5052-H32 aluminum
H32 stabilization, thickness- and form-specific properties, forming, joining/HAZ softening, and corrosion boundaries for wrought 5052 aluminum.
Tags: materials, aluminum, aluminum-magnesium, sheet-metal, non-heat-treatable
On this page
Alloy identity and supplied condition
Atlas's June 2021 sheet recommends 1.5t for H32 (4.8 mm) and 2t for H34 (6.4 mm) at 3.2 mm sheet thickness, for bending at 90° to the rolling direction. Equipment and tooling affect the achievable radius. Qualify the radius for the actual setup. Atlas bend-radius table, p. 3
5052-H32 identifies an alloy and temper together. The Aluminum Association's December 2025 Teal Sheets register 5052 with 2.2–2.8% magnesium and 0.15–0.35% chromium by mass, aluminum as the remainder, and limits on other elements. Composition identifies the alloy; it does not establish thickness, product form, surface condition, or mechanical acceptance requirements. Aluminum Association 5052 registration
5052 is non-heat-treatable in the precipitation-hardening sense. Strength can be increased by cold work; a heat-treatment step used for stabilization does not make H32 equivalent to a T temper. Atlas describes flat-rolled coil, sheet, and plate as well as other product forms, which must retain their own specification requirements. Atlas 5052 alloy and processing overview
H32 versus H34, H112, and O
The Australian Aluminium Council's Rolled Products Manual, January 2024, defines H3 as strain-hardened and then stabilized by low-temperature heating, slightly reducing strength and increasing ductility. This addresses the tendency of the relevant magnesium-containing alloys to age-soften. In the temper system, the final 2 denotes quarter-hard and 4 half-hard. They describe degrees of strain hardening, not percentages of thickness reduction or guaranteed hardness readings. AAC temper definitions, pp. 9–10
| Condition | Distinction to retain |
|---|---|
| H32 | Strain-hardened and stabilized, quarter-hard |
| H34 | Strain-hardened and stabilized, half-hard |
| H112 | Some temper acquired during shaping without special control of strain hardening/thermal treatment, but mechanical limits or testing apply |
| O | Annealed, recrystallized soft condition |
These are different material conditions. An offered H112 plate, H34 sheet, or O treadplate should not be relabeled H32 because it shares the same alloy chemistry. AAC basic and subdivided temper definitions
Thickness-specific limits and typical values
Almetals' H32 coil-stock reference lists 31–38 ksi ultimate tensile strength and 23 ksi minimum yield strength, while its elongation-in-2-inches entries vary by thickness. Selected rows are shown below. The page credits Aluminum Association data but does not identify the source edition; it expressly presents the information as reference guidance rather than product-design data. Almetals 5052-H32 mechanical-property limits
| Specified thickness in the reference | Elongation in 2 inches |
|---|---|
| 0.017–0.019 in | 4% |
| 0.020–0.050 in | 5% |
| 0.051–0.113 in | 7% |
| 0.114–0.250 in | 9% |
Use the actual specification's thickness band, test direction, specimen basis, and unit system for acceptance. A table titled “limits” is different from a typical-value table, and neither automatically supplies structural design allowables. A gauge change may alter the required elongation even when the temper does not change.
Kaiser's Tube & Pipe Alloy 5052, marked Rev. 05/06, separately reports the following typical values, with elongation over 4D. This is a tube/pipe reference, not a guarantee for all sheet products. It illustrates the tradeoff between conditions rather than establishing interchangeability. Kaiser 5052 typical mechanical properties
| Temper | Typical ultimate tensile strength | Typical yield strength | Typical elongation/4D |
|---|---|---|---|
| O | 195 MPa | 90 MPa | 25% |
| H32 | 230 MPa | 195 MPa | 12% |
| H34 | 260 MPa | 215 MPa | 10% |
The same sheet reports modulus 70 GPa for these conditions. Its thermal conductivity entry of 138 W/(m·K) at 20°C is specifically labeled O; it should not silently become an H32 property. Kaiser condition-specific physical-property entries
Forming and machining
For the actual job, retain sheet direction, thickness, temper, tooling, bend sequence, and drawing revision. Inspect representative parts for cracking, springback, thinning, and surface damage as applicable. If a trial uses a different material batch or process, identify that difference before transferring the result. Machining and cutting also need a dimensional and surface inspection plan; a nominal alloy label does not establish distortion-free thin walls.
Joining and final strength
Atlas identifies GMAW/MIG and GTAW/TIG as preferred, widely used processes and names 5356 as a usual filler, while allowing other selections. That is a starting point for procedure selection, not a prescription for every dissimilar joint, finish, or service condition. Atlas welding guidance
ESAB's September 19, 2024 guidance explains that welding heat can anneal the HAZ of strain-hardened, non-heat-treatable aluminum. Stabilization does not preserve H32 parent-stock strength through that thermal cycle. Assess unaffected base metal, weld metal, and HAZ separately and use the applicable as-welded requirements. Do not assume an aging operation restores strength originally obtained by cold work. ESAB work-hardening and HAZ explanation
A supplier's favorable weldability description does not establish joint fatigue life, leak tightness, or code compliance. For brazing, adhesive bonding, or fastening, qualify the selected process and final condition separately. Keep any required joint inspection and corrosion protection with the manufacturing route.
Corrosion and service boundaries
Austral Wright describes good corrosion resistance for 5052, including marine atmospheres, while warning about galvanic effects from electrical contact with other metals and environments that prevent the protective oxide film from functioning. This undated general supplier guidance is not a chemical-compatibility chart or a guarantee for every immersed assembly. Evaluate actual fluids, temperature, wet/dry cycling, crevices, fasteners, and protective finishes. Austral Wright 5052 corrosion guidance
“Marine,” “fuel tank,” or “food equipment” in an application list does not establish suitability for a particular design. Specify the service requirements and applicable design basis, including thermal exposure and cyclic loading where relevant. A room-temperature tensile certificate cannot establish those properties by itself.
Purchase and release record
Specify 5052-H32, product form, dimensions/tolerances, governing specification and edition, finish, and required certification. Match results to the correct thickness and test basis. Preserve lot identity through cut blanks, processing, and final inspection. Treat changes in temper, alloy, gauge, or form as explicit substitutions; assess the complete material and finished-part requirements before release.