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3003-H18 Aluminum vs. 3005-H18 Aluminum

Jan. 08, 2025

3005-H18 aluminum alloy has higher hardness, fatigue strength, shear strength, and tensile strength compared to 3003-H18, but its thermal conductivity and toughness are slightly lower.

Both 3003 H18 and 3005-H18 are aluminum alloys belonging to the 3000 series, with manganese as their primary alloying element. Both alloys are in the H18 temper, meaning they have undergone work hardening to achieve very high strength (the highest in the H series, making them harder but with lower formability). While they have similar chemical compositions and thermal properties, there are significant differences in their mechanical properties, which affects their suitability for different applications.

3003-H18 Aluminum vs. 3005-H18 Aluminum Properties Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Alloy Composition Similar composition with minor differences Similar composition with minor differences
Brinell Hardness Lower hardness Higher hardness
Fatigue Strength Lower fatigue strength Higher fatigue strength
Shear Strength Lower shear strength Higher shear strength
Tensile Strength (Ultimate) Lower tensile strength Higher tensile strength
Tensile Strength (Yield) Lower yield strength Higher yield strength
Thermal Conductivity Better thermal conductivity Slightly lower conductivity
Resilience (Unit Rupture Work) Higher Lower
Modulus of Resilience Lower Higher
Strength-to-Weight Ratio (Axial) Lower Higher
Strength-to-Weight Ratio (Bending) Lower Higher

Although 3003-H18 and 3005-H18 aluminum alloys are very similar in composition and many thermal and electrical properties, their mechanical properties differ significantly. 3005-H18 has higher strength, hardness, and fatigue resistance, making it suitable for applications where strength and durability under pressure are critical. In contrast, 3003-H18 has better elongation and formability, making it more suitable for applications that require greater flexibility and ductility.

3003-H18 Aluminum and 3005-H18 Aluminum Key Differences

  • 3003-H18 Aluminum: More ductile with higher elongation at break, better electrical conductivity, and higher rupture work resilience.
  • 3005-H18 Aluminum: Has higher strength, hardness, fatigue resistance, and strength-to-weight ratios, making it more suitable for structural applications requiring greater durability.

3003-H18 Aluminum vs. 3005-H18 Aluminum Applications

Aluminum Alloy Application Description
3003-H18 Aluminum Suitable for products that require good formability, such as decorative panels, kitchen utensils, household appliances, and consumer goods.
3005-H18 Aluminum Suitable for products that require high strength and durability, such as automotive structural components, industrial equipment, and applications in high-stress environments.

3003 H18 Aluminum Applications

Application Area Detailed Description
Decorative Materials 3003-H18 aluminum, due to its excellent formability and surface finish, is commonly used for manufacturing various decorative materials. It is widely used in interior and exterior decorations, building facades, aluminum wall panels, and more. Its good surface treatment characteristics allow it to be anodized or coated, making it more aesthetically pleasing and corrosion-resistant.
Kitchen Utensils 3003-H18 aluminum, with its excellent processing performance, is commonly used in the manufacture of kitchen utensils such as pots, frying pans, and cooking equipment. The alloy is easy to stamp and has good corrosion resistance, making it very suitable for environments with high temperatures and frequent contact with food.
Consumer Goods Due to its lighter weight and lower cost, 3003-H18 aluminum is also widely used in producing various consumer goods, such as electronic product enclosures, household appliance casings, and automotive interiors. Its excellent machinability makes it very popular in these industries.

3005 H18 Aluminum Applications

Application Area Detailed Description
Structural Components 3005-H18 aluminum is widely used in structural components that need to bear heavy loads, such as supporting frameworks in building structures and bridge components. Its higher strength makes it suitable for high-strength structural applications, allowing it to effectively withstand external pressures and loads.
Heavy-Duty Applications Due to the higher durability and stronger stress resistance of 3005-H18 aluminum, it is widely used in heavy machinery equipment and industrial applications. For example, it is used in supports, frames, and structural components of heavy machinery in industrial facilities, where it can withstand long-term mechanical impact and loading.
Automotive 3005-H18 aluminum is used in automotive manufacturing for producing body frames, chassis, and other components. Its high-strength characteristics allow these parts to provide additional safety and durability while reducing overall weight, improving fuel efficiency.
High-Stress Applications In aerospace, railways, and the transportation industry, 3005-H18 aluminum, due to its strength and fatigue resistance, is widely used in components that bear high stress, such as fuselage supports, train carriage frames, and more. These applications require aluminum alloys that can endure high-intensity mechanical stresses over extended periods.

3003-H18 and 3005-H18 Aluminum Alloy Composition Comparison

3003-H18 and 3005-H18 are both primarily aluminum and contain small amounts of manganese, copper, silicon, and other elements. The alloy compositions are quite similar, with only slight differences in the content of elements such as aluminum and other trace elements.

Element 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Aluminum (Al), % 96.8 to 99 95.7 to 98.8
Chromium (Cr), % 0 0 to 0.1
Copper (Cu), % 0.050 to 0.2 0 to 0.3
Iron (Fe), % 0 to 0.7 0 to 0.7
Magnesium (Mg), % 0 0.2 to 0.6
Manganese (Mn), % 1.0 to 1.5 1.0 to 1.5
Silicon (Si), % 0 to 0.6 0 to 0.6
Titanium (Ti), % 0 0 to 0.1
Zinc (Zn), % 0 to 0.1 0 to 0.25
Residuals, % 0 0 to 0.15

3003-H18 and 3005-H18 Aluminum Mechanical Properties Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Brinell Hardness 56 69
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, x 10⁶ psi 10 10
Elongation at Break, % 4.5 1.7
Fatigue Strength, x 10³ psi 10 12
Poisson's Ratio 0.33 0.33
Shear Modulus, x 10⁶ psi 3.8 3.8
Shear Strength, x 10³ psi 16 21
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), x 10³ psi 30 36
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), x 10³ psi 27 33

3003-H18 and 3005-H18 Aluminum Thermal Properties Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g 400 400
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °F 360 360
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °F 1210 1210
Melting Onset (Solidus), °F 1190 1180
Specific Heat Capacity, BTU/lb-°F 0.21 0.21
Thermal Conductivity, BTU/h-ft-°F 100 93
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K 23 23

3003-H18 and 3005-H18 Aluminum Electrical Properties Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS 44 42
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS 140 140

Otherwise Unclassified Properties Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Base Metal Price, % relative 9.5 9.5
Density, lb/ft³ 170 170
Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material 8.1 8.2
Embodied Energy, x 10³ BTU/lb 66 66
Embodied Water, gal/lb 140 140

Common Calculations Comparison

Property 3003-H18 Aluminum 3005-H18 Aluminum
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³ 9.0 4.1
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³ 240 370
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points 14 14
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points 50 49
Strength to Weight: Axial, points 21 25
Strength to Weight: Bending, points 28 32
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s 71 64
Thermal Shock Resistance, points 9.1 11

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