Aluminum–magnesium · 5xxx series
5083 Aluminum Alloy
5083 carries 4.0–4.9% magnesium, the highest of the common sheet and plate grades. It is the marine hull alloy: welded structures that must pass classification society rules use 5083 in H116 or H321, because those tempers control the intergranular corrosion that plain H32 would allow.
Quote within 24 working hours · Certificate type stated on the quote
5xxx series · 5 tempers quoted · 2.660 g/cm³
At a glance
5083 Aluminum — The Short Version
| Alloy family | Aluminum–magnesium (5xxx) |
|---|---|
| Density | 2.660 g/cm³ |
| Tempers quoted | O · H111 · H112 · H116 · H321 |
| Heat treatable | No — strength comes from work hardening (H tempers) |
| Standards | ASTM B209 · ASTM B928 · EN 485 · GB/T 3880 |
| Forms supplied | Aluminum Sheet & Plate · Aluminum Coil · Aluminum Tread / Checker Plate |
Chemistry
5083 Chemical Composition Limits
Percent by weight. These are the registered limits, not a typical analysis — a heat that sits anywhere inside them is still 5083.
| Element | Limit (% wt) | Element | Limit (% wt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.40 max | Fe | 0.40 max |
| Cu | 0.10 max | Mn | 0.40 – 1.0 |
| Mg | 4.0 – 4.9 | Cr | 0.05 – 0.25 |
| Zn | 0.25 max | Ti | 0.15 max |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H116 | 320 | 230 | 12 | 120 |
Other tempers in the 5083 range — O · H111 · H112 · H116 · H321 — are available to order. Values for those are quoted with the offer rather than assumed from this table.
Forms
5083 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 Tread / Checker Plate
Raised-pattern slip-resistant plate: five-bar, three-bar, diamond.
1.0 – 8.0 mm · 600 – 2,000 mm
Where it is used
Typical End Uses for 5083
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.
Selection
Choose 5083 When — and When Not To
Choose 5083 when
Hull plate, deck structures, cryogenic and pressure vessels, and any welded assembly in salt water. Specify H116 or H321 and name the classification society on the order.
Think again if
Service above about 65 °C — the same sensitization limit as other high-magnesium 5xxx grades. For hot marine or chemical service, consider 5086 or move to 6xxx.
Before you ask
5083 — Questions Buyers Ask
What is the difference between 5083-H116 and H321?
Both are marine tempers produced to ASTM B928 with controlled intergranular corrosion resistance. H116 is the sheet and plate temper used for hull structures; H321 applies to plate from 6 mm upward. Your class rules will name which one applies.
Does 5083 need a mill certificate to class rules?
In practice yes. Hull plate is normally released against EN 10204 3.1 with the heat number marked on the plate and matched to the certificate, plus the class society approval stamp where the rules require it.
Can 5083 be cold formed?
Only gently. At 4.0–4.9% magnesium the ductility is much lower than 5052, and tight cold bends crack. Hull curvature is normally rolled hot or formed in several passes with stress relief afterwards.
Is 5083 available in thickness above 100 mm?
Yes, as hot-rolled plate, typically to 200 mm. Thick plate usually ships in H112 with ultrasonic testing available on request — state the UT acceptance level on the order.
Also compare
Other Grades in 5xxx
- 5052 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · O · H32 · H34
- 5754 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · O · H111 · H22
- 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.
- 5754 AluminumAluminum–magnesium · Body panels, rail interiors, silkscreen and anodizing stock, and welded structures where the drawing is written to EN 485..
Quote on 5083 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.