3003-O (AMS 4006)
Fully annealed. The choice for deep drawing, spinning, stretch forming and hydroforming of fairings, tank ends and duct transitions. Parts work-harden slightly as they are formed.
Aerospace · Al-Mn sheet
3003 Aerospace Aluminium Sheet & Plate
3003 is the manganese-alloyed aluminium used in aircraft for formed, non-structural sheet parts: fairings, ducting, tanks, liners and interior panels. It is soft and very formable in O temper (AMS 4006), moderately stiff in H14 (AMS 4008), welds and brazes easily and resists corrosion well. Metline supplies 3003 sheet and plate to AMS and ASTM B209 with mill certificates, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 3003 (Al-1.2Mn-Cu)
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14, H16, H18, H2x
- Aerospace specs
- AMS 4006 · AMS 4008
- General spec
- ASTM B209 · EN 485
Where 3003 sheet fits in an aircraft
3003 adds about 1.2 % manganese and a trace of copper to commercially pure aluminium. The result is roughly 20 % stronger than 1100 while keeping almost the same formability, corrosion resistance and weldability.
The alloy cannot be strengthened by heat treatment. Its strength comes from cold rolling, which is why it is ordered by H temper: O is fully annealed and very soft, H14 is half hard, and H18 is full hard. That simple behaviour makes 3003 easy to work with in a sheet-metal shop. It stretches, spins, draws and bends without cracking, it does not need to be quenched after forming, and it does not age-harden on the shelf.
In aerospace, 3003 sits well away from primary structure. Its strength (about 110 MPa annealed and 150 MPa in H14) is a fraction of 2024 or 7075, so it is not used where a part carries flight loads. It is used where a part must be formed into a complex shape, survive vibration, resist corrosion and stay light: wing-to-body and flap-track fairings, engine cowl liners, air-conditioning and bleed-air ducting, fuel, oil and water tanks, galley and lavatory panels, heat-exchanger parts and the foil used for non-structural honeycomb core.
3003 chemical composition (wt %)
The limits are the registered Aluminum Association values, which ASTM B209, the AMS sheet specifications and EN 573-3 (EN AW-3003, AlMn1Cu) all follow.
| 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 | Small solid-solution strengthening; evens out pitting |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0 | 1.5 | Main alloying element: strength and grain control |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 96.8 – 99 % |
Some older data sheets list 3003 with 2xxx-series names such as AlCu4Mg. That is an error: the correct European name is EN AW-3003 / AlMn1Cu (Werkstoff 3.0517).
3003 mechanical properties by temper
ASTM B209 sets tensile ranges and minimum yield values for each temper; the table converts them to MPa and adds typical values from the Aluminum Association data for comparison. Design to the specified values. Elongation minimums depend on thickness and are printed on the certificate.
| Temper | Tensile strength, specified (MPa / ksi) | Yield min (MPa / ksi) | Typical tensile / yield (MPa) | Typical elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 95 – 130 / 14 – 19 | 35 / 5 | 110 / 40 | 30 – 40 % |
| H12 | 115 – 160 / 17 – 23 | 85 / 12 | 130 / 125 | 10 – 20 % |
| H14 | 140 – 180 / 20 – 26 | 115 / 17 | 150 / 145 | 8 – 16 % |
| H16 | 165 – 205 / 24 – 30 | 145 / 21 | 180 / 170 | 5 – 14 % |
| H18 | 185 min / 27 min | 165 / 24 | 200 / 185 | 4 – 10 % |
Typical elongation ranges cover thin sheet (lower figure) to thicker gauges (higher figure).
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³ (0.0986 lb/in³)
- Melting range
- about 643 – 654 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 69 GPa (10,000 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- about 193 W/m·K (O) to 155 W/m·K (H18)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 50 % IACS (O) to 40 % IACS (H18)
- Thermal expansion
- about 23.2 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
Choosing the 3003 temper for an aircraft part
3003-H14 (AMS 4008)
Half hard and the most widely stocked temper. Stiff enough to hold shape for panels, covers, shrouds and brackets, while still bending to about 1 × thickness in thin gauges.
3003-H12
Quarter hard. A useful middle point when O is too soft to handle and H14 cracks on the tightest bends.
3003-H16 / H18
Three-quarter and full hard. Used for flat or lightly formed parts where denting resistance matters, and as feedstock for honeycomb foil and fin stock.
