and is common on boats. For heavy structural marine pipe, 5083 or 5086 offer more strength.
Do you supply 5052 tube internationally?
Yes. Metline supplies 5052 tube worldwide with mill certificates and export packing.
Need 5052 tube?
Send size, temper, specification, quantity and destination for availability and a delivered price.
