Aluminum 5154 · temper
Aluminum 5154-H18
Properties of the H18 condition, compared with the other 5154 tempers.
Fully cold-worked 5154 giving maximum strain-hardened strength with minimum ductility.
What is 5154-H18?
5154-H18 is 5154 in the H18 temper — fully cold-worked 5154 giving maximum strain-hardened strength with minimum ductility. 5154-H18 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 70.3 GPa (10.2 Msi). 5154-H18 has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 593°C (1,099 °F).
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 73/100, better than 86% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 68/100, better than 85% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
5154-H18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5154-H18 — 36 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 5154 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
5154-H18 has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 593°C (1,099 °F).
Mechanical11
5154-H18 has a yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 70.3 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
5154-H18 is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 127 W/m·K (73.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 69% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.9 µm/m·K (13.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5154-H18 conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, worse than 63% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (73/100), better than 86% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5154-H18 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
5154-H18's machinability is good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability fair (38/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 5154 tempers and conditions
5154 is also supplied in 14 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 5154 overview.
- H18Fully cold-worked 5154 giving maximum strain-hardened strength with minimum ductility.275 MPa yield · 82 HB
- H38Maximum strength temper; use for flat, non-formed parts where stiffness and dent resistance dominate and ductility is not needed.270 MPa yield · 80 HB
- H28Full-hard back-annealed 5154; highest strain-hardened strength of the H2x series with minimum elongation.270 MPa yield · 80 HB
- H36For stiff, high-strength flat sheet (e.g. bottle caps, gauge panels) where only very mild forming is required.250 MPa yield · 78 HB
- H26Three-quarter-hard back-annealed 5154 offering high strength with somewhat better ductility than fully hard tempers.250 MPa yield · 78 HB
- H16Three-quarter-hard 5154 sheet, high strength with limited bend formability.245 MPa yield · 76 HB
- H34Choose when higher proof stress is needed on flat or lightly formed panels with moderate bending only.230 MPa yield · 73 HB
- H24Half-hard back-annealed 5154; the common marine sheet temper with good strength-to-formability balance.230 MPa yield · 73 HB
- H14Half-hard cold-rolled 5154 with balanced strength and residual ductility for moderate bending.220 MPa yield · 70 HB
- H32The default stocked sheet/plate temper: best balance of strength, formability and stable properties for welded marine and vessel work.205 MPa yield · 67 HB
- H22Cold-worked then back-annealed to quarter hard; strength close to H32 with improved ductility and stable properties.205 MPa yield · 67 HB
- H12Lightly cold-worked 5154 sheet/strip, quarter-hard: modest strength gain over O with good forming and weldability.190 MPa yield · 63 HB
- H111European mill temper for sheet/plate that has picked up a little work during flattening or straightening; near-O properties with slightly higher proof stress.130 MPa yield · 60 HB
- H112Standard temper for thicker hot-rolled plate and extruded shapes used in welded tanks and hulls where forming is limited.125 MPa yield · 60 HB
- OPick for deep drawing, severe bending or spinning where maximum ductility matters and strength is added later by cold work.115 MPa yield · 58 HB
Working with 5154-H18
Is 5154 easy to machine?
Machines like other 5xxx alloys: gummy and prone to built-up edge — use sharp polished high-rake tools, high speeds and flood lubricant; harder H34–H38 tempers give cleaner chips than O.
Can 5154 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 5356 or 5183 filler; weld metal keeps near-O strength so joints are designed on annealed properties, and 5183/5356 filler avoids the hot cracking seen with 4043 on high-Mg alloys.
Can 5154 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H111; H32 handles moderate bending while H36/H38 need generous bend radii or intermediate annealing at 340–410 °C.
What surface finishes work on 5154?
Takes sulfuric clear and hard anodize well and accepts chromate/no-chrome conversion coats and marine paint systems; mechanical polishing is fair, bright decorative anodize can show a slight grey tone from the high Mg.
5154 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 combined 0.45 max in some registrations | ≤ 0.25 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Mn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Mgprimary strengthening element | 3.1 – 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Crgrain-structure/SCC control | 0.15 – 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Others (each)0.15 max total | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
5154-H18 — frequently asked
What is 5154-H18 used for?
5154-H18 is typically used for welded structural sheet and plate assemblies, storage tanks, pressure vessel shells, marine hull and deck plate, road tanker barrels and chemical process tanks. In short: stronger 5052 alternative.
What is the yield strength of 5154-H18?
5154-H18 has a typical yield strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — stronger than 70% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 15 listed tempers.
Is 5154-H18 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 62% of aluminum grades). Machines like other 5xxx alloys: gummy and prone to built-up edge — use sharp polished high-rake tools, high speeds and flood lubricant; harder H34–H38 tempers give cleaner chips than O.
Can 5154-H18 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW welded with 5356 or 5183 filler; weld metal keeps near-O strength so joints are designed on annealed properties, and 5183/5356 filler avoids the hot cracking seen with 4043 on high-Mg alloys.
What surface finishes work on 5154-H18?
Takes sulfuric clear and hard anodize well and accepts chromate/no-chrome conversion coats and marine paint systems; mechanical polishing is fair, bright decorative anodize can show a slight grey tone from the high Mg.
Can 5154-H18 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H111; H32 handles moderate bending while H36/H38 need generous bend radii or intermediate annealing at 340–410 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5154-H18?
5154-H18 is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5154-H18?
Yes — 5154-H18 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Aluminum Association International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B209 / B209M — Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate — ASTM International (2021)
- EN 485-2 / EN 573-3 (EN AW-5154A, AlMg3.5) — CEN (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.