O
Annealed. Highest ductility for cold heading, swaging, flaring or bending rod into handles and brackets.
Marine round bar
5052 Marine Grade Aluminium Round Bar
5052 round bar combines very good seawater resistance with easy welding and cold forming, making it a sensible choice for pins, fittings, rivets and machined parts that live in salt spray or bilge water. It is a moderate-strength alloy rather than a structural one. Metline supplies 5052 rod and bar extruded in O and H112 or cold drawn in H32 and H34, cut to length and certified, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 5052 (Al-Mg 2.5)
- Tempers
- O, H112, H32, H34
- Diameter
- about 3 mm upward
- Standards
- ASTM B221 · B211 · EN 755-3
What 5052 round bar offers marine users
5052 is a non-heat-treatable aluminium-magnesium alloy. Magnesium near 2.5 % gives moderate strength, chromium refines the grain, and the alloy's low copper content is the main reason it resists seawater so well.
Round bar in 5052 is chosen less for raw strength than for durability and versatility. It machines into fittings and bushes, cold heads into rivets and pins, and welds into tank and frame assemblies without the dramatic strength loss of heat-treated 6xxx and 7xxx bar. The fatigue strength is high for an alloy of its static strength, which suits vibrating parts on powered craft.
Bar is supplied either straight from the extrusion press (O or H112) or extruded and then cold drawn through a die to H32 or H34. Drawing adds strength, improves surface finish and tightens diameter tolerance, which matters for automatic-lathe work and close-fitting pins.
5052 round bar chemical composition
Composition limits are the same for every product form and follow the Aluminum Association registration used by ASTM and EN standards.
| Element (wt %) | 5052 |
|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.25 |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.40 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.10 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.10 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 – 2.8 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 – 0.35 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 |
| Aluminium (Al) | Remainder |
Single figures are maximums. Copper is held to 0.10 % maximum, which keeps corrosion resistance in seawater high.
Mechanical properties of 5052 round bar
Extruded round bar is specified in ASTM B221 and EN 755-2 with the limits below. Cold-drawn bar to ASTM B211 or EN 754-2 is available in strain-hardened tempers with higher strength; the exact limits depend on diameter and are confirmed on the order.
| Temper | Tensile strength Rm | Yield Rp0.2 min | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed) | 170 – 240 MPa (25 – 35 ksi) | 70 MPa (10 ksi) | Maximum ductility for bending, swaging and cold heading |
| H112 (as extruded) | 170 MPa (25 ksi) min | 70 MPa (10 ksi) | General machining stock; properties from the extrusion process |
| Temper (drawn bar) | Typical tensile strength | Typical yield strength | Typical hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| H32 | about 228 MPa | about 193 MPa | about 60 HB |
| H34 | about 262 MPa | about 214 MPa | about 68 HB |
| H38 | about 290 MPa | about 255 MPa | about 77 HB |
Typical values are for guidance only and are not specification minimums. Small-diameter drawn rod for rivets and cold heading is a separate product governed by ASTM B316.
Physical properties of 5052
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³ (0.097 lb/in³)
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 70 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- about 138 W/m·K (H32)
- Electrical conductivity
- about 35 % IACS
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.8 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Melting range
- about 607 – 649 °C
Selecting a temper for 5052 bar
H112
As extruded. The usual condition for larger diameters and general machining stock.
H32
Drawn and stabilised. Moderate strength gain with good residual ductility; a common choice for pins and turned parts.
H34
Drawn and stabilised to a higher strength. For parts that are machined rather than formed.
H38
Full-hard drawn rod, mainly in small diameters. Highest strength, lowest formability.
Cut blanks
Bar sawn into discs or slugs for machining, forging or impact extrusion.
Standards and international equivalents
| Standard | Scope |
|---|---|
| ASTM B221 / B221M | Extruded bar and rod |
| ASTM B211 / B211M | Rolled or cold-finished bar, rod and wire |
| ASTM B316 | Rivet and cold-heading wire and rod |
| QQ-A-225/7 | Former US federal specification for 5052 bar, rod and wire, now superseded by ASTM standards |
| EN 755-2 / EN 755-3 | Extruded bar: mechanical properties / round bar tolerances |
| EN 754-2 / EN 754-3 | Cold-drawn bar: mechanical properties / round bar tolerances |
| EN 573-3 | Chemical composition |
| System | Designation |
|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / ASTM | 5052 |
| UNS | A95052 |
| European (EN 573-3) | EN AW-5052 / EN AW-AlMg2.5 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.3523 |
| ISO | AlMg2.5 |
| Japan (JIS) | A5052 |
| China (GB/T 3190) | 5052 |
| Former French (NF) | AG2.5C |
5052 round bar sizes and weights
Supply range
- Diameter
- From about 3 mm (drawn) to large extruded diameters; imperial sizes in fractions of an inch
- Length
- 3 m and 6 m standard lengths; cut lengths and discs on request
- Production route
- Extruded (O, H112) or extruded and cold drawn (H32, H34, H38)
- Finish
- Mill finish; drawn bar has a smooth bright surface
- Packing
- Bundled and wrapped, in wooden cases or on pallets for export
Round bar weight per metre is 0.785 × d² × density. For 5052 at 2.68 g/cm³ that is 0.002105 × d² kg per metre, with d in millimetres.
