Aluminum 5954-H12
Temper
AA 5954 · EN AW-5954, AW 5954
H12 = strain hardened, quarter hard
Light cold work for slightly higher strength while keeping good bending.
Values for the H12 condition
Other 5954 tempers and conditions
5954 is listed in 17 conditions; see the grade overview at 5954.
Compare all 17 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning where maximum ductility is needed. | 110 | 240 | 27 | 58 HB | 32.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened from hot working only | Standard temper for thick plate and extruded shapes supplied as-hot-worked with guaranteed minima. | 115 | 240 | 20 | 58 HB | 32 % IACS |
Slightly strain hardened | Common European sheet/plate condition: nearly O ductility but flatter and slightly stronger after straightening. | 125 | 245 | 24 | 60 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, quarter hard | Stabilised quarter-hard with better ductility than H12 at similar strength. | 180 | 255 | 16 | 62 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened, corrosion-resistant marine temper | Specify for marine hull/deck plate needing ASTM G66/G67 exfoliation and IGC qualification. | 195 | 275 | 12 | 68 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and stabilized, marine temper | Plate equivalent of H116 with stabilising heat treatment; used for welded marine and cryogenic structures. | 195 | 275 | 12 | 68 HB | 32 % IACS |
H12This page Strain hardened, quarter hard | Light cold work for slightly higher strength while keeping good bending. | 200 | 260 | 12 | 63 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and stabilized, quarter hard | Default stocked sheet/plate temper: stabilising anneal locks properties and prevents age-softening of the high-Mg alloy. | 205 | 270 | 15 | 67 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, half hard | Best strength/formability compromise for bent and roll-formed sheet parts. | 215 | 275 | 13 | 68 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened, half hard | Half-hard sheet for flat panels and mild forming with higher yield strength. | 230 | 285 | 10 | 70 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and stabilized, half hard | Half-hard stabilised sheet for tanks and structural panels needing higher yield with weld tolerance. | 230 | 290 | 13 | 73 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, three-quarter hard | Higher strength stabilised sheet for lightly formed structural panels. | 240 | 300 | 10 | 74 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | For strength-driven flat parts with only very gentle forming. | 250 | 305 | 8 | 75 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and stabilized, three-quarter hard | Higher-strength stabilised strip, typical for formed containers and shells. | 250 | 310 | 11 | 78 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, full hard | Full-hard stabilised strip where near-H18 strength with a little more ductility is wanted. | 265 | 325 | 8 | 79 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened, full hard | Maximum cold-worked strength; use only for flat blanks, shear-cut parts, no bending. | 270 | 330 | 6 | 80 HB | 32 % IACS |
Strain hardened and stabilized, full hard | Maximum stabilised strength for thin strip; minimal forming capability. | 270 | 330 | 10 | 80 HB | 32 % IACS |
What is 5954-H12?
5954-H12 is 5954 in the H12 temper — light cold work for slightly higher strength while keeping good bending. 5954-H12 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi). 5954-H12 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 — 75/100, better than 88% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 85% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 32 MPa·√m (29.1 ksi·√in), better than 83% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 65/100, better than 80% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades
5954-H12 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5954-H12; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 5954 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
5954-H12 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
5954-H12 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
5954-H12 is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 126 W/m·K (72.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 70% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.9 µm/m·K (13.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5954-H12 conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, worse than 63% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), better than 88% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5954-H12 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
5954-H12's machinability is fair (40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability good (65/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 5954-H12
Is 5954 easy to machine?
Gummy like all 5000 series — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high surface speed, flood coolant or MQL and generous chip room to avoid built-up edge; harder H3x tempers cut cleaner than O.
Can 5954 be welded?
Excellent for GMAW/GTAW and FSW with ER5356 or ER5183 filler; HAZ softens to about O-temper strength, so design welds to annealed allowables and avoid Mg-loss from excessive heat input.
Can 5954 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability in O/H111/H32; watch Lüders (stretcher-strain) marks in O temper, allow generous bend radii in H34 and above, and inter-anneal at 340–400 °C for deep draws.
What surface finishes work on 5954?
Anodises well (clear/hardcoat) with a slightly grey tone; also takes conversion coating, powder coat and marine paint systems — avoid strong alkaline cleaners which etch high-Mg aluminium rapidly.
5954 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mgprincipal alloying element; 5x54-family level — verify against the AA registration record for 5954 | 3.1 – 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Crgrain-structure/SCC control | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.4 | — |
| Cukept low for corrosion resistance | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
5954-H12 — frequently asked
What is 5954-H12 used for?
5954-H12 is typically used for industrial sheet and plate, tank cars, welded storage tanks, pressure vessel shells, ship structural panels and vehicle body panels. In short: high-Mg specialty plate.
What is the yield strength of 5954-H12?
5954-H12 has a typical yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — stronger than 53% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 17 listed tempers.
Is 5954-H12 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, worse than 81% of aluminum grades). Gummy like all 5000 series — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high surface speed, flood coolant or MQL and generous chip room to avoid built-up edge; harder H3x tempers cut cleaner than O.
Can 5954-H12 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent for GMAW/GTAW and FSW with ER5356 or ER5183 filler; HAZ softens to about O-temper strength, so design welds to annealed allowables and avoid Mg-loss from excessive heat input.
What surface finishes work on 5954-H12?
Anodises well (clear/hardcoat) with a slightly grey tone; also takes conversion coating, powder coat and marine paint systems — avoid strong alkaline cleaners which etch high-Mg aluminium rapidly.
Can 5954-H12 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability in O/H111/H32; watch Lüders (stretcher-strain) marks in O temper, allow generous bend radii in H34 and above, and inter-anneal at 340–400 °C for deep draws.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5954-H12?
5954-H12 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 5954-H12?
Yes — 5954-H12 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- EN 573-3 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Chemical composition of wrought products — CEN (2019)
- ASTM B209 / B928 — Aluminum sheet & plate; high-Mg marine plate — ASTM (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (5000 series Al-Mg data) — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum Design Manual — Physical properties of aluminium alloys — The Aluminum Association (2020)
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.