Forming
O bends flat on itself; H32 takes inside radii of roughly 1 – 1.5 × thickness in thin gauges; H34 needs a little more. Spinning and deep drawing use O.
Aerospace · Al-Mg sheet and plate
5052 Aerospace Aluminium Sheet & Plate
5052 sheet is the go-to aluminium for aircraft fuel tanks, fairings, ducting, interior panels and other formed or welded parts that need corrosion resistance more than high strength. It is supplied for aerospace work in O, H32 and H34 tempers to AMS 4015, AMS 4016 and AMS 4017, or to ASTM B209. Metline supplies 5052 sheet and plate cut to size with mill certificates, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5052 (Al-2.5Mg-0.25Cr)
- Tempers
- O, H32, H34 (H36, H38)
- Thickness
- About 0.2 – 100 mm
- Standards
- AMS 4015 / 4016 / 4017 · ASTM B209
Where 5052 sheet is used on aircraft
5052 is a non-heat-treatable aluminium-magnesium alloy. It is about twice as strong as 3003, forms and welds easily, and resists corrosion in marine and industrial air without cladding.
Aircraft structure itself is mostly 2024 and 7075, but a large share of the formed sheet-metal parts around it is 5052: welded fuel and oil tanks, fairings and cowl components, ducts and plenums, cabin interior panels, avionics enclosures and the skins of honeycomb sandwich panels. On spacecraft and launch vehicles it appears in secondary structure, brackets and equipment housings, and it is common in ground support equipment. H32 is the most used temper; O is chosen for deep drawing and spinning, H34 for stiffer flat parts.
5052 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.25 | Impurity; kept low for ductility |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 | Impurity; affects grain size and finish |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low to protect corrosion resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.10 | Residual only |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 | 2.8 | Main strengthening element (solid solution) |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 | 0.35 | Grain control; improves stress-corrosion resistance |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.10 | Impurity |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 96.1 – 97.7 % |
Registered Aluminum Association limits, used by ASTM B209, AMS 4015 – 4017 and EN 573-3.
5052 sheet properties by temper
| Temper | Specified tensile (ASTM B209) | Specified yield (min) | Typical tensile | Typical yield | Typical elongation | Brinell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O (AMS 4015) | 170 – 215 MPa (25 – 31 ksi) | 65 MPa (9.5 ksi) | 193 MPa / 28 ksi | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 25 % | 47 |
| H32 (AMS 4016) | 215 – 265 MPa (31 – 38 ksi) | 160 MPa (23 ksi) | 228 MPa / 33 ksi | 193 MPa / 28 ksi | 12 % | 60 |
| H34 (AMS 4017) | 235 – 285 MPa (34 – 41 ksi) | 180 MPa (26 ksi) | 262 MPa / 38 ksi | 214 MPa / 31 ksi | 10 % | 68 |
Some published data list 5052-H34 at 47 ksi tensile; that is well above the standard range and typical values, and should not be used for design.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 70.3 GPa (10,200 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- 138 W/m·K (H32, 25 °C)
- Electrical conductivity
- About 35 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.8 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- 607 – 650 °C
Specifications and equivalents
| Specification | Scope |
|---|---|
| SAE AMS 4015 | 5052-O sheet and plate |
| SAE AMS 4016 | 5052-H32 sheet and plate |
| SAE AMS 4017 | 5052-H34 sheet and plate |
| ASTM B209 / ASME SB-209 | Sheet and plate, all tempers |
| QQ-A-250/8 (legacy) | Federal 5052 sheet and plate; superseded by AMS and ASTM |
| EN 485-2 / EN 573-3 | EN AW-5052 (AlMg2.5), Werkstoff 3.3523 |
| JIS H4000 | A5052P |
Sizes, tolerances and weights
Supply range
- Thickness
- Sheet about 0.2 – 6 mm; plate 6 – 100 mm
- Width
- 1000 – 2500 mm; imperial 36, 48 and 60 in
- Length
- 2000 – 6000 mm; imperial 96, 120 and 144 in; cut to size
- Tolerances
- ASTM B209 (ANSI H35.2) or EN 485-4 for cold-rolled sheet; tighter on request
- Surface
- Mill finish, PVC-film protected; free of rolling defects that would affect fatigue or finish
- Packing
- Interleaved and sealed in export wooden cases or on pallets
Weight is 2.68 kg per square metre per millimetre of thickness: a 1220 × 2440 × 2 mm sheet weighs about 16.0 kg, and a 1250 × 2500 × 3 mm sheet about 25.1 kg. The plate weight calculator covers any size.
Forming, welding and finishing
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER5356 filler. Welded tanks are the classic 5052 application because the weld zone keeps good strength and corrosion resistance.
Finishing
Anodises and paints well after conversion coating; chromic or boric-sulphuric anodising is used on fatigue-sensitive aerospace parts.
Typical aerospace applications
- Fuel and oil tanks for light aircraft, helicopters and auxiliary tanks
- Fairings, cowlings and access panels on non-primary structure
- Ducting and plenums for environmental-control and cooling air
- Interior panels, galley and lavatory parts and avionics enclosures
- Honeycomb sandwich skins bonded to 5052 core
- Spacecraft secondary structure, brackets and equipment housings
How to order
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, thickness, width and length or cut blanks, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (AMS 4015, 4016, 4017 or ASTM B209).
- ConfirmWe confirm the specification can be met, the tolerance class, any extra tests and the delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectMaterial is checked for dimensions, straightness and surface condition; tests named on the order are carried out or arranged with a third party.
- 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 wooden cases or on pallets, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- SAE AMS 4016 – Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Plate, 5052-H32
- 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
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
5052 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) sheet: FAQs
Which AMS specifications cover 5052 sheet?
AMS 4015 covers 5052-O, AMS 4016 covers 5052-H32 and AMS 4017 covers 5052-H34 sheet and plate.
Is 5052-H32 suitable for aircraft fuel tanks?
Yes. It is the most common tank material for light aircraft and auxiliary tanks because it forms, welds and resists corrosion well.
Can 5052 sheet be heat treated?
No. It is strengthened only by cold rolling. Annealing softens it to O temper for forming.
What is the difference between H32 and H34?
Both are strain-hardened and stabilised. H34 is half-hard and about 15 % stronger; H32 is quarter-hard and bends to tighter radii.
Do you supply cut-to-size 5052 sheet internationally?
Yes. Metline ships cut sheet and plate worldwide with EN 10204 3.1 certificates and export packing.
Need 5052 sheet for aerospace parts?
Send temper, thickness, size and quantity. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
