5182 Aluminum Plate

5182 aluminum plate is a representative alloy of the Al–Mg (5xxx series) system. It is a non-heat-treatable aluminum alloy known for its excellent corrosion resistance, good weldability, and outstanding formability. With a balanced chemical composition and stable performance, 5182 alloy is widely produced and used across multiple industries where durability and lightweight strength are required.

The main characteristics of 5182 aluminum plate include moderate to high strength, excellent resistance to seawater and industrial corrosion, and superior fatigue performance. It maintains good mechanical properties at both room and moderately elevated temperatures, making it suitable for long-term service in demanding environments. Compared with many other aluminum alloys, 5182 exhibits better resistance to stress corrosion cracking and superior performance in welded structures.

5182 aluminum plate has excellent formability in the annealed and strain-hardened conditions, making it ideal for deep drawing, bending, and complex shaping processes. It does not require heat treatment for strength enhancement, which simplifies processing and ensures consistent material performance. In addition, the alloy shows good surface quality and is easy to anodize or apply protective coatings.

Due to its combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and formability, 5182 aluminum plate is widely used in automotive body panels, fuel tanks, truck and trailer components, marine structures, pressure vessels, storage tanks, and food and beverage can ends. It is also commonly applied in shipbuilding, transportation equipment, and structural components exposed to humid or corrosive environments.

Chemical Composition of 5182 Aluminum Plate (wt.%)

• Silicon (Si): ≤ 0.20%

• Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.35%

• Copper (Cu): ≤ 0.15%

• Manganese (Mn): 0.20 – 0.50%

• Magnesium (Mg): 4.0 – 5.0%

• Chromium (Cr): ≤ 0.10%

• Zinc (Zn): ≤ 0.25%

• Titanium (Ti): ≤ 0.10%

• Other elements (each): ≤ 0.05%

• Other elements (total): ≤ 0.15%

• Aluminum (Al): Balance

General Properties of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum is a silver-white lightweight metal with a density of approximately 2.7 g/cm³, a melting point of 660.4°C, and a boiling point of 2467°C. Aluminum and its alloys exhibit a wide range of excellent physical and chemical properties, which makes them indispensable in modern industry.

Aluminum offers excellent light reflectivity, especially for ultraviolet radiation, and high-purity aluminum is commonly used in vacuum aluminizing processes for mirrors and optical applications. Aluminum also has good electrical conductivity, second only to silver and copper, allowing it to partially replace copper in power transmission cables and conductors.

As an excellent thermal conductor, aluminum is widely used in heat exchangers, heat sinks, radiators, and cookware. Its superior ductility allows it to be rolled into ultra-thin aluminum foil (less than 0.01 mm), extensively used in packaging for food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

Compared with pure aluminum, aluminum alloys—such as 5182—achieve significantly improved strength through alloying with elements like magnesium and manganese, while maintaining low density and strong corrosion resistance. These advantages enable aluminum alloys to be widely applied in automotive manufacturing, marine engineering, rail transportation, aerospace structures, pressure vessels, and cryogenic storage systems. At extremely low temperatures, certain aluminum alloys retain or even improve their toughness, making them ideal for liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen storage applications.

Aluminum Production Process