Aluminium 5083 Plate
What is 5083 Plate?
Aluminium plate made with grade 5083 is produced with magnesium as the primary alloying element; it may also contain chromium, manganese, silicon, iron, zinc, and other elements in trace amounts.
5083 is renowned for its excellent performance in harsh and hostile environments, making it ideal for use in industrial, chemical, and marine applications.
This grade can also retain outstanding levels of strength after welding to maintain the maximum strength of this non-heat treatable alloy, however, use in temperatures exceeding 65°C is not advised. This alloy can also be used in cryogenic applications as it is capable of being cooled to -195°C without affecting its mechanical properties.
Chemical Composition
Spec: BS EN 573-3:2019
Alloy 5083
Chemical Element % of weight
Manganese (Mn) 0.40 - 1.00
Iron (Fe) 0.40 max
Copper (Cu) 0.10 max
Magnesium (Mg) 4.00 - 4.90
Silicon (Si) 0.0 - 0.40
Zinc (Zn) 0.0 - 0.10
Chromium (Cr) 0.05 - 0.25
Titanium (Ti) 0.15 max
Other (Each) 0.0 - 0.05
Others (Total) 0.0 - 0.15
Aluminium (Al) Balance
Mechanical Properties
Physical Property Value
Density 265 g/cm³
Melting Point 570 °C
Thermal Expansion 25 x10^-6 /K
Modulus of Elasticity 72 GPa
Thermal Conductivity 121 W/m.K
Electrical Resistivity 0.058 x10^-6 Ω .m
Spec: BS EN 485-2:2008
Plate - 6.3mm to 80mm
Mechanical Property Value
Proof Stress 115 Min MPa
Tensile Strength 270 - 345 MPa
Hardness Brinell 75 HB
Spec: BS EN 485-2:2008
Plate - 80mm to 120mm
Mechanical Property Value
Proof Stress 110 Min MPa
Tensile Strength 260 Min MPa
Hardness Brinell 70 HB
Elongation A 12 Min %
Mechanical Properties shown are for 0/H111 temper
What is it used for?
Due to its high levels of welding strength and corrosion resistance, 5083 alloy is used in a wide array of applications. These include aircraft, automotive, and marine components, tanks for storing oil and liquefied natural gas, pressure vessels up to a maximum temperature of 65 °C, tip up truck and other vehicle bodies, electrical enclosures, ship building, railway carriages, missile parts and even communications towers. 5083 grade aluminium is also a suitable alloy for successful anodising to provide increased protection against corrosion and wear
Can it be machined or welded?
The recommended filler for welding this grade to itself, or another alloy from the same subgroup, is 5183. 5356 and 5556 are also suitable fillers for 5083. This makes 5083 a popular choice for complex projects.
Weldability – Gas: Average
Weldability – Arc: Excellent
Weldability – Resistance: Excellent
Brazability: Poor
Solderability: Poor
Fabrication
Workability – Cold: Average
Machinability: Poor
How does it compare to other aluminium grades?
Aluminium 5083 is a medium strength magnesium-manganese-chromium-aluminium alloy. This increases the strength and corrosion resistance of the grade when compared to 6082 alloy, which has three times less magnesium.
5083 has better formability compared to many 6000 series alloys which makes it suitable to be used to create moulds. The 5000 series grades of aluminium are non heat-treatable alloys, unlike the 6000 series grades, which can be heat treated. The profile range of 5083 is restricted compared to 6082 grade for example, however, 5083 does have a better ductility in terms of strength properties when compared to the majority of the 5000 series aluminium alloys.
