Jan. 02, 2025
The main differences between 3003 and 3104 aluminum alloys lie in strength, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and composition. Choosing the appropriate aluminum alloy material should depend on the specific application requirements, including strength demands, heat dissipation needs, and electrical performance.
3003 Aluminum: Suitable for low-strength applications, it has high thermal and electrical conductivity, making it ideal for heat dissipation and electrical conduction needs.
3104 Aluminum: It has higher strength and hardness, making it suitable for applications with higher strength requirements, and it also has better corrosion resistance. It is widely used in beverage cans and other applications that require strength and durability.
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Tensile Strength | Low | High |
| Yield Strength | Low | High |
| Thermal Conductivity | High | Lower |
| Electrical Conductivity | Slightly Higher | Slightly Lower |
| Main Alloying Elements | Aluminum, 1.0–1.5% Manganese | Aluminum, 0.9–1.3% Magnesium, 1.0–1.3% Manganese |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good | Better (due to the addition of Magnesium and Manganese) |
| Typical Applications | Heat exchangers, cooling systems, household appliances, decorative materials, etc. | Beverage cans, containers, automotive, building structures, and other high-strength applications |
Strength Characteristics
3104 aluminum has higher tensile strength and yield strength than 3003 aluminum, making it suitable for applications that require higher load-bearing capacity.
3003 Aluminum: 3003 aluminum alloy is a non-heat treatable strengthened alloy with good ductility and formability. Its tensile strength and yield strength are relatively low, typically ranging from 110–170 MPa, making it suitable for low-strength applications.
3104 Aluminum: 3104 aluminum alloy, with more magnesium and manganese added compared to 3003 aluminum, has higher tensile strength and yield strength, typically ranging from 250–300 MPa. It is suitable for applications requiring higher strength, such as beverage cans, containers, and some structural components.
Thermal Conductivity
3003 aluminum has higher thermal conductivity, making it more suitable for heat exchange and cooling applications. In contrast, 3104 aluminum has slightly lower thermal conductivity, but for most applications requiring higher strength, it is still sufficient.
3003 Aluminum: 3003 aluminum alloy has a higher thermal conductivity, typically around 170 W/m·K. This high thermal conductivity makes it more advantageous for applications with high heat dissipation requirements, such as heat exchangers and cooling systems.
3104 Aluminum: 3104 aluminum has slightly lower thermal conductivity, typically around 160 W/m·K, due to its higher strength and the presence of more alloying elements. While it still has good thermal conductivity, 3003 aluminum might be more suitable for applications requiring extremely high heat dissipation.
Electrical Conductivity
3003 aluminum performs slightly better in electrical conductivity, making it more widely used in electrical and electronic products.
3003 Aluminum: 3003 aluminum has a slightly higher electrical conductivity, typically around 60–65% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). This characteristic makes it relatively more advantageous for electrical applications, especially those with high electrical conduction requirements.
3104 Aluminum: 3104 aluminum has slightly lower electrical conductivity, typically around 55–60% IACS. Due to its changes in alloy composition, its electrical conductivity is lower than that of 3003 aluminum, making it less suitable for some high electrical conductivity applications.
3104 aluminum alloy contains more magnesium and manganese, which contribute to its higher mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, especially making it more suitable for applications requiring higher strength and durability.
3003 Aluminum: Primarily composed of aluminum and 1.0–1.5% manganese, it has good corrosion resistance and machinability. Manganese is the key element for enhancing corrosion resistance and some strength.
3104 Aluminum: 3104 aluminum, built on the foundation of 3003 aluminum, includes more magnesium (0.9–1.3%) and manganese (1.0–1.3%). This gives it higher strength, hardness, and impact resistance. Additionally, the addition of magnesium enhances its corrosion resistance, especially in extreme environments.
| Element | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Aluminum (Al), % | 96.8 to 99 | 95.1 to 98.4 |
| Copper (Cu), % | 0.050 to 0.2 | 0.050 to 0.25 |
| Gallium (Ga), % | 0 | 0 to 0.050 |
| Iron (Fe), % | 0 to 0.7 | 0 to 0.8 |
| Magnesium (Mg), % | 0 | 0.8 to 1.3 |
| Manganese (Mn), % | 1.0 to 1.5 | 0.8 to 1.4 |
| Silicon (Si), % | 0 to 0.6 | 0 to 0.6 |
| Titanium (Ti), % | 0 | 0 to 0.1 |
| Vanadium (V), % | 0 | 0 to 0.050 |
| Zinc (Zn), % | 0 to 0.1 | 0 to 0.25 |
| Residuals, % | 0 | 0 to 0.15 |
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus (x 10^6 psi) | 10 | 10 |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 1.1 to 28 | 1.1 to 20 |
| Fatigue Strength (x 10^3 psi) | 5.7 to 13 | 11 to 18 |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.33 | 0.33 |
| Shear Modulus (x 10^6 psi) | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Shear Strength (x 10^3 psi) | 9.9 to 19 | 16 to 25 |
| Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS) (x 10^3 psi) | 16 to 34 | 25 to 45 |
| Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof) (x 10^3 psi) | 5.7 to 30 | 9.9 to 40 |
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Latent Heat of Fusion (J/g) | 400 | 400 |
| Maximum Temperature: Mechanical (°F) | 360 | 360 |
| Melting Completion (Liquidus) (°F) | 1210 | 1200 |
| Melting Onset (Solidus) (°F) | 1190 | 1120 |
| Specific Heat Capacity (BTU/lb-°F) | 0.21 | 0.21 |
| Thermal Conductivity (BTU/h-ft-°F) | 100 | 91 |
| Thermal Expansion (µm/m-K) | 23 | 23 |
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume (% IACS) | 44 | 41 |
| Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (% IACS) | 140 | 130 |
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Base Metal Price (% relative) | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Density (lb/ft³) | 170 | 170 |
| Embodied Carbon (kg CO2/kg material) | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| Embodied Energy (x 10^3 BTU/lb) | 66 | 66 |
| Embodied Water (gal/lb) | 140 | 140 |
| Property | 3003 Aluminum | 3104 Aluminum |
| Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work, MJ/m³) | 0.95 to 63 | 1.6 to 60 |
| Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience, kJ/m³) | 11 to 300 | 34 to 540 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Axial (points) | 14 | 14 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Bending (points) | 50 | 50 |
| Strength to Weight: Axial (points) | 11 to 24 | 17 to 31 |
| Strength to Weight: Bending (points) | 18 to 30 | 25 to 37 |
| Thermal Diffusivity (mm²/s) | 71 | 64 |
| Thermal Shock Resistance (points) | 4.7 to 10 | 7.6 to 13 |
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