| Size (mm) | kg per metre | 3 m bar (kg) | 6 m bar (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.019 | 0.06 | 0.1 |
| 6 | 0.076 | 0.23 | 0.5 |
| 8 | 0.135 | 0.40 | 0.8 |
| 10 | 0.210 | 0.63 | 1.3 |
| 12 | 0.303 | 0.91 | 1.8 |
| 16 | 0.539 | 1.62 | 3.2 |
| 20 | 0.842 | 2.53 | 5.1 |
| 25 | 1.32 | 3.95 | 7.9 |
| 30 | 1.89 | 5.68 | 11.4 |
| 35 | 2.58 | 7.74 | 15.5 |
| 40 | 3.37 | 10.10 | 20.2 |
| 45 | 4.26 | 12.79 | 25.6 |
| 50 | 5.26 | 15.79 | 31.6 |
| 60 | 7.58 | 22.73 | 45.5 |
| 70 | 10.31 | 30.94 | 61.9 |
| 80 | 13.47 | 40.41 | 80.8 |
| 90 | 17.05 | 51.15 | 102.3 |
| 100 | 21.05 | 63.15 | 126.3 |
| 120 | 30.31 | 90.93 | 181.9 |
| 150 | 47.36 | 142.08 | 284.2 |
| 180 | 68.20 | 204.59 | 409.2 |
| 200 | 84.19 | 252.58 | 505.2 |
Tolerances and inspection
Diameter, ovality, straightness and length tolerances follow EN 755-3 for extruded bar, EN 754-3 for drawn bar, or the ANSI H35.2 tables used with ASTM orders. Drawn bar is held to a much tighter diameter band than extruded bar, so specify drawn stock when the bar feeds a collet or bar feeder without turning the outside diameter.
- Diameter and length measured on every lot
- Straightness checked on full lengths
- Surface inspection for die lines, pick-up and handling damage
- Mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and tensile results
- Ultrasonic inspection of large-diameter bar on request
Machining, forming, welding and finishing
Machining
Machines better in drawn H32 / H34 than in O, where chips are long and stringy. Use sharp, polished tools with high positive rake, plenty of cutting fluid and chip breakers.
Cold forming
In O and H32 tempers 5052 rod can be bent, swaged, flattened and cold headed. Formability falls as cold work increases.
Hot working
Can be forged; forging is normally carried out roughly between 260 °C and 510 °C.
Welding
TIG and MIG with ER5356 filler. The heat-affected zone softens towards the annealed condition; no post-weld heat treatment is used.
Anodising
Takes clear protective anodising. Not suited to bright decorative finishes.
Galvanic contact
Use insulating washers and sleeves where 5052 meets stainless steel, bronze or carbon fibre in wet service.
Uses of 5052 round bar in marine work
- Pins, axles and bushes for hinges, hatches and davits under light load
- Rivets and cold-headed fasteners for riveted aluminium boats and fittings
- Handrail and stanchion fittings machined and welded into rails
- Tank fittings and bosses welded into 5052 fuel and water tanks
- Turned parts such as spacers, knobs, cleats and fairleads
- Coastal and offshore hardware: pontoon pins, fish-farm fittings, buoy hardware
5052 bar versus 5083, 5086 and 6061 bar
| Property | 5052-H112 | 5086-H112 | 5083-H112 | 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min tensile strength (extruded) | 170 MPa | 240 MPa | 270 MPa | 260 MPa |
| Min yield strength (extruded) | 70 MPa | 95 MPa | 110 MPa | 240 MPa |
| Seawater resistance | Very good | Excellent | Excellent | Fair |
| Welded strength retention | High | High | High | Low |
| Machinability | Fair | Fair | Fair | Very good |
| Class-approved extrusion (UR W25) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes, with protection |
Choose 5052 when moderate strength is enough and the part is permanently wet. Choose 5083 or 5086 for higher strength or class approval, and 6061-T6 for highly stressed machined parts above the waterline, anodised or painted.
How to order 5052 round bar
- SpecifyDiameter, temper (O, H112, H32, H34), length, quantity and standard (ASTM B221, B211 or EN 755 / EN 754).
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance, certification and EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP delivery terms.
- CutBars cut to length or into discs as required, deburred and inspected.
- DocumentEN 10204 3.1 mill certificate and packing list.
- ShipWrapped bundles in wooden cases or on pallets, by sea or air.
References and standards
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles and Tubes
- ASTM B211 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- EN 755-2 – Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles: mechanical properties (with EN 755-3, -4 and -6 for round, square and hexagonal bar tolerances)
- EN 754-2 – Cold drawn rod/bar and tube: mechanical properties
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
5052 marine aluminium (aluminum) round bar: FAQ
Is 5052 round bar good for marine use?
Yes. It resists seawater, salt spray and marine atmospheres very well and welds easily. It is a moderate-strength alloy, so use it for fittings and lightly loaded parts rather than primary structure.
Can 5052 bar be heat-treated to T6?
No. 5052 is a non-heat-treatable alloy. It is strengthened only by cold work, giving H tempers such as H32 and H34. T6 applies to heat-treatable alloys like 6061.
What is the weight of 5052 round bar?
About 0.002105 × d² kg per metre, with d in mm. A 25 mm bar weighs about 1.32 kg/m and a 100 mm bar about 21.0 kg/m.
Is 5052 bar easy to machine?
It is fair to machine. Drawn H32 or H34 bar gives shorter chips and a better finish than annealed bar. For high-volume turned parts, 6061-T6 or a free-machining alloy machines faster.
Which is better for a boat fitting, 5052 or 316 stainless?
Stainless is stronger, but bolting it to an aluminium hull creates a galvanic couple. A 5052 or 5083 fitting avoids that and saves weight; use stainless only with proper isolation.
Do you supply 5052 bar cut to length?
Yes. Metline supplies standard lengths or cut pieces, with mill certificates and export packing.
Need 5052 round bar?
Send diameter, temper, length and quantity. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
