Aluminum 3003-O vs. Aluminum 5052-H32

Compare Aluminum 3003-O vs. Aluminum 5052-H32 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Aluminum 3003-O	Aluminum 5052-H32
Yield strength	40MPa1	195MPa24.88x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	110MPa1	230MPa22.09x stronger
Elongation at break	30%12.5x more ductile	12%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	69GPa1	70GPa2
Density	2,730kg/m³1	2,685kg/m³3
Strength to weight	14.7kN·m/kg	72.6kN·m/kg4.96x higher
Stiffness to weight	25.3MN·m/kg	26.1MN·m/kg3% higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	0.333
Shear modulus	not sourced	26.3GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	68.6GPa
Speed of sound	5,027m/s	5,106m/s2% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Aluminum 3003-O	Aluminum 5052-H32
Thermal conductivity	193W/m·K140% more heat through a fin	base material138W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	23.2µm/m·K1	23.8µm/m·K2
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	116µm growth3% less	119µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	at 100 °C963J/kg·K3
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	53.4mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	10,822W/m
Melting point	melting range640–655°C1	melting range605–650°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

Try it on a partA sample part to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser	Open in LessCAD	Open in LessCAD

Sources3 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, U.S. Department of Defense

Aluminum 3003-O: 3003-O (annealed) aluminium-manganese alloy, the heat-exchanger tube and brazing alloy, Kaiser Aluminum Tube & Pipe Alloy 3003 Technical Data (Rev. 05/06), typical properties; specific heat from the NIST cryogenic 3003-F fit at 293 K.
Aluminum 5052-H32: 5052-H32, Kaiser Aluminum tube & pipe typical datasheet (mechanical, CTE, melting); MIL-HDBK-5J (Poisson, density, specific heat)

1
Alloy 3003 Tube & Pipe Technical Data, Rev. 05/06Kaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 3003-O · Yield strength: typical, O, 0.0625 in specimenAluminum 3003-O · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, OAluminum 3003-O · Elongation at break: typical, O, in 4DAluminum 3003-O · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 3003-O · Density: nominal, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal conductivity: typical, O, 20 °CAluminum 3003-O · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 3003-O · Melting point: melting range
2
Alloy 5052 Tube & Pipe Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum 5052-H32 · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offsetAluminum 5052-H32 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Elongation at break: typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal conductivity: base material: 5052 in O temper (same alloy, annealed); Kaiser typicalAluminum 5052-H32 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum 5052-H32 · Melting point: melting range
3
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum 5052-H32 · Density: nominalAluminum 5052-H32 · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)Aluminum 5052-H32 · Specific heat: at 100 °C (212 °F); table covers O, H32, H34, H36, H38

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Aluminum 3003-O stronger than Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stronger: its yield strength is 195 MPa against 40 MPa for Aluminum 3003-O (4.88x).

Which is lighter, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter: 2,685 kg/m³ against 2,730 kg/m³ for Aluminum 3003-O.

Which is stiffer, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 5052-H32 is stiffer: Young's modulus 70 GPa against 69 GPa for Aluminum 3003-O, so the same part in Aluminum 5052-H32 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 5052-H32?

For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum 5052-H32 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Aluminum 3003-O	Aluminum 5052-H32
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	3% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	2% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	4.96x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	2.92x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	2.24x heavier	lighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 3003-O stretches further before it breaks: 30% elongation at break against 12% for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Aluminum 3003-O or Aluminum 5052-H32?

Aluminum 3003-O conducts heat better: 193 W/m·K against 138 W/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.

Which expands less with temperature?

Aluminum 3003-O expands less: 23.2 µm/m·K against 23.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum 5052-H32.