5052 is the aluminum you choose when the part has to be bent, welded and left outside. It takes tight brake bends that would crack 6061, it welds cleanly, and it holds up in salt air and salt water better than almost any other common sheet alloy. Most aluminum sheet sold to fab shops, sign makers and truck-body builders is 5052-H32. We source it in sheet and plate and arrange the cut.
What 5052 aluminum is
5052 is a 5xxx-series alloy, with about 2.5% magnesium and a small amount of chromium. It is not heat treatable. Its strength comes from the magnesium in solution and from cold work at the mill, which is what the "H" temper codes describe.
Because it does not rely on heat treatment, welding does not wipe out a heat-treated strength the way it does with 6061. That, plus its forming and corrosion behavior, is why it dominates sheet-metal fabrication.
5052-H32 properties
| Property | Value | What it means in the shop |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 33 ksi typical | Stronger than 3003, lighter duty than 6061-T6 |
| Yield strength | 28 ksi typical | Springs back less than harder tempers on the brake |
| Hardness | About 60 Brinell | Softer surface, protect it from scratches in handling |
| Density | 0.097 lb/in³ (2.68 g/cm³) | Slightly lighter than 6061 |
| Weldability | Excellent | Welds without heat-treat strength loss |
| Machinability | Fair | Gummy; fine for drilling and trimming, not for precision pockets |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent, including salt water | The default for marine sheet and plate |
Typical values. Actual tested values are on the mill cert.
Typical uses
- Boat hulls, consoles, fuel tanks and marine enclosures
- Truck bodies, toolboxes, fenders and trailer skins
- Sign faces, cabinets and letters
- Electrical and electronic enclosures, chassis and panels
- Formed brackets and ductwork that need more strength than 3003
Common tempers
H32 is strain hardened and stabilized to quarter hard. It is the standard for sheet and light plate and the best balance of formability and strength. H34 is half hard: a bit stronger, a bit less forgiving on bends. O is fully annealed for deep drawing and severe forming.
Sheet commonly runs from about 0.020 in up through 0.250 in, with plate beyond that. Mill finish is standard; PVC-coated sheet is often available for sign and cosmetic work. Check thickness against the sheet metal gauge chart, and remember aluminum gauges do not match steel gauges.
5052 vs 6061 aluminum
The short version: 5052 for sheet you bend and weld, 6061 for parts you machine or load hard. 6061-T6 is stronger on paper, but once welded its heat-affected zone gives much of that back, while 5052 keeps its strength through welding. For a formed, welded box that lives outdoors, 5052 is usually the better part.
| 5052-H32 | 6061-T6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile / yield (typical) | 33 / 28 ksi | 45 / 40 ksi |
| Brake forming | Tight bends, no cracking | Needs a large radius |
| Machining | Fair, gummy | Good |
| Salt-water corrosion | Excellent | Good |
| Strength after welding | Largely retained | Drops in the heat-affected zone |
Welding and machining 5052
5052 welds well by TIG and MIG. 5356 filler is the common match for strength and color; 4043 also works but gives a weaker, grayer weld. Clean off the oxide with a stainless brush and solvent right before welding, because porosity in 5xxx welds almost always traces back to dirty metal or damp filler.
Machining 5052 is doable but not pleasant. It is soft and gummy, so it smears and loads up tools. Use sharp, high-rake tools, keep feeds up and use lubricant. If a part needs precision pockets and tight tolerance, it probably wants 6061 instead.