OnlineMetals.com - Guide to 3003 & 5052 Aluminum | Materials Talk Series

Welcome back to the Online Metals! Materials Talk series. This video will focus on aluminum alloys that are more commonly purchased in the form of sheet, like 3003 and 5052. 3003 aluminum is an excellent choice for chemical equipment and general sheet metal projects due to its superior corrosion resistance and good workability. It works well in fabrication and decorative architectural uses, because it's highly workable, formable and weldable, all while being capable of withstanding outdoor weather. For this reason, we offer 3003 aluminum in tread plate material for routine walking surfaces at construction sites or truck beds. It can also be used in chemical tanks, trim, pressure vessels, piping or decorative parts. 5052 aluminum is primarily alloyed with magnesium and chromium, making it the alloy most suited to forming operations. It has good workability and higher strength than the 1100 and 3003 alloys. Although not heat-treatable, it is stronger than most other 5000-series alloys. 5052 is not a good choice for extensive machining operations as it only offers a fair machinability rating. Typical applications include architecture, general sheet metal work, and heat exchangers. Thank you for watching another Online Metals video. Please subscribe to our channel or leave a comment below with questions or future video requests.