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3005-O Aluminum vs. 3103-O Aluminum

Jan. 08, 2025

3005-O aluminum has high strength, excellent fatigue strength, but poor ductility, making it suitable for high-strength applications. 3103-O aluminum has good ductility, strong toughness, and is suitable for low-strength applications that require significant deformation.

3005-O aluminum and 3103-O aluminum are two common aluminum alloys. Although they have some similarities in chemical composition and thermal properties, they exhibit significant differences in mechanical properties.

Both alloys have similar chemical composition and thermal properties, but they show significant differences in mechanical properties such as elongation, fatigue strength, shear strength, and tensile strength (ultimate and yield strength). The elongation of 3005-O aluminum is lower than that of 3103-O aluminum, while its tensile strength is higher. Additionally, compared to 3103-O, 3005-O aluminum shows higher elasticity in fracture toughness, but with a lower modulus of elasticity.

3005-O Aluminum and 3103-O Aluminum Performance Comparison Table

Mechanical Properties 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum Notes
Elongation Lower Higher 3005-O aluminum undergoes less deformation during stretching, while 3103-O aluminum has better ductility.
Tensile Strength Higher than 3103-O aluminum Lower 3005-O aluminum withstands higher loads, suitable for high-strength structures, while 3103-O aluminum is more suitable for low-load applications.
Yield Strength Higher than 3103-O aluminum Lower 3005-O aluminum better resists plastic deformation under high-load environments.
Fracture Elongation Lower Higher 3005-O aluminum is more prone to brittle fracture, while 3103-O aluminum has better toughness and plasticity, making it less prone to fracture.
Fatigue Strength Higher Lower 3005-O aluminum is more durable under cyclic loading or vibration.
Shear Strength Higher Lower 3005-O aluminum can withstand larger cutting forces, while 3103-O aluminum is more suitable for applications with lower shear stress.

3005-O Aluminum and 3103-O Aluminum Applications

  • 3005-O aluminum: Due to its higher strength and lower elongation, it is suitable for applications that require high strength and low plasticity, such as building materials, external structures for vehicles, cooling systems, household appliances, etc.
  • 3103-O aluminum: Due to its better ductility and lower strength, it is suitable for applications that require high plasticity and low loads, such as automotive interiors, household appliances, lightweight construction, and decorative materials.

Although 3005-O aluminum and 3103-O aluminum are similar in chemical composition and thermal properties, they differ significantly in mechanical properties. 3005-O aluminum performs better in strength and fatigue strength, while 3103-O aluminum has advantages in ductility and plasticity. Therefore, the choice of alloy should be determined based on the specific application requirements. For example, if the application requires higher strength and lower deformation, 3005-O aluminum may be more suitable; whereas if higher ductility and lower strength are needed, 3103-O aluminum would be a better choice.

3005-O Aluminum vs. 3103-O Aluminum Alloy Composition

3005-O Aluminum Chemical Composition

Main elements: Aluminum, Manganese, Silicon, Copper, Iron

Manganese content is approximately 1.0-1.5%, which is its main alloying element, providing certain strength and corrosion resistance.

Copper content is relatively low.

3103-O Aluminum Chemical Composition

Main elements: Aluminum, Manganese, Silicon, Copper, Iron

Manganese content is higher, around 1.0-1.5%, and silicon content is higher, typically used to enhance the alloy’s machinability and corrosion resistance.

Copper content is slightly higher than in 3005 aluminum, which increases tensile strength.

Element 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Aluminum (Al), % 95.7 to 98.8 96.3 to 99.1
Chromium (Cr), % 0 to 0.1 0 to 0.1
Copper (Cu), % 0 to 0.3 0 to 0.1
Iron (Fe), % 0 to 0.7 0 to 0.7
Magnesium (Mg), % 0.2 to 0.6 0 to 0.3
Manganese (Mn), % 1.0 to 1.5 0.9 to 1.5
Silicon (Si), % 0 to 0.6 0 to 0.5
Titanium (Ti), % 0 to 0.1 0 to 0.1
Zinc (Zn), % 0 to 0.25 0 to 0.2
Zirconium (Zr), % 0 0 to 0.1
Residuals, % 0 0 to 0.15

3005-O Aluminum vs. 3103-O Aluminum Mechanical Properties

Property 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Brinell Hardness 33 27
Elastic (Young's) Modulus, x 10^6 psi 10 10
Elongation at Break, % 16 28
Fatigue Strength, x 10^3 psi 7.7 6.6
Poisson's Ratio 0.33 0.33
Shear Modulus, x 10^6 psi 3.8 3.8
Shear Strength, x 10^3 psi 12 10
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), x 10^3 psi 20 16
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), x 10^3 psi 7.4 5.7

3005-O Aluminum vs. 3103-O Aluminum Thermal Properties

Both have similar thermal properties, with good thermal conductivity and high-temperature stability, making them suitable for high-temperature environments.

After stress relief and heat treatment, both have similar thermal expansion properties.

Both are in the O temper (annealed state), so they have good plasticity during processing, making them suitable for deep processing materials.

Property 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g 400 400
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °F 360 380
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °F 1210 1210
Melting Onset (Solidus), °F 1180 1180
Specific Heat Capacity, BTU/lb-°F 0.21 0.21
Thermal Conductivity, BTU/h-ft-°F 93 93
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K 23 23

3005-O Aluminum vs. 3103-O Aluminum Electrical Properties

Property 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS 42 42
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS 140 140

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Property 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Base Metal Price, % relative 9.5 9.5
Density, lb/ft³ 170 170
Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material 8.2 8.2
Embodied Energy, x 10³ BTU/lb 66 66
Embodied Water, gal/lb 140 140

Common Calculations

Property 3005-O Aluminum 3103-O Aluminum
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³ 18 24
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³ 18 11
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points 14 14
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points 49 50
Strength to Weight: Axial, points 14 11
Strength to Weight: Bending, points 21 18
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s 64 64
Thermal Shock Resistance, points 6.0 4.8

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