Tempers of 5052 Aluminum Coil

2025-08-01

5052 aluminum coil is a very common industrial aluminum alloy, it belongs to the Al-Mg series of rust-resistant aluminum alloys (5000 series aluminum alloys). Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, good formability, and moderate strength, aluminum coil 5052 is widely used in architectural decoration, automotive manufacturing, appliance housings, pressure vessels, and electronic devices. The coil form of aluminum 5052 is highly popular in industry due to its ease of transportation, cutting, and batch processing. Aluminum coil 5052 comes in a variety of tempers, including O, H32, H34, H36/H38, H111/H112, and H32 is the most typical and widely used. H32 temper of 5052 aluminum coil achieves a balance of strength and ductility through partial work hardening (1/4 hard), making it particularly suitable for bending.

The tempers of 5052 aluminum coil are primarily "H" (work-hardened) and "O" (annealed). Common conditions include:
- O: Yield strength 65-100 MPa, tensile strength 165-210 MPa, elongation ≥12-20%. Used for high plasticity requirements, such as deep-drawn parts.
- H32: Yield strength 160-195 MPa, tensile strength 215-245 MPa, elongation 7-10%. Used for sheet metal bending (chassis and cabinets), marine components, and anodized substrates.
- H34: Yield strength 180-220 MPa, tensile strength 230-260 MPa, elongation 6-8%. Used for medium-strength structural parts requiring higher fatigue resistance.
- H36/H38: Higher yield strength, higher tensile strength, and lower elongation. Used for high-strength applications, such as special rivets or load-bearing components.
- H111/H112: Features moderate yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation. Lightly processed after hot rolling, suitable for general structural parts.

The most common tempers include O, H32 and H34:
- O: Fully annealed, exhibits excellent plasticity and the lowest strength, making it suitable for complex forming applications such as deep stamping and bending.
- H32: Work-hardened and stabilized (the H3x series is "work-hardened + stabilized," suitable for alloys that are stable with room-temperature natural aging). This temper has a hardening level of 2 (medium), moderate strength, and good formability, offering a balance of strength and processability. It is one of the most commonly used tempers for 5052 aluminum coil.
- H34: Work-hardened to a level 4 (higher than H32), exhibits higher strength than H32 but slightly lower formability. It is suitable for applications requiring slightly higher strength.

5052 aluminum coil is an aluminum-magnesium alloy (magnesium content approximately 2.2%-2.8%), combining the corrosion resistance of rust-resistant aluminum with good formability. It is widely used in:

- Shipbuilding:
Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, 5052 aluminum alloy is often used in the manufacture of ship hulls and ship components.

- Automotive:
Used in the manufacture of automotive components such as hulls, fuel tanks, and chassis, helping to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency.

- Construction:
Used in the manufacture of building materials such as curtain walls, roofs, doors, and windows.

- Tanks and Containers:
5052 aluminum coil is suitable for the manufacture of various tanks and containers, especially for chemical storage requiring corrosion resistance.

- Electronics:
Used in the manufacture of electronic product housings and brackets, providing protection and enhancing the appearance.

Due to its wide range of applications and large market supply, it is one of the most popular aluminum coil types.

All in all, 5052 aluminum coil is available in various tempers, including O, H32, H34, H36, H38, and H111/H112 (higher hardness grades indicate higher strength and lower ductility), allowing selection based on specific strength and forming requirements.

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