Aluminum–magnesium · 5xxx series
5052 Aluminum Alloy
5052 contains 2.2–2.8% magnesium, which makes it the strongest common non-heat-treatable sheet grade and gives it salt-water resistance. It is the default choice for marine sheet, fuel tanks, truck bodies and any formed part that will spend its life outdoors.
Quote within 24 working hours · Certificate type stated on the quote
5xxx series · 6 tempers quoted · 2.680 g/cm³
At a glance
5052 Aluminum — The Short Version
| Alloy family | Aluminum–magnesium (5xxx) |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.680 g/cm³ |
| Tempers quoted | O · H32 · H34 · H36 · H38 · H112 |
| 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 Tread / Checker Plate · Aluminum Circle & Disc |
Chemistry
5052 Chemical Composition Limits
Percent by weight. These are the registered limits, not a typical analysis — a heat that sits anywhere inside them is still 5052.
| Element | Limit (% wt) | Element | Limit (% wt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.25 max | Fe | 0.40 max |
| Cu | 0.10 max | Mn | 0.10 max |
| Mg | 2.2 – 2.8 | Cr | 0.15 – 0.35 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 190 | 79 | 22 | 140 |
| H32 | 230 | 180 | 12 | 140 |
Other tempers in the 5052 range — O · H32 · H34 · H36 · H38 · H112 — are available to order. Values for those are quoted with the offer rather than assumed from this table.
Forms
5052 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 Tread / Checker Plate
Raised-pattern slip-resistant plate: five-bar, three-bar, diamond.
1.0 – 8.0 mm · 600 – 2,000 mm
Aluminum Circle & Disc
Blanks for deep drawing into cookware and lamp shades.
0.3 – 6.0 mm · Ø 100 – 1,200 mm
Where it is used
Typical End Uses for 5052
Marine & Shipbuilding
Mg-alloyed plate resists seawater and welds without losing strength. This is the series classification societies expect to see on hull plate.
Transport & Automotive
Weight reduction per body panel is the entire business case. Formability and weldability decide the grade.
Industrial & Machining
Machining stock. Grain direction, residual stress relief (T651) and dimensional stability decide whether the part moves after it is cut.
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.
Selection
Choose 5052 When — and When Not To
Choose 5052 when
Formed parts in wet or coastal service, fuel and water tanks, truck and trailer panels, and general sheet metal where 3003 keeps denting. H32 is the working temper; O for severe forming.
Think again if
Anything above about 65 °C in continuous service — 5xxx alloys are sensitive to sensitization and stress-corrosion cracking above that range when the magnesium is high. For hot service look at 3003 or 6061.
Before you ask
5052 — Questions Buyers Ask
5052 or 5083 for a boat?
5083 for hull plate and anything welded that needs ABS, DNV or Lloyd approval; 5052 for superstructure, tanks and interior work. 5083 has more magnesium, higher strength and a marine-specific temper (H116/H321) that controls intergranular corrosion.
Why does 5052 cost more than 3003?
Magnesium. It roughly doubles the strength and adds seawater resistance, and it costs more per tonne to make. On a formed part the price gap often disappears because you can drop a gauge.
Can 5052 be welded?
Yes, easily, with 5356 filler for strength or 4043 where colour match matters more. Because it is work-hardened rather than heat-treated, the heat-affected zone softens to about O temper and does not recover.
Does 5052 anodize?
It anodizes, but the finish is darker and less clear than on 6xxx because of the magnesium. For decorative anodizing specify 6063 or 5657; for protective anodizing on marine parts, 5052 is standard.
What is 5052-H32?
Strain hardened to a quarter-hard and then stabilized. It is the general-purpose temper: enough strength to hold a panel flat, enough ductility to roll-form and bend without cracking.
Also compare
Other Grades in 5xxx
- 5083 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · O · H111 · H112
- 5754 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · O · H111 · H22
- All seven series →The full alloy map, from 1xxx to 8xxx
Often specified instead
- 5083 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · Hull plate, deck structures, cryogenic and pressure vessels, and any welded assembly in salt water.
- 3003 AluminumAluminum–manganese · General sheet metal that needs to form and last outdoors without a coating budget.
Quote on 5052 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.