Welding
TIG and MIG with ER5183 filler to match strength. Clean oxide and hydrocarbons immediately before welding to avoid porosity, which matters for leak-tight cryogenic lines.
Aerospace · seamless tube and pipe
5083 Aerospace Aluminium Tube & Pipe
5083 tube and pipe combine the highest strength of the non-heat-treatable aluminium alloys with excellent weldability, seawater resistance and toughness at cryogenic temperatures. In aerospace programmes it is used mainly for cryogenic propellant and liquid-gas lines, launch-site and test-stand piping, and welded ground-equipment frames. Metline supplies seamless 5083 tube and pipe in O, H111 and H112 to ASTM B241 and B221, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5083 (Al-4.4Mg-0.7Mn)
- Tempers
- O, H111, H112
- Size
- OD about 10 – 360 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B241 · B221 · EN 755
Where 5083 tube is used in aerospace
5083 has about 4.4 % magnesium and 0.7 % manganese. It is not heat treatable, so welded joints do not lose the large share of strength that 6061-T6 loses, and its strength and toughness both increase as temperature drops toward −196 °C and below.
That combination makes 5083 a cryogenic and welded-structure alloy rather than an aircraft fluid-line alloy. On aircraft, fuel and oil lines use 5052-O or 6061-T6 and hydraulic pressure lines use 6061-T6, 2024-T3, titanium or steel. 5083 tube and pipe find their aerospace roles on the ground: transfer lines and vent stacks for liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen and liquefied natural gas at launch sites and test stands, welded frames and handrails for ground support equipment, and piping in corrosive coastal installations.
The same properties make 5083 pipe a standard choice for LNG and industrial gas plants, shipbuilding and offshore platforms. Buyers in aerospace often share suppliers and specifications with those sectors, so ASTM B241 pipe schedules dominate orders.
5083 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Minimum | Maximum | Role in the alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.40 | Impurity |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.10 | Kept low for seawater resistance |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 | 1.0 | Adds strength and refines grain |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 4.0 | 4.9 | Main strengthening element |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.05 | 0.25 | Grain control, stress-corrosion resistance |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.25 | Impurity |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.15 | Grain refiner in the cast ingot |
| Others, each / total | — | 0.05 / 0.15 | |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | About 92.4 – 95.6 % |
Registered Aluminum Association limits, followed by ASTM B241, B221 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-5083).
5083 tube and pipe properties
ASTM B241 and B221 set the following minimums for seamless pipe and extruded tube. EN 755-2 limits are similar. Drawn tube in strain-hardened tempers (H32, H34) can reach higher strength in thin walls, but those tempers are rarely used for pipe.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O | 270 – 350 MPa (39 – 51 ksi) | ≥ 110 MPa (16 ksi) | About 12 – 14 % |
| H111 | ≥ 275 MPa (40 ksi) | ≥ 165 MPa (24 ksi) | About 12 % |
| H112 | ≥ 270 MPa (39 ksi) | ≥ 110 MPa (16 ksi) | About 12 % |
| Property (O temper) | Room temperature | At −196 °C (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | About 290 MPa | About 400 MPa |
| Yield strength | About 145 MPa | About 165 MPa |
| Elongation | About 22 % | Similar or higher |
Low-temperature values are typical published figures (ASM) and show the trend; design values come from the governing pressure code.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.66 g/cm³ (0.096 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 70.3 GPa (10,200 ksi)
- Thermal conductivity
- About 117 – 120 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- About 29 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.8 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- 591 – 638 °C
Specifications and equivalents
Most orders cite ASTM B241 (seamless pipe and seamless extruded tube) or B221 (extruded tube). Older drawings may call QQ-A-200/4 for 5083 extrusions. Some sources list AMS 4086 for 5083 tube; AMS 4086 actually covers 2024-T3 hydraulic tubing, so confirm the alloy if you see that reference.
| Specification | Scope |
|---|---|
| ASTM B241 / ASME SB-241 | Seamless pipe and seamless extruded tube |
| ASTM B221 / ASME SB-221 | Extruded tube, bars and profiles |
| ASTM B210 | Drawn seamless tube, where the size calls for drawing |
| ASME B31.3 | Process piping code used for cryogenic and gas lines |
| EN 755-2 / EN 754-2 | Extruded and drawn tube, EN AW-5083 |
| ISO 6362-2 | Extruded tube mechanical properties |
| UNS / Werkstoff | A95083 / 3.3547 |
5083 pipe schedules and weights
Supply range
- Seamless pipe
- NPS 1/4 to about NPS 12, Schedule 10, 40, 80 and 160
- Extruded round tube
- OD about 10 – 360 mm, walls about 1 – 30 mm
- Other shapes
- Square and rectangular tube to drawing
- Length
- Up to about 6 m; fixed or cut lengths
- End finish
- Plain, bevelled for welding, or deburred
Pipe dimensions follow ASME B36.10. Weights below are calculated for 5083 at 2.66 g/cm³; use the tube weight calculator for other sizes.
