3000 Series Aluminum
The 3000 series adds about 1 % manganese to pure aluminum: roughly 20 % more strength than the 1000 series with the same excellent formability, weldability and corrosion resistance. It is not heat-treatable — the H tempers come from cold rolling — and it is the most-produced aluminum sheet family in the world, because it is what beverage cans, roofing, cookware and general sheet-metal work are made from.
Popular 3000 series grades
Compare in the explorer| Grade | Yield, MPa | Tensile, MPa | Density, g/cm³ | Machinability | Weldability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3003 | 145 | 150 | 2.73 | Fair | Excellent | General sheet-metal work, tanks, ducting |
| 3004 | 200 | 240 | 2.72 | Fair | Excellent | Stronger sheet; beverage can bodies |
| 3105 | 160 | 180 | 2.72 | Fair | Excellent | Painted building sheet, siding, signs |
| 3005 | 155 | 175 | 2.73 | Fair | Excellent | Roofing and heat-exchanger fins |
| 3104 | 275 | 295 | 2.72 | Fair | Excellent | Can-body stock |
| 3203 | 145 | 150 | 2.73 | Fair | Excellent | International 3003 equivalent |
| 3103 | 130 | 150 | 2.73 | Fair | Excellent | European 3003 |
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3000 series by application
- Sheet-metal enclosures and brackets
- 3003-H14 bends, punches and welds without fuss and costs less than 5052. Step up to 5052-H32 when the bracket carries real load.
- Tanks, ducting and heat exchangers
- 3003 for welded and brazed assemblies — it is the standard fin and tube alloy in brazed heat exchangers and takes 4045 clad brazing sheet.
Working with the 3000 series
- Forming
- Nearly as formable as pure aluminum: H14 bends to about 1 t inside radius, O temper to zero. Deep drawing, spinning and roll forming all work without intermediate anneals.
- Welding and brazing
- Welds cleanly by TIG or MIG with 4043 or 1100 filler and keeps its strength (no heat treatment to lose). The standard brazing alloy family — 3003 tube and fin, 4045-clad brazing sheet.
- Machining
- Soft and stringy; fine for punching, drilling and trimming sheet, poor for turned or milled parts. Machine 6061-T6 instead.
- Finishing
- Paints and powder-coats well (pre-treat with chem-film). Anodizes to a slightly yellow-gray, streaky finish because of the manganese — fine for protection, not for cosmetic clear anodize.
Other aluminum series
3000 Series Aluminum — frequently asked
What is 3000 series aluminum?
The 3000 series adds about 1 % manganese to pure aluminum: roughly 20 % more strength than the 1000 series with the same excellent formability, weldability and corrosion resistance. It is not heat-treatable — the H tempers come from cold rolling — and it is the most-produced aluminum sheet family in the world, because it is what beverage cans, roofing, cookware and general sheet-metal work are made from.
Which grade of 3000 series aluminum should I use?
3003-H14 is the default when a drawing just says "aluminum sheet" and the part is bent, spun or deep-drawn rather than machined. 3004 and 3104 are stronger (added magnesium) and are the can-body alloys. 3105 is the painted-sheet grade for building products. When the part also needs to hold a load or take a hard anodize, step up to 5052-H32, which forms nearly as well.
Which grade of 3000 series aluminum is the strongest?
3104 has the highest yield strength in the series at 275 MPa; 3004 follows at 200 MPa. Values are for each grade's default condition.
Which grade of 3000 series aluminum is easiest to machine?
3004 (machinability fair, 50/100), then 3003 (45/100).
Is 3000 series aluminum heat-treatable?
No. These grades are strengthened by cold work and softened by annealing, not by heat treatment; the conditions are listed on each grade page.
3003 or 5052 for sheet metal?
5052-H32 is about 40 % stronger (≈ 195 vs 145 MPa yield), resists salt water better and anodizes more evenly; 3003-H14 is cheaper, forms slightly tighter radii and brazes. For an enclosure or bracket that carries load, 5052; for ducting, tanks and formed covers, 3003.
Is 3003 aluminum heat-treatable?
No. Its strength comes from cold rolling (H12, H14, H16, H18 tempers) and it is softened by annealing to O. Welding anneals the joint locally, so a welded 3003-H14 part behaves like H12–O in the weld zone.