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5052-H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum

Feb. 08, 2025

5052 H38 aluminum and 5182-H38 aluminum are both aluminum alloys that have undergone strain hardening and stabilization treatment, belonging to the H38 temper, which makes them common strength grades.

  • 5052-H38 aluminum has the advantage of good formability, ductility, and fatigue strength, making it suitable for applications that require high corrosion resistance and formability.
  • 5182-H38 aluminum provides higher strength, tensile strength, and shear strength, making it suitable for applications that require higher structural strength. Although its ductility is relatively poorer, it performs better in high-strength, high-stress environments.

5052 H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum Mechanical Properties

  • 5052-H38 aluminum has excellent fracture elongation and strong fatigue strength, which makes it more resistant to fatigue in long-term use. At the same time, it exhibits higher mechanical properties at high temperatures, making it suitable for applications that need to maintain structural integrity at elevated temperatures.
  • 5182-H38 aluminum has higher tensile strength (including ultimate and yield strength) and shear strength, allowing it to withstand greater loads and higher stress. Its resistance to thermal shock is slightly superior, enabling it to better handle sudden temperature changes and thermal cycling.
Property 5052-H38 Aluminum 5182-H38 Aluminum
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa 68 68
Elongation at Break, % 5.2 1.1
Fatigue Strength, MPa 140 130
Poisson's Ratio 0.33 0.33
Shear Modulus, GPa 26 25
Shear Strength, MPa 170 220
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa 300 390
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), MPa 250 310

5052-H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum Thermal Properties

Property 5052-H38 Aluminum 5182-H38 Aluminum
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g 400 390
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C 190 180
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °C 650 640
Melting Onset (Solidus), °C 610 590
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K 900 900
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K 140 130
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K 24 24

5052 H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum Electrical Properties

  • 5052-H38 aluminum has higher electrical conductivity, making it suitable for electrical and electronic applications. In addition, its good formability allows it to perform excellently in engineering projects that require complex forming.
  • 5182-H38 aluminum, on the other hand, is less formable than 5052-H38 due to its higher strength, which requires greater forming difficulty. However, in high-strength mechanical structures, 5182-H38 performs more reliably due to its stronger tensile and shear strength.
Property 5052-H38 Aluminum 5182-H38 Aluminum
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS 35 28
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS 120 94

5052-H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum Alloy Composition

  • 5052-H38 aluminum contains a lower magnesium content compared to 5182-H38 aluminum, which results in slightly lower strength but better ductility and formability.
  • 5182-H38 aluminum, on the other hand, has a higher magnesium content, making it stronger than 5052-H38, but with a slight compromise in ductility.
Element 5052-H38 Aluminum 5182-H38 Aluminum
Aluminum (Al), % 95.8 to 97.7 93.2 to 95.8
Chromium (Cr), % 0.15 to 0.35 0 to 0.1
Copper (Cu), % 0 to 0.1 0 to 0.15
Iron (Fe), % 0 to 0.4 0 to 0.35
Magnesium (Mg), % 2.2 to 2.8 4.0 to 5.0
Manganese (Mn), % 0 to 0.1 0.2 to 0.5
Silicon (Si), % 0 to 0.25 0 to 0.2
Titanium (Ti), % 0 0 to 0.1
Zinc (Zn), % 0 to 0.1 0 to 0.25
Residuals, % 0 0 to 0.15

5052-H38 Aluminum vs. 5182-H38 Aluminum Applications

  • 5052-H38 aluminum has excellent formability and good fatigue strength, making it highly suitable for applications requiring strong ductility and good corrosion resistance. This alloy is commonly used in shipbuilding due to its outstanding resistance to marine environment corrosion, ensuring the long-term durability of the hull material. Additionally, 5052-H38 aluminum is widely used in automotive manufacturing, especially in the production of body and shell components, due to its excellent formability and corrosion resistance. In pressure vessel manufacturing, 5052-H38 aluminum is also commonly found in liquid and gas storage containers, providing strength and durability while withstanding external pressure without deformation. This alloy is also used in other structural components such as bridges and building structures, where its good ductility and fatigue resistance perform exceptionally well.
  • 5182-H38 aluminum is primarily used in applications that demand higher strength, especially in the manufacture of high-pressure vessels. Its extremely high tensile strength and strong pressure resistance allow it to withstand higher internal pressures and external impacts. It is also commonly used in aerospace applications, particularly in aircraft structural components such as the fuselage and wings, where it maintains structural stability and reliability in extreme environments. Furthermore, 5182-H38 aluminum is widely applied in automotive manufacturing, especially in safety components and structural parts of vehicles, which bear greater external forces and pressure. In high-stress mechanical parts, the shear strength and tensile strength of 5182-H38 aluminum make it an ideal choice, offering significant advantages in heavy-duty and high-strength application scenarios.

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