| NPS | OD (in / mm) | Sch 40 wall (in / mm) | Sch 40 kg/m | Sch 80 wall (in / mm) | Sch 80 kg/m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 0.540 / 13.7 | 0.088 / 2.24 | 0.21 | 0.119 / 3.02 | 0.27 |
| 3/8 | 0.675 / 17.1 | 0.091 / 2.31 | 0.29 | 0.126 / 3.20 | 0.37 |
| 1/2 | 0.840 / 21.3 | 0.109 / 2.77 | 0.43 | 0.147 / 3.73 | 0.55 |
| 3/4 | 1.050 / 26.7 | 0.113 / 2.87 | 0.57 | 0.154 / 3.91 | 0.74 |
| 1 | 1.315 / 33.4 | 0.133 / 3.38 | 0.85 | 0.179 / 4.55 | 1.10 |
| 1-1/4 | 1.660 / 42.2 | 0.140 / 3.56 | 1.15 | 0.191 / 4.85 | 1.51 |
| 1-1/2 | 1.900 / 48.3 | 0.145 / 3.68 | 1.37 | 0.200 / 5.08 | 1.83 |
| 2 | 2.375 / 60.3 | 0.154 / 3.91 | 1.84 | 0.218 / 5.54 | 2.54 |
| 2-1/2 | 2.875 / 73.0 | 0.203 / 5.16 | 2.92 | 0.276 / 7.01 | 3.87 |
| 3 | 3.500 / 88.9 | 0.216 / 5.49 | 3.82 | 0.300 / 7.62 | 5.18 |
| 4 | 4.500 / 114.3 | 0.237 / 6.02 | 5.45 | 0.337 / 8.56 | 7.56 |
| 6 | 6.625 / 168.3 | 0.280 / 7.11 | 9.58 | 0.432 / 10.97 | 14.42 |
| 8 | 8.625 / 219.1 | 0.322 / 8.18 | 14.41 | 0.500 / 12.70 | 21.90 |
| 10 | 10.750 / 273.1 | 0.365 / 9.27 | 20.44 | 0.594 / 15.09 | 32.52 |
Welding, bending and service limits
Bending
O and H111 bend well with mandrel support; allow larger radii than for 5052 because of higher strength and springback.
Temperature limit
Avoid sustained service above about 65 °C, where sensitisation can cause intergranular and stress corrosion. This rules 5083 out of hot-gas and engine-bay piping.
Cryogenic cleaning
Lines for oxygen service must be cleaned and certified to the oxygen-cleanliness standard of the system.
Testing
Hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure tests and NDT of welds per the piping code.
Corrosion
Excellent in marine air; isolate from copper and stainless parts in wet service.
Typical applications
- Launch-site and test-stand piping for liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen and LNG
- Cryogenic storage transfer lines, vent stacks and vaporiser connections
- Ground support equipment frames, handrails and platforms
- Marine and offshore: seawater piping, railings and superstructure
- Industrial gas and LNG plants built to ASME B31.3
A typical example is a liquid-nitrogen transfer line at a rocket test stand: Schedule 40 5083-O pipe, TIG welded with ER5183, cleaned and pressure tested, with stainless transition joints at the valve skids.
5083 compared with 5052, 6061 and stainless steel
| Property | 5083-O | 5052-O | 6061-T6 | 304 stainless |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tensile strength | 290 MPa | 193 MPa | 310 MPa | 515 MPa min |
| Welded strength retained | High | High | Reduced in HAZ | High |
| Cryogenic toughness | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Density | 2.66 g/cm³ | 2.68 g/cm³ | 2.70 g/cm³ | 8.0 g/cm³ |
| Service above 65 °C | Avoid | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable |
How to order
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, NPS and schedule or OD and wall, length, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (ASTM B241, B221 or EN 755-2).
- 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
- ASTM B241 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles and Tubes
- ASME B36.10M – Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe (dimensions used for aluminium pipe)
- ASME B31.3 – Process Piping
- 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
5083 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) tube: FAQs
Is 5083 tube used for aircraft fuel or hydraulic lines?
Rarely. Aircraft lines use 5052-O, 6061-T6 or 2024-T3. 5083 tube is used mainly for cryogenic, launch-site and ground-equipment piping.
Why is 5083 pipe used for cryogenic service?
It becomes stronger and stays tough at very low temperature, welds without major strength loss and resists corrosion, so it is standard for LNG and industrial-gas lines.
Which filler metal is used to weld 5083 pipe?
ER5183 is the usual choice for full strength; ER5356 for lower-stress joints.
What pipe schedules are available in 5083?
Seamless 5083 pipe is commonly supplied in Schedule 10, 40, 80 and 160 to ASME B36.10 dimensions.
Can 5083 tube be used in hot environments?
Avoid sustained temperatures above about 65 °C; sensitisation can lead to intergranular and stress-corrosion cracking.
Do you ship 5083 pipe worldwide?
Yes. Metline supplies 5083 tube and pipe worldwide with EN 10204 3.1 certificates and export packing.
Need 5083 tube or pipe?
Send size, schedule, temper and quantity. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
