Aluminum 3303
AA 3303 · UNS A93303
3303 (A93303) is a copper-modified aluminum-manganese alloy in the 3000-series family, close to 3003 in composition but adjusted for tube-drawing work and slightly cleaner chip formation.
Reference datasheet — 3303 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the O condition
3303 tempers and conditions
3303 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. O is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Pick for maximum ductility in drawn tube that will be bent, expanded, flared or brazed after forming. | 42 | 110 | 33 | 28 HB | 50 % IACS |
Strain hardened from hot working only | Extruded tube or shape supplied as-fabricated with guaranteed minimum properties. | 55 | 115 | 25 | 30 HB | 49 % IACS |
Strain hardened, quarter hard | Light cold work for slightly stiffer tube that still bends easily. | 125 | 130 | 12 | 35 HB | 42 % IACS |
Strain hardened, half hard | Most common work-hardened temper: good balance of strength, formability and cleaner machining. | 145 | 150 | 9 | 40 HB | 41 % IACS |
Strain hardened then partially annealed | Drawn-tube temper giving near-H16 strength with recovered ductility for bending. | 160 | 179 | 8 | 46 HB | 41 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | Use where higher hoop strength is needed and only mild forming follows. | 170 | 180 | 5 | 47 HB | 41 % IACS |
Strain hardened, full hard | Maximum as-drawn strength and best chip control; almost no remaining bend ductility. | 185 | 200 | 4 | 55 HB | 40 % IACS |
What is 3303?
3303 (A93303) is a copper-modified aluminum-manganese alloy in the 3000-series family, close to 3003 in composition but adjusted for tube-drawing work and slightly cleaner chip formation. Engineers specify it for drawn tube and heat exchanger tubing, where formability (95), weldability (90) and 193 W/m-K thermal conductivity matter more than strength; the O condition gives 42 MPa yield, 110 MPa tensile, 33% elongation and 28 HB, with H12 to H112 also on file. It is non-heat-treatable, so welds revert to annealed strength, machinability is low at 30, and service is limited to about 200 C. Use 3003 where standard sheet, plate and stocked forms are needed. 3303 has a density of 2.73 g/cm³ (0.0986 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of aluminum grades. It melts at 643°C (1,189 °F). 3303 has a yield strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 95% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 3303 used for?
- Drawn tubing
- Heat exchanger tubes
- General tube stock
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 33%, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- High service temperature — 200°C (392 °F), better than 90% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 50 % IACS, better than 90% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 90% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 42 MPa (6.09 ksi), worse than 95% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades
3303 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 3303-O; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
3303 has a density of 2.73 g/cm³ (0.0986 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of aluminum grades. It melts at 643°C (1,189 °F).
Mechanical10
3303 has a yield strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 95% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 33% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
3303 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 193 W/m·K (111.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 89% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.2 µm/m·K (12.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
3303 conducts electricity at 50 % IACS, better than 90% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 79% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 3303 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
3303's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 3303 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 3303
Is 3303 easy to machine?
Gummy in O temper — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high speed and flood emulsion; work-hardened H14/H18 tube machines and parts off much more cleanly.
Can 3303 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 1100 or 4043 filler and excellent for furnace/flux brazing; weld metal reverts to O-temper strength so design joints for annealed properties.
Can 3303 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H12 — deep drawing, tube bending, expanding, flaring and roll forming; interanneal at 340–415 °C after heavy reductions.
3303 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SiSi+Fe controlled together in some registrations | ≤ 0.6 | 0.25 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.7 | 0.45 |
| Curaises strength and helps chip break-up | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Mnprincipal strengthening/dispersoid element | 1 – 1.5 | 1.2 |
| Znhigher Zn allowance than 3003 (scrap tolerance) | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Alremainder, ~96.5–97.5 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on 3303?
Takes protective/hard anodizing and conversion coatings well but goes grey-brown, so specify paint, powder coat or chromate for appearance parts; poor bright polishing.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on aluminum parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 3303 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- A93303
How much does 3303 cost?
3303 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
3303 — frequently asked
What is 3303 used for?
3303 is typically used for drawn tubing, heat exchanger tubes and general tube stock. In short: tube-drawing 3003 variant; highly formable Al-Mn alloy; brazes and welds readily.
What is the yield strength of 3303?
3303 has a typical yield strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 95% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 3303 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades). Gummy in O temper — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high speed and flood emulsion; work-hardened H14/H18 tube machines and parts off much more cleanly.
Can 3303 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 1100 or 4043 filler and excellent for furnace/flux brazing; weld metal reverts to O-temper strength so design joints for annealed properties.
What surface finishes work on 3303?
Takes protective/hard anodizing and conversion coatings well but goes grey-brown, so specify paint, powder coat or chromate for appearance parts; poor bright polishing.
Can 3303 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H12 — deep drawing, tube bending, expanding, flaring and roll forming; interanneal at 340–415 °C after heavy reductions.
What is the maximum service temperature of 3303?
3303 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 3303-O and 3303-H18?
O is the default condition — pick for maximum ductility in drawn tube that will be bent, expanded, flared or brazed after forming. H18: maximum as-drawn strength and best chip control; almost no remaining bend ductility. Yield strength is 42 MPa in O versus 185 MPa in H18.
How much does 3303 cost?
3303 is a standard-cost aluminum ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B210 – Aluminum-Alloy Drawn Seamless Tubes — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection – Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum Standards and Data — The Aluminum Association (2017)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.