3003-H22 / H24 / H26
Rolled harder and then partially annealed back. Strength similar to H12 / H14 / H16 with more elongation, which helps when the part is bent after cutting.
3003-H112
As-rolled plate above about 6 mm, with only minimum properties specified. Used for machined or welded tank and fixture parts.
3003 aerospace specifications and international equivalents
Aerospace drawings normally call up an AMS specification, which defines temper, chemistry, tolerances and test sampling. Older drawings may still name the federal specification QQ-A-250/2, which was transferred to SAE as AMS-QQ-A-250/2 and later largely replaced by ASTM B209 for commercial supply.
| System | Designation | Document |
|---|---|---|
| SAE AMS | 3003-O | AMS 4006 |
| SAE AMS | 3003-H14 | AMS 4008 |
| Federal (legacy) | 3003, all tempers | QQ-A-250/2, AMS-QQ-A-250/2 |
| ASTM / ASME | 3003 | ASTM B209, ASME SB-209 |
| UNS | A93003 | — |
| European | EN AW-3003 / AlMn1Cu | EN 485-1/-2/-4, EN 573-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.0517 | DIN EN 485 |
| Japan | A3003P | JIS H4000 |
| China | 3003 (3A21 is the older close counterpart) | GB/T 3880, GB/T 3190 |
Sizes we supply, with weights
3003 aerospace sheet and plate supply range
- Sheet
- 0.2 – 6 mm (0.008 – 0.25 in) in O, H12, H14, H16, H18 and H2x
- Plate
- Above 6 mm in H112 or O, cut to size
- Imperial sheet
- 36 × 120, 48 × 96, 48 × 120, 48 × 144 and 60 × 144 in
- Metric sheet
- 1000 × 2000, 1250 × 2500, 1500 × 3000 mm and cut blanks
- Surface
- Mill finish, with PVC or paper interleaving on request
- Processing
- Shearing, sawing, waterjet and laser blanking to drawing
Common aerospace gauges in H14 run from 0.016 in to 0.375 in; O temper is normally ordered in 0.040 – 0.125 in for forming.
3003 weighs 2.73 kg per square metre for every millimetre of thickness, slightly more than 6061. The table lists the common imperial gauges.
| Gauge (in) | mm | kg/m² | 48 × 96 in sheet (kg) | 48 × 144 in sheet (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.016 | 0.41 | 1.11 | 3.3 | 4.9 |
| 0.020 | 0.51 | 1.39 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| 0.025 | 0.64 | 1.73 | 5.2 | 7.7 |
| 0.032 | 0.81 | 2.22 | 6.6 | 9.9 |
| 0.040 | 1.02 | 2.77 | 8.2 | 12.4 |
| 0.050 | 1.27 | 3.47 | 10.3 | 15.5 |
| 0.063 | 1.60 | 4.37 | 13.0 | 19.5 |
| 0.080 | 2.03 | 5.55 | 16.5 | 24.7 |
| 0.090 | 2.29 | 6.24 | 18.6 | 27.8 |
| 0.100 | 2.54 | 6.93 | 20.6 | 30.9 |
| 0.125 | 3.17 | 8.67 | 25.8 | 38.7 |
| 0.190 | 4.83 | 13.17 | 39.2 | 58.8 |
| 0.250 | 6.35 | 17.34 | 51.5 | 77.3 |
| 0.375 | 9.52 | 26.00 | 77.3 | 116.0 |
Tolerances, surface and inspection
Thickness, width, length and flatness tolerances follow the tables of the order specification: ANSI H35.2 through ASTM B209 or the AMS document, or EN 485-4 for cold-rolled sheet on EN orders. Formed aerospace parts are sensitive to surface damage, so we check sheets visually and protect them with interleaving during packing.
- Certificate: EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate with chemistry, tensile results and temper
- Traceability: cast or lot number marked on each pack and carried onto the certificate
- Surface: free of rolled-in debris, corrosion stains and scratches deeper than the specification allows
- Flatness: to the standard tolerance, or tighter by agreement for panels that are bonded
- Third-party inspection: available on request before shipment
Forming, joining and finishing 3003 sheet
Forming
O temper bends flat on itself and draws deeply. H14 accepts bend radii of about 0 – 1 × t in thin sheet, rising with gauge. Anneal at about 345 – 415 °C to restore full ductility between severe operations.
Welding
Excellent by TIG and MIG. ER1100 or ER4043 filler are usual. The weld and heat-affected zone return to O-temper strength, which designers should allow for in H14 parts.
