Aluminum–manganese · 3xxx series
3003 Aluminum Alloy
3003 is aluminum alloyed with 1.0–1.5% manganese. It is about 20% stronger than 1100 at the same temper while keeping excellent formability and corrosion resistance, which is why it is the default sheet grade for roofing, ductwork, cookware and general fabrication.
Quote within 24 working hours · Certificate type stated on the quote
3xxx series · 8 tempers quoted · 2.730 g/cm³
At a glance
3003 Aluminum — The Short Version
| Alloy family | Aluminum–manganese (3xxx) |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.730 g/cm³ |
| Tempers quoted | O · H12 · H14 · H16 · H18 · H22 · H24 · H26 |
| Heat treatable | No — strength comes from work hardening (H tempers) |
| Standards | ASTM B209 · EN 485 · GB/T 3880 · JIS H4000 |
| Forms supplied | Aluminum Sheet & Plate · Aluminum Coil · Aluminum Strip · Aluminum Circle & Disc · Embossed Aluminum · Perforated Aluminum Sheet |
Chemistry
3003 Chemical Composition Limits
Percent by weight. These are the registered limits, not a typical analysis — a heat that sits anywhere inside them is still 3003.
| Element | Limit (% wt) | Element | Limit (% wt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.6 max | Fe | 0.7 max |
| Cu | 0.05 – 0.20 | Mn | 1.0 – 1.5 |
| Mg | — | Cr | — |
| Zn | 0.10 max | Ti | — |
| Other, each | 0.05 max | Other, total | 0.15 max |
| Al | Remainder |
Composition limits are the Aluminum Association registered ranges, which is what ASTM B209 and EN 573-3 both refer back to. Mechanical values are typical for the temper shown, not acceptance minima — the minima are set by the product standard, and the mill certificate reports the measured values for your heat.
Mechanicals
Typical Mechanical Properties by Temper
Room temperature, longitudinal direction. Use these to compare grades and tempers — the acceptance figures for your order come from the product standard and are reported on the mill certificate for the actual heat.
| Temper | Tensile (MPa) | Yield (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Thermal conductivity (W/m·K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H14 | 160 | 130 | 8.3 | 180 |
Other tempers in the 3003 range — O · H12 · H14 · H16 · H18 · H22 · H24 · H26 — are available to order. Values for those are quoted with the offer rather than assumed from this table.
Forms
3003 in the Forms We Supply
The same alloy behaves differently as coil, plate and extrusion because the rolling or extrusion route sets the temper and the surface. Pick the form first, then the temper.
Aluminum Sheet & Plate
Rolled flat product from 0.2 mm foil stock to 200 mm plate.
0.2 – 200 mm · 600 – 2,200 mm
Aluminum Coil
Continuously cast or hot-rolled coil for roll forming and stamping.
0.2 – 8.0 mm · 600 – 2,200 mm
Aluminum Strip
Slit coil with controlled edge burr and camber.
0.1 – 3.0 mm · 10 – 1,600 mm
Aluminum Circle & Disc
Blanks for deep drawing into cookware and lamp shades.
0.3 – 6.0 mm · Ø 100 – 1,200 mm
Embossed Aluminum
Stucco, orange-peel and diamond embossed coil and sheet.
0.2 – 3.0 mm · 600 – 1,600 mm
Perforated Aluminum Sheet
Punched round, slot or decorative hole patterns.
0.3 – 5.0 mm · 600 – 1,500 mm
Where it is used
Typical End Uses for 3003
Building & Curtain Wall
Facade work is a coating problem first and a metal problem second. PVDF film thickness and anodizing class are what the specifier checks.
Cookware & Deep Drawing
Deep drawing is a ductility test. Purity and O-temper control decide whether the blank draws or tears.
Electronics & Heat Management
Heat sinks are an extrusion geometry problem: fin height, fin pitch and flatness tolerance. 6063-T5 holds fine fins that 6061 cannot.
Packaging & Foil
Pinhole count, elongation and surface cleanliness are the three numbers that decide whether a foil runs on your line.
Selection
Choose 3003 When — and When Not To
Choose 3003 when
General sheet metal that needs to form and last outdoors without a coating budget. Roofing and gutter coil, HVAC duct, cookware bodies and enclosure panels are all standard 3003 work.
Think again if
Anything needing heat-treated strength (go to 6061) or marine immersion (5083). 3003 also anodizes to a slightly grey tone compared with 6xxx, which matters on decorative trim.
Before you ask
3003 — Questions Buyers Ask
3003 or 5052 for outdoor sheet?
3003 for inland and general weather; 5052 when the part sees salt, chloride cleaning agents or repeated flexing. 5052 is roughly twice the strength of 3003 and costs more.
Is 3003 weldable?
Yes, by TIG and MIG with 4043 or 1100 filler, and by resistance welding. It is not heat-treatable, so the weld zone softens to annealed condition and does not recover — design the joint for that.
What does 3003-H14 mean?
H14 is strain hardened to roughly half-hard, about halfway between O and H18. It is the most common temper for sheet because it holds shape while still bending. If the part needs a tight radius, move to O or H12.
Can 3003 be anodized?
Yes, for protection rather than decoration. The manganese gives a slightly darker tone than 6xxx, so colour matching across a facade usually means anodizing a sample lot first.
Also compare
Other Grades in 3xxx
- 3004 AluminumAluminum–manganese · O · H32 · H34
- 3105 AluminumAluminum–manganese · O · H22 · H24
- All seven series →The full alloy map, from 1xxx to 8xxx
Often specified instead
- 5052 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · Formed parts in wet or coastal service, fuel and water tanks, truck and trailer panels, and general sheet metal where 3003 keeps denting.
- 3004 AluminumAluminum–manganese · Thin-gauge coil that has to hold stiffness — can body stock, roofing and siding coil, and container sheet where 3003 would oil-can..
Quote on 3003 Aluminum
Send grade, temper, thickness and quantity. You get price, lead time, MOQ and certificate type in one reply — and a straight answer if the grade is wrong for the job.