Strength and corrosion resistance with aluminium alloy 5052
When annealed, aluminium alloy 5052 is stronger than 1100 and 3003 alloys. It is one of the higher strength, non-heat-treatable alloys and has good workability. It also has very good corrosion resistance, especially to salt water.
The alloy’s high fatigue strength makes it a smart selection for structures that need to withstand excessive vibrations. Alloy 5052 is commonly used in sheet, plate and tube form. Please note, however, that this alloy is rated only fair for machinability, so it is not the best choice for extensive machining operations without oil lubricants.
Its excellent resistance to corrosion makes aluminium alloy 5052 particularly well-suited to shipbuilding and marine applications. You can also use the alloy to make smaller, thinner components, such as those used for consumer electronics casings, and larger products for laptop computers, mobile devices and televisions. Other common applications include aircraft fuel and oil lines, hydraulic tubes and heat exchangers.
Here is a good illustration of its usefulness: Multiple-effect distillation (MED) desalination plants equipped with 5052 aluminium welded tubes have been running reliably for more than 25 years. The benefits are not only on the technical side, but economically, too.
