Aluminum 5954 · temper
Aluminum 5954-O
Properties of the O condition, compared with the other 5954 tempers.
Pick for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning where maximum ductility is needed.
What is 5954-O?
5954-O is 5954 in the O temper — pick for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning where maximum ductility is needed. 5954-O has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi). 5954-O 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
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 27%, better than 95% of aluminum grades
- 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
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 110 MPa (16 ksi), worse than 81% of aluminum grades
5954-O properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5954-O — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 5954 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
5954-O 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-O has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 27% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
5954-O 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-O conducts electricity at 32.5 % IACS, worse than 60% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), better than 88% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5954-O 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-O's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 5954 tempers and conditions
5954 is also supplied in 16 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 5954 overview.
- H32Default stocked sheet/plate temper: stabilising anneal locks properties and prevents age-softening of the high-Mg alloy.205 MPa yield · 67 HB
- OPick for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning where maximum ductility is needed.110 MPa yield · 58 HB
Working with 5954-O
Is 5954 easy to machine?
Gummy like all 5xxx — 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-O — frequently asked
What is 5954-O used for?
5954-O 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-O?
5954-O has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 81% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 17 listed tempers.
Is 5954-O easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 91% of aluminum grades). Gummy like all 5xxx — 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-O 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-O?
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-O 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-O?
5954-O 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-O?
Yes — 5954-O 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
- 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 (5xxx 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.