Aluminum 7A52
GB 7A52
7A52 (LC52) is a weldable Al-Zn-Mg armor-grade alloy in the GB/T 7000-series family, hardened without copper so that weld zones re-age naturally; it corresponds to 7039 in role.
Reference datasheet — 7A52 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 T6 condition
7A52 tempers and conditions
7A52 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. T6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Softest condition for heavy forming, deep drawing or straightening before solution treatment and ageing. | 140 | 250 | 17 | 70 HB | 46 % IACS |
As-welded deposit | Design value for welded armor hull joints (ER5356/ER5183 filler) without post-weld heat treatment; strength recovers with weeks of natural re-ageing. | 230 | 340 | 8 | 100 HB | 42 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and naturally aged | Pick for forming or welding operations followed by natural/artificial re-ageing; moderate strength with better ductility than T6. | 240 | 380 | 17 | 105 HB | 33 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and overaged for stress-corrosion resistance | Overaged option for thick sections in humid/marine or high-residual-stress service where stress-corrosion cracking resistance outweighs peak strength. | 330 | 405 | 14 | 118 HB | 43 % IACS |
Cooled from hot working and artificially aged | Used for extruded profiles and press-quenched sections where full re-solution treatment is impractical. | 340 | 420 | 12 | 122 HB | 41 % IACS |
T6, stress relieved by stretching | Choose for thick plate that will be extensively machined — same strength as T6 but low residual stress and minimal machining distortion. | 385 | 455 | 11 | 133 HB | 40 % IACS |
T6Default Solution heat treated and artificially aged | Standard supply condition for armor plate and welded structural panels — highest strength/ballistic performance with acceptable weld joint efficiency. | 390 | 460 | 12 | 135 HB | 40 % IACS |
What is 7A52?
7A52 (LC52) is a weldable Al-Zn-Mg armor-grade alloy in the GB/T 7000-series family, hardened without copper so that weld zones re-age naturally; it corresponds to 7039 in role. Default values are 390 MPa yield, 460 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation, 135 HB and 150 W/m·K, with a weldability score of 75 and corrosion resistance of 55 — the best combination of the 7000-series grades listed here. It is supplied mainly as armor plate and welded structural plate. Strength is below 7A04/7A09, service temperature is limited to about 120 °C, and Al-Zn-Mg welds remain SCC-sensitive under sustained tension. 7A52 has a density of 2.78 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F). 7A52 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
What is 7A52 used for?
- armored vehicle hulls
- welded structural panels
- military plate
Advantages
- High strength — 390 MPa (56.6 ksi), better than 87% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 32 MPa·√m (29.1 ksi·√in), better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
7A52 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 7A52-T6; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
7A52 has a density of 2.78 g/cm³ (0.1 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of aluminum grades. It melts at 585°C (1,085 °F).
Mechanical13
7A52 has a yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
7A52 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 150 W/m·K (86.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 58% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.5 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
7A52 conducts electricity at 40 % IACS, better than 72% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 7A52 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
7A52's machinability is good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (75/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. 7A52 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 7A52
Is 7A52 easy to machine?
Machines like 7075-T6 — free-cutting with sharp carbide tools, high speeds, positive rake and flood coolant; use T651 plate to avoid distortion in thick machined parts.
Can 7A52 be welded?
Designed for GMAW/GTAW with ER5356 or ER5183 filler; keep heat input low, preheat ≤120 °C, expect HAZ softening that recovers by natural re-ageing, and avoid 4000 series (Si) fillers which embrittle Al-Zn-Mg joints.
Can 7A52 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or T4 and age afterwards; T6 plate tolerates only gentle bends (min radius ≈ 4–6 t) and should be warm-formed or hot-formed for tight radii.
7A52 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Znmain strengthening element with Mg | 4 – 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Mg | 2 – 2.8 | 2.4 |
| Mn | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Crimproves SCC resistance | 0.15 – 0.25 | 0.2 |
| Zrgrain-structure control | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| Ti | 0.05 – 0.18 | 0.1 |
| Cukept low for weldability | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Feimpurity | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Siimpurity | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Others (each)total 0.15 max | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 7A52?
Chromate/Ti-Zr conversion coat plus epoxy primer and topcoat is standard for vehicle hulls; clear or hard anodizing is possible but decorative color match is inconsistent, and shot peening of welds helps SCC/fatigue life.
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 7A52 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- GB (China)
- LC52
How much does 7A52 cost?
7A52 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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.
7A52 — frequently asked
What is 7A52 used for?
7A52 is typically used for armored vehicle hulls, welded structural panels and military plate. In short: weldable high-strength 7000 series; armor plate grade; best 7000-series corrosion resistance here.
What is the yield strength of 7A52?
7A52 has a typical yield strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 460 MPa (66.7 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 7A52 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 55% of aluminum grades). Machines like 7075-T6 — free-cutting with sharp carbide tools, high speeds, positive rake and flood coolant; use T651 plate to avoid distortion in thick machined parts.
Can 7A52 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (75/100). Designed for GMAW/GTAW with ER5356 or ER5183 filler; keep heat input low, preheat ≤120 °C, expect HAZ softening that recovers by natural re-ageing, and avoid 4000 series (Si) fillers which embrittle Al-Zn-Mg joints.
What surface finishes work on 7A52?
Chromate/Ti-Zr conversion coat plus epoxy primer and topcoat is standard for vehicle hulls; clear or hard anodizing is possible but decorative color match is inconsistent, and shot peening of welds helps SCC/fatigue life.
Can 7A52 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in O or T4 and age afterwards; T6 plate tolerates only gentle bends (min radius ≈ 4–6 t) and should be warm-formed or hot-formed for tight radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 7A52?
7A52 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 7A52-T6 and 7A52-O?
T6 is the default condition — standard supply condition for armor plate and welded structural panels — highest strength/ballistic performance with acceptable weld joint efficiency. O: softest condition for heavy forming, deep drawing or straightening before solution treatment and ageing. Yield strength is 390 MPa in T6 versus 140 MPa in O.
How much does 7A52 cost?
7A52 is a high-cost aluminum ($$$$), pricier than about 78% 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
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys (7005/7039 data) — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B: Corrosion — Aluminum Alloys — ASM International (2005)
- Aluminum Association Teal Sheets — registered alloy compositions (7039/7005 comparison) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
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.