Aluminum ER5556-AW (As-welded deposit)
Heat-treated state · default condition
ASTM AWS A5.10 ER5556 · EN S Al 5556A · JIS A5556WY · GB SAlMg-5
Default condition: properties of the undiluted 5556 weld deposit used for design of as-welded 5083/5086/5456 structures.
Values for the AW condition
Other ER5556 tempers and conditions
ER5556 is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at ER5556.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AWDefaultThis page As-welded deposit | Default condition: properties of the undiluted 5556 weld deposit used for design of as-welded 5083/5086/5456 structures. | 150 | 290 | 17 | 75 HB | 29 % IACS |
Annealed | Cut-length TIG rod delivered soft/straightened; choose for manual GTAW repair and thin-section work. | 160 | 310 | 22 | 70 HB | 29 % IACS |
Strain hardened, half hard | Condition of the drawn wire on the spool; use these numbers for feedability/cast-and-helix and wire strength, not for weld design. | 255 | 350 | 8 | 95 HB | 29 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | Pick when extra column strength is needed to feed 0.9–1.2 mm wire through long guns or robot conduits. | 300 | 385 | 6 | 105 HB | 29 % IACS |
What is ER5556-AW?
ER5556-AW is ER5556 heat treated to AW — default condition: properties of the undiluted 5556 weld deposit used for design of as-welded 5083/5086/5456 structures. ER5556-AW has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 17% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi). ER5556-AW has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 568°C (1,054 °F).
Advantages
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 17%, better than 85% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 83% of aluminum grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 30 MPa·√m (27.3 ksi·√in), better than 76% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Poor heat conductor — 116 W/m·K (67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of aluminum grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 29 % IACS, worse than 78% of aluminum grades
ER5556-AW properties
Typical room-temperature values for ER5556-AW; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are ER5556 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
ER5556-AW has a density of 2.66 g/cm³ (0.0961 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of aluminum grades. It melts at 568°C (1,054 °F).
Mechanical16
ER5556-AW has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 17% and the elastic modulus is 71 GPa (10.3 Msi).
Thermal6
ER5556-AW is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 116 W/m·K (67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 24.2 µm/m·K (13.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ER5556-AW conducts electricity at 29 % IACS, worse than 78% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 83% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ER5556-AW takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability8
ER5556-AW's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (55/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with ER5556-AW
Is ER5556 easy to machine?
Weld deposits machine like 5083 — gummy, long chips; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, low feed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge.
Can ER5556 be welded?
Run with 100 % Ar (or Ar-He for thick section) on GMAW/GTAW; excellent crack resistance on 5000-series base metal, but avoid depositing on 6000-series-heavy joints where Mg-Si dilution raises hot-cracking risk and never use on 2000/7000 series structural joints.
Can ER5556 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied only as drawn wire/rod; re-straightening or coiling of H14/H16 wire is fine, but keep the wire clean and dry — oxidised or hydrated surface causes weld porosity.
What surface finishes work on ER5556?
Anodizes and paints well; expect a slightly darker/grey anodized bead versus 5083/5086 base, and avoid caustic etch cycles that preferentially attack the high-Mg weld metal.
ER5556 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 not separately limited in some national standards | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Mgprincipal strengthening element | 4.7 – 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Cr | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Tigrain refiner, reduces hot-crack sensitivity | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Berestricted in AWS A5.10 for fume-toxicity reasons | ≤ 3×10⁻⁴ | — |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
ER5556-AW — frequently asked
What is ER5556-AW used for?
ER5556-AW is typically used for armor plate welding, high-strength marine structures and military vehicle hulls. In short: strongest common 5000-series filler; armor and marine plate welding; high as-welded crack resistance.
What is the yield strength of ER5556-AW?
ER5556-AW has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 65% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is ER5556-AW easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Weld deposits machine like 5083 — gummy, long chips; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, low feed and generous coolant to avoid built-up edge.
Can ER5556-AW be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Run with 100 % Ar (or Ar-He for thick section) on GMAW/GTAW; excellent crack resistance on 5000-series base metal, but avoid depositing on 6000-series-heavy joints where Mg-Si dilution raises hot-cracking risk and never use on 2000/7000 series structural joints.
What surface finishes work on ER5556-AW?
Anodizes and paints well; expect a slightly darker/grey anodized bead versus 5083/5086 base, and avoid caustic etch cycles that preferentially attack the high-Mg weld metal.
Can ER5556-AW be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied only as drawn wire/rod; re-straightening or coiling of H14/H16 wire is fine, but keep the wire clean and dry — oxidised or hydrated surface causes weld porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of ER5556-AW?
ER5556-AW 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.
What is the difference between ER5556-AW and ER5556-H16?
AW is the default condition — default condition: properties of the undiluted 5556 weld deposit used for design of as-welded 5083/5086/5456 structures. H16: pick when extra column strength is needed to feed 0.9–1.2 mm wire through long guns or robot conduits. Yield strength is 150 MPa in AW versus 300 MPa in H16.
Sources
- AWS A5.10/A5.10M — Welding Consumables: Wire Electrodes, Wires and Rods for Welding of Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys — AWS (2021)
- ISO 18273 — Welding consumables: wire electrodes, wires and rods for welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys (S Al 5556A) — ISO (2015)
- GB/T 10858 — (SAlMg-5) — SAC (2008)
- AWS D1.2/D1.2M — Structural Welding Code — Aluminum — AWS (2014)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Aluminum Standards and Data / Teal Sheets — Registration Record of International Alloy Designations — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- Aluminium filler metal ER5556 product data (GMAW/GTAW) — welding consumable producers (2023)
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.