Eddy-current testing
In-line eddy-current testing along the full coil length detects pinholes and wall defects before shipment.
Seamless coiled tube for vehicle systems
3003 Aluminium Coil Tube for Automotive Applications
3003 coil tube is seamless round aluminium-manganese tube wound in long coils, about 20 % stronger than pure aluminium tube while keeping excellent bendability, brazeability and corrosion resistance. It is widely used for automotive air-conditioning, cooling and fluid lines. Metline supplies 3003 and 1xxx coil tube to manufacturers worldwide, cleaned, capped and fully certified.
- Alloys
- 3003, 3103, 1050, 1060, 1070, 1100
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14
- Size
- OD 4 – 28 mm, wall 0.3 – 1.5 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B210 · B234 · B491 · EN 754
Why 3003 coil tube for vehicles?
3003 adds about 1.2 % manganese to commercially pure aluminium. The manganese raises strength by roughly 20 % over 1100 without sacrificing formability, and it slightly improves corrosion resistance. That makes 3003 the default alloy for small-diameter tube that must be bent, flared, brazed and pressurised.
Supplying the tube as a coil rather than straight lengths means a manufacturer can straighten, cut and bend on automatic lines with little scrap, and route long continuous runs with fewer joints. Every joint avoided is one less potential refrigerant or coolant leak.
Coils are produced as pancake coils or level-wound coils (LWC), in which the tube is laid in neat layers so that it pays off smoothly at high speed. The inside of the tube is cleaned and dried, and both ends are sealed before packing.
3003 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | 3003 | 3103 (EN) | 1100 (reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.6 max | 0.50 max | Si + Fe 0.95 max |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.7 max | 0.7 max | — |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 – 0.20 | 0.10 max | 0.05 – 0.20 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 1.0 – 1.5 | 0.9 – 1.5 | 0.05 max |
| Magnesium (Mg) | — | 0.30 max | — |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max | 0.20 max | 0.10 max |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder | Remainder | 99.00 min |
3103 is the common European equivalent of 3003 and is interchangeable for most tube uses. The certificate reports the actual chemistry.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3003-O, specified (ASTM B210) | 95 – 130 MPa | ≥ 35 MPa | — | Bending, flaring, expansion |
| 3003-O, typical | 110 MPa / 16 ksi | 42 MPa / 6 ksi | 30 – 40 % | |
| 3003-H14, typical | 150 MPa / 22 ksi | 145 MPa / 21 ksi | 8 – 16 % | Straight runs needing stiffness |
| 1100-O, typical | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 34 MPa / 5 ksi | 35 – 45 % | Low-pressure lines |
Physical properties (3003)
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Thermal conductivity
- about 190 W/m·K (O), 160 W/m·K (H14)
- Melting range
- about 643 – 654 °C
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- 23.2 µm/m·°C
Coil tube sizes and weights
Typical supply range
- Outside diameter
- About 4 – 28 mm, metric and inch sizes
- Wall thickness
- About 0.3 – 1.5 mm
- Coil dimensions
- Level-wound coils typically around 750 – 1,200 mm outside diameter and 300 – 400 mm high
- Tempers
- O (most common), H12, H14
- Processing
- Cutting, bending and end forming on request
Weight per metre for common sizes (density 2.73 g/cm³):
| OD × wall (mm) | kg per metre | metres per tonne (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.76 × 0.5 | 0.018 | 54,740 |
| 6.35 × 0.71 | 0.034 | 29,117 |
| 7.94 × 0.8 | 0.049 | 20,413 |
| 9.52 × 0.8 | 0.060 | 16,714 |
| 9.52 × 1 | 0.073 | 13,685 |
| 12.7 × 1 | 0.100 | 9,966 |
| 15.88 × 1 | 0.128 | 7,836 |
| 19.05 × 1.2 | 0.184 | 5,443 |
| 22.22 × 1.2 | 0.216 | 4,622 |
| 28 × 1.5 | 0.341 | 2,933 |
Inspection, cleanliness and leak tightness
Internal cleanliness
Residual oil and particle limits suitable for refrigerant circuits; tube is dried and capped.
Dimensions
OD, wall and ovality to ASTM B210 / B491 or EN 754-7 tables, or tighter on drawing.
Mechanical tests
Tensile, flattening and flare tests for each lot.
Burst and leak
Pressure or helium leak tests on finished assemblies, to the customer specification.
Certification
EN 10204 3.1 certificate with chemistry and mechanical results.
Automotive uses of 3003 coil tube
- Air-conditioning lines: suction and liquid lines and heat-exchanger connecting tubes
- Heat-exchanger tubes: round-tube condensers, evaporators and heater cores
- Cooling circuits: radiator, oil-cooler and battery-cooling connections
- Fuel vapour and auxiliary lines: low-pressure routing where corrosion resistance matters
- HVAC and refrigeration: the same tube serves residential and commercial equipment
Hydraulic brake lines are made from steel or copper-nickel, not aluminium coil tube, because of their pressure and safety requirements.
3003 coil tube compared with copper
| Property | 3003 aluminium | Copper (C12200) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.73 g/cm³ | 8.94 g/cm³ |
| Thermal conductivity | ~ 160 – 190 W/m·K | ~ 340 W/m·K |
| Typical tensile, O temper | ~ 110 MPa | ~ 220 MPa |
| Material cost per metre | Lower | Higher |
| Joining | Al-Si brazing, more temperature-sensitive | Easy brazing with Cu-P alloys |
| Galvanic risk | Must be isolated from copper and steel | Corrodes aluminium it touches |
Copper conducts heat better and is stronger, but aluminium wins on weight and cost. In tube-to-fin heat exchangers, aluminium tube with aluminium fins also avoids galvanic corrosion between tube and fin. Wall thickness is increased slightly to compensate for the lower strength.
How to order 3003 coil tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 3003-O), OD and wall, coil type and weight, cleanliness level and volume.
- Confirm the standardASTM B210, B234, B491 or B483, EN 754, or your own drawing and test specification.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerances, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your plant or port.
- Process and inspectCoils are eddy-current tested, cleaned, dried, capped and wrapped with desiccant.
- Document and shipEach lot ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate, heat or lot traceability and a packing list, in seaworthy export packing. Third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
References and standards
- ASTM B210/B210M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B234 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers
- ASTM B491/B491M – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Round Tubes for General-Purpose Applications
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
3003 aluminium (aluminum) coil tube: frequently asked questions
Why choose 3003 over 1100 for coil tube?
3003 is about 20 % stronger thanks to its manganese, so it handles higher pressures at the same wall thickness while keeping almost the same bendability.
What temper is coil tube supplied in?
Mostly O (annealed) for bending, flaring and expansion. H12 or H14 is used where straight runs need extra stiffness.
What is a level-wound coil?
A coil in which the tube is laid in neat, even layers, so it unwinds smoothly on automatic straightening and cutting lines.
Is aluminium coil tube as good as copper?
Copper conducts heat better and is stronger, but aluminium is about one-third the weight, costs less and avoids galvanic problems with aluminium fins. Wall thickness is set to suit.
What sizes are available?
Typically 4 – 28 mm outside diameter with 0.3 – 1.5 mm walls, in metric and inch sizes.
Do you supply coil tube worldwide?
Yes. Metline ships 3003 and 1xxx coil tube worldwide with mill certificates and EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms.
Need 3003 coil tube?
Send the size, temper, coil type and volume, and our team will reply with availability and a delivered quotation.
