5052 Aluminum Alloy Plate

The 5052 aluminum sheet is an alloy that has been formed with a combination of metals, which include 0.25 percent chromium and 2.5 percent magnesium. It has great workability and is readily machinable and weldable. Its high fatigue strength and medium static strength, plus excellent corrosion resistance, make it popular for use in marine atmospheres. Like with other aluminum alloys, this grade of aluminum has excellent thermal conductivity. In order to harden this alloy, cold working should be used, since heat working can’t achieve this. It has excellent endurance limits and fatigue properties.

The 5052 aluminum alloy has high resistance when placed in conditions that are slightly alkaline. It has better marine resistance than 5005 alloys, which is why it’s frequently used for marine applications. The corrosion resistance of 5052 alloys comes from the protective surface oxide film it has. This has a rapid reaction that occurs when damage is sustained. This reaction is between oxygen and aluminum. However, when repair isn’t possible, the base metal can sustain rapid corrosion. It’s not recommended that this alloy be used with reducing media. To help make the protective film thicker, the alloy can be anodized.

There are different fabrication options available for this prodsuct, which include machining, welding, heat treating and cold working. Cold working is the only way to harden this metal, so heat treatment will not achieve this. When machining this alloy, it can be done using conventional methods at high speeds. Ample lubrication should be used to prevent thermal distortion. Sharp tools are also needed for this process. The cuts should be made continuous and deep, while at high cutting speeds.