Brazing
One of the easiest alloys to braze. 3003 is the standard core for Al-Si clad brazing sheet in heat exchangers and ducting.
Riveting and bonding
Accepts blind and solid rivets and structural adhesives. Use sealant and isolation where 3003 meets carbon-fibre or steel.
Finishing
Takes chemical conversion coatings, primers and paint well. Anodised 3003 has a slightly grey tone compared with 1xxx or 6xxx alloys.
Corrosion
Very good resistance to atmosphere, fuel, oils and fresh water. No exfoliation or stress-corrosion concerns of the kind that affect 2xxx and 7xxx sheet.
Typical 3003 parts in aircraft and ground equipment
- Fairings and covers: non-load-bearing fairings, access-panel covers and trailing-edge closures that are stretch formed or spun
- Ducting: environmental-control and ventilation ducts, transitions and plenums formed and welded from O or H14 sheet
- Tanks: potable water, hydraulic reservoir and auxiliary fuel tank shells where formability and weldability lead
- Engine bay: cowl liners, baffles and heat shields away from the hottest zones
- Cabin interiors: galley, lavatory and cabinet panels, trim and closeouts
- Heat exchangers: fins, headers and brazed assemblies in oil and air coolers
- Honeycomb: 3003 foil core for non-structural interior and floor panels
- Ground support: enclosures, steps, toolboxes and covers on tugs, carts and stands
Note what is not on the list: skins, frames, stringers and fittings that carry flight loads. Those use heat-treatable 2xxx and 7xxx alloys, or 6xxx in some newer designs.
3003 compared with 1100, 5052 and 6061 sheet
| Property | 1100-H14 | 3003-H14 | 5052-H32 | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 125 MPa | 150 MPa | 230 MPa | 310 MPa |
| Typical yield strength | 115 MPa | 145 MPa | 195 MPa | 276 MPa |
| Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Fair in T6 |
| Weldability | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Good, HAZ softens |
| Heat-treatable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Fatigue under vibration | Low | Fair | Good | Good |
Move from 3003 to 5052 when a tank or panel sees vibration, pressure cycling or salt spray; 5052 is noticeably stronger and has better fatigue resistance. Choose 6061 when the part needs real strength and can be formed in T4 or O and then aged. Stay with 3003 where formability and cost lead.
How to order 3003 aerospace sheet
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, gauge, sheet size or blank drawing, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (AMS 4006, AMS 4008 or ASTM B209).
- ConfirmWe confirm the specification can be met, the tolerance class, test requirements and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectMaterial is checked for dimensions and surface condition; any extra tests named on the order are carried out or arranged.
- DocumentEach lot ships with a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing chemistry and mechanical results, traceable to the cast or lot number.
- Pack and shipExport packing in sealed, moisture-protected cases or on pallets, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- SAE AMS 4006 – Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Plate, 1.2Mn (3003-O)
- SAE AMS 4008 – Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Plate, 1.2Mn (3003-H14)
- ASTM B209 – Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
- EN 485-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: sheet, strip and plate, mechanical properties
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
3003 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) sheet: buyer questions
Is 3003 aluminium used for aircraft skins?
Not for load-carrying skins. 3003 is far weaker than the 2024 and 7075 sheet used for fuselage and wing skins. It is used for formed, non-structural panels, fairings, ducts, tanks and interior parts.
What is the difference between AMS 4006 and AMS 4008?
Both cover 3003 sheet and plate. AMS 4006 is the annealed O temper for heavy forming; AMS 4008 is H14, the half-hard temper for panels and covers that must hold their shape.
Can 3003 be heat-treated to increase its strength?
No. 3003 is non-heat-treatable. Strength comes from cold work (the H tempers), and annealing returns it to O. Any listing that offers 3003 in T tempers is wrong.
How much does a 48 × 96 inch sheet of 0.063 in 3003 weigh?
About 12.6 kg (roughly 27.8 lb), using a density of 2.73 g/cm³.
What filler should I use to weld 3003?
ER1100 gives the closest colour and corrosion match; ER4043 flows better and resists cracking. Both are standard for 3003 tanks and ducts.
Do you ship 3003 aerospace sheet internationally?
Yes. Metline supplies customers worldwide from Mumbai, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates, interleaved export packing and sea or air freight.
Need 3003 sheet for fairings, ducts or tanks?
Send temper, gauge, size, quantity and the specification. We will confirm availability and the documents that come with it.
