Aluminium — Material Overview
Aluminium is the light structural metal: density 2.7 g/cm³ versus 7.85 for steel, a naturally forming oxide film that resists atmosphere and water without coating, and full recyclability. Grade choice drives the properties — pure 1050 for conductivity and forming; the magnesium 5xxx family (5052, 5083, 5086, 5454) for marine, cryogenic and tank strength; 6061/6082 for weldable structural work and 7075 for the highest strength-to-weight ratio.
We supply aluminium as plate and sheet for fabrication, bars and rods for machining, pipe and tube for lightweight services, and standard structural sections. Tempers are certified (O, H, T6) and material ships with EN 10204 inspection documents.
8grades listed
2,700 kg/m³typical density (2.66 – 2.81 by grade)
4product forms
Available Grades
The grades below are the ones most often asked for. Each grade stays on this page — the material-first way to browse.
Aluminium 1050
UNS A91050 EN / W.Nr. 3.0225 (1050A)
99.5% pure aluminium — the commercial-purity grade. Highest formability and electrical conductivity of the series. Busbars, heat-exchanger fins, chemical equipment, trim and general sheet-metal work.
Aluminium 5052
UNS A95052
Al-Mg2.5 — the general-purpose workhorse of the 5xxx sheet family. Excellent formability for bending and deep drawing, good seawater and chemical resistance and moderate strength in H32/H34 tempers. Fuel and oil tanks, marine panels, pressure vessels, sheet-metal enclosures and signage.
Aluminium 5083
UNS A95083 EN / W.Nr. 3.3547
Al-Mg4.5Mn — the marine grade. High strength in the work-hardened H116/H321 tempers, excellent seawater corrosion resistance and retained toughness at cryogenic temperature. Hull plating, LNG-support structures, pressure vessels and rail cars.
Aluminium 5086
UNS A95086
Al-Mg4 — between 5052 and 5083 in strength with the best combination of formability and corrosion resistance of the marine grades. Hull and deck plating, welded storage tanks, pressure vessels and cryogenic equipment.
Aluminium 5454
UNS A95454
Al-Mg2.7Mn — the elevated-temperature and hydrogen-service member of the marine family, resistant to blistering in hot seawater and to stress-corrosion cracking. Chemical and product tankers, pipelines, exhaust systems and welded structures working above 65 °C.
Aluminium 6061
UNS A96061
Al-Mg-Si heat-treatable alloy, the general engineering grade (the 6082 counterpart in ASTM markets). Good weldability, machinability in T6 and medium strength — structures, frames, pipe fittings and machined plates.
Aluminium 6082
EN / W.Nr. 3.2315
The European structural Al-Si-Mg grade — slightly stronger than 6061 with the same excellent weldability. Scaffolding, cranes, transport frames, and T6 plates and bars for machined components.
Aluminium 7075
UNS A97075 EN / W.Nr. 3.4345
Al-Zn-Mg-Cu — the strongest aluminium. High strength-to-weight for aerospace structures, mould plates, die components and high-stress fittings. Not recommended for welding; supplied in T6 and T651.
Chemical Composition (indicative)
Nominal ranges as published in the common product standards. Values are indicative and for comparison only — always purchase against the current ASTM/EN specification and the mill test certificate.
Aluminium 1050
Aluminium 1050 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | ≥ 99.50 |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 0.25 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.40 |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤ 0.07 |
Aluminium 5052
Aluminium 5052 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.2 – 2.8 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.15 – 0.35 |
| Silicon (Si) + Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.45 each |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤ 0.10 |
Aluminium 5083
Aluminium 5083 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 4.0 – 4.9 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 1.0 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.05 – 0.25 |
| Silicon (Si) + Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.40 each |
Aluminium 5086
Aluminium 5086 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 3.5 – 4.5 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.20 – 0.70 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.05 – 0.25 |
Aluminium 5454
Aluminium 5454 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.4 – 3.0 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 – 1.0 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.05 – 0.20 |
Aluminium 6061
Aluminium 6061 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.8 – 1.2 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.40 – 0.8 |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.15 – 0.40 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.04 – 0.35 |
Aluminium 6082
Aluminium 6082 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.70 – 1.3 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.60 – 1.2 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 1.0 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.50 |
Aluminium 7075
Aluminium 7075 — chemical composition, % by mass
| Element | Content |
| Aluminium (Al) | bal. |
| Zinc (Zn) | 5.1 – 6.1 |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 2.1 – 2.9 |
| Copper (Cu) | 1.2 – 2.0 |
| Chromium (Cr) | 0.18 – 0.28 |
Mechanical Properties (indicative)
Typical minimum values for the common product forms in the annealed / solution-treated condition. Actual properties depend on product form, specification revision and heat treatment.
