5052 Aluminum Sheet

5052 aluminum sheet is a versatile Al-Mg alloy offering excellent corrosion resistance, good workability, and moderate-to-high strength. Available in O, H32, H34, H36, and H38 tempers with thickness from 0.2mm to 6.0mm.

Temper: H32 / H34 / O Thickness: 0.2 - 6.0mm Corrosion: Excellent
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Product Overview

Overview

5052 aluminum sheet is an Al-Mg (aluminum-magnesium) alloy that stands as the most widely used non-heat-treatable sheet alloy in the industry. With a magnesium content of 2.2-2.8%, it delivers an excellent combination of moderate-to-high strength, outstanding corrosion resistance, and superior workability that makes it suitable for a remarkably broad range of applications.

This alloy exhibits particularly strong resistance to saltwater and marine atmospheric corrosion, which has made it the material of choice for marine hardware, boat hulls, and coastal architectural applications. Its good formability in the annealed (O) temper allows complex shapes to be achieved through bending, stamping, and deep drawing, while the strain-hardened tempers (H32, H34) provide higher strength for structural uses.

5052 aluminum sheet is readily weldable by all common methods including TIG, MIG, and resistance welding. It is commonly specified for marine components, automotive body panels, fuel tanks, chemical equipment, food processing machinery, electronic enclosures, and general sheet metal fabrication where corrosion resistance is a priority.

Alloy Data

Chemical Composition

Per ASTM B209 standard specification for aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet and plate.

Element Si Fe Cu Mn Mg Cr Zn Others (each) Al
Max % 0.25 0.40 0.10 0.10 2.2 - 2.8 0.15 - 0.35 0.10 0.15 Balance
Performance Data

Mechanical Properties

Properties vary by temper designation. All values are typical for sheet thickness 1.0 - 6.0mm.

Temper Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elongation (%) Hardness (HB)
O (Annealed) 170 - 215 65 25 47
H32 215 - 265 160 12 60
H34 235 - 285 180 10 68
What We Supply

Available Specifications

Custom sizes available on request. All products comply with ASTM B209 tolerance standards.

Parameter Range Notes
Thickness 0.2 - 6.0 mm Precision tolerance per ASTM B209
Width 100 - 2500 mm Custom slitting available
Length 500 - 12000 mm Cut-to-length service
Tempers O / H32 / H34 / H36 / H38 H32 and H34 most commonly stocked
Tolerance ASTM B209 Tighter tolerances on request
Where It's Used

Applications

5052 aluminum sheet serves a wide range of industries due to its excellent balance of strength, corrosion resistance, and formability.

Aluminum coils in production workshop
5052 coil and sheet production
5052 aluminum sheet stack
Cut sheet for corrosion-resistant parts
Aluminum tread sheet
Formed sheet and tread surface options
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Marine & Shipbuilding

Boat hulls, marine hardware, dock platforms, and saltwater-exposed components. Excellent resistance to seawater and marine atmospheres.

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Automotive Body Panels

Inner and outer body panels, fuel tanks, oil lines, and structural brackets. Good formability for complex automotive shapes.

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Chemical & Food Equipment

Storage tanks, pressure vessels, food processing equipment, and chemical containers. Non-toxic and corrosion resistant.

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Electronics & Enclosures

Electronic chassis, heat sinks, appliance housings, and signage panels. Good surface finish and anodizing response.

Common Questions

FAQ

5052 aluminum offers excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in marine and saltwater environments. It outperforms 3003 and 6061 in corrosion resistance due to its magnesium content (2.2-2.8%), which forms a protective oxide layer. It is rated "excellent" for resistance to seawater, industrial chemicals, and atmospheric corrosion. For the most demanding marine applications, 5083 provides even better performance but at higher cost and lower formability.
Yes, 5052 is considered one of the most weldable aluminum alloys. It can be welded using TIG (GTAW), MIG (GMAW), and resistance welding methods. The recommended filler alloys are 5356 or 5556 for structural welds, and 4043 where lower strength and better fluidity are acceptable. Note that welding will reduce the strength of strain-hardened tempers (H32/H34) in the heat-affected zone to approximately O-temper levels. Post-weld heat treatment is not required.
Both are Al-Mg alloys, but 5083 contains significantly more magnesium (4.0-4.9% vs 2.2-2.8%). This gives 5083 approximately 40% higher tensile strength and better corrosion resistance in severe marine environments. However, 5052 offers better formability, lower cost, wider availability in thin gauges (0.2-6.0mm), and is easier to work with. Choose 5052 for general-purpose and moderate marine use; choose 5083 for critical marine structures, pressure vessels, and applications requiring marine classification society certification.
5052 and 6061 serve different purposes. 5052 is non-heat-treatable and gets its strength from cold working (H tempers), while 6061 is heat-treatable (T4, T6 tempers) and achieves higher ultimate strength in T6 condition. 5052 has significantly better corrosion resistance, better formability in sheet form, and is more suitable for marine environments. 6061-T6 has higher strength and better machinability, making it the preferred choice for structural and machined components. For sheet metal work requiring bending and forming, 5052 is generally the better choice.
The minimum bend radius for 5052 depends on the temper and thickness. In O temper, the minimum bend radius is 0t (where t = sheet thickness) for thicknesses up to 3.0mm, meaning it can be bent flat on itself. In H32 temper, the minimum is typically 1t for thicknesses up to 3.0mm. In H34 temper, the minimum is 1.5t. For thicker gauges (above 3.0mm), add approximately 0.5t to these values. Always bend perpendicular to the rolling direction when possible for best results.