Aluminium 1050
Aluminium 1050 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (annealed O) | ≈ 70 – 100 MPa |
| Elongation (annealed O) | ≈ 35 – 45 % |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 5052
Aluminium 5052 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (H32) | ≈ 215 – 260 MPa |
| Yield strength (H32) | ≈ 170 – 200 MPa |
| Elongation (H32) | ≈ 7 – 12 % |
| Density | 2.68 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 5083
Aluminium 5083 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (annealed O) | ≈ 270 – 340 MPa |
| Yield strength (annealed O) | ≈ 125 – 145 MPa |
| Elongation (annealed O) | ≈ 16 – 22 % |
| Density | 2.66 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 5086
Aluminium 5086 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (H116) | ≈ 240 – 290 MPa |
| Yield strength (H116) | ≈ 145 – 195 MPa |
| Elongation (H116) | ≈ 12 – 16 % |
| Density | 2.66 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 5454
Aluminium 5454 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (H32) | ≈ 240 – 280 MPa |
| Yield strength (H32) | ≈ 165 – 190 MPa |
| Elongation (H32) | ≈ 10 – 14 % |
| Density | 2.69 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 6061
Aluminium 6061 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (T6) | ≈ 290 – 310 MPa |
| Yield strength (T6) | ≈ 240 – 276 MPa |
| Elongation (T6) | ≈ 8 – 12 % |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 6082
Aluminium 6082 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (T6) | ≈ 310 – 340 MPa |
| Yield strength (T6) | ≈ 260 – 280 MPa |
| Elongation (T6) | ≈ 10 – 12 % |
| Density | 2.70 g/cm³ |
Aluminium 7075
Aluminium 7075 — mechanical properties
| Property | Value |
| Tensile strength (T6) | ≈ 530 – 570 MPa |
| Yield strength (T6) | ≈ 460 – 500 MPa |
| Elongation (T6) | ≈ 8 – 11 % |
| Density | 2.81 g/cm³ |
Physical Properties
Aluminium — physical properties
| Property | Value |
| Density (all grades) | 2.66 – 2.81 g/cm³ |
| Melting range | ≈ 475 – 660 °C (660 °C pure) |
| Thermal conductivity (1050) | ≈ 229 W/m·K |
| Thermal conductivity (6061-T6 / 7075-T6) | ≈ 167 / 130 W/m·K |
| Elastic modulus | ≈ 68 – 72 GPa (about one third of steel) |
Industrial Applications
- Marine hull and superstructure plating (5083)
- Cryogenic vessels and piping — retains toughness at −196 °C
- Structural frames, platforms and access equipment (6082)
- Mould plates, dies and machining stock (6082 / 7075)
- Electrical busbars and conductor strip (1050)
- Heat-exchanger panels and fins
- Transport bodywork — rail, road, defence
Applicable Standards
Standards commonly applied to Aluminium products
| Standard | Scope |
| ASTM B209 | Aluminium and aluminium-alloy sheet and plate |
| ASTM B221 | Extruded bars, rods, wire, profiles and tubes |
| ASTM B211 | Rolled or cold-finished bars and rods |
| ASTM B241 | Seamless pipe and tube |
| ASTM B210 | Drawn seamless tubes |
| EN 485 | Sheet, strip and plate (EN designations) |
| EN 755 | Extruded bar, rod, profiles and tube |
| EN 573 / EN 515 | Chemical composition and temper designation |
Quality & Documentation
Aluminium products are supplied to ASTM or EN specifications with temper certification and EN 10204 Type 3.1 inspection documents. Marine-tempers (5083 H116 / H321) can be supplied with classification-society certificates on request — confirm the society and scope with your enquiry. Chemical and mechanical test reports accompany each lot.
Related Engineering Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
6061 or 6082 — which should I use?
They are the same alloy family (Al-Mg-Si) on different standards: 6061 is the ASTM (US) designation, 6082 the EN (European) one with slightly higher strength. Properties and welding behaviour are close enough that availability and the customer standard usually decide.
Can aluminium be welded?
The 5xxx (5083) and 6xxx (6061, 6082) grades weld very well with TIG/MIG and 5356/4043 filler. 7075 is generally not weldable — it hot-cracks — so it is used with bolted or riveted joints and machined from solid.
Which grade for marine or salt-water use?
5083 in the H116 or H321 temper — magnesium gives it seawater corrosion resistance and work-hardened strength. It is the standard hull and superstructure grade and stays tough at cryogenic temperatures.
How much lighter than steel is aluminium?
About one third of the weight for the same volume (2.7 vs 7.85 g/cm³). Per kilogram of strength, 6082-T6 and 7075-T6 are competitive with structural steel — which is why transport structures use them.
What do the temper codes O, H and T6 mean?
O is annealed (soft, most formable); H is strain-hardened (H116/H321 are marine tempers of 5083); T6 is solution-treated and artificially aged — the strong, standard condition for 6061/6082/7075. Material ships certified to the ordered temper.
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