Aluminum 5A12 vs 5005 vs 5050 vs 5052
Benchmark · 4 materials
Side-by-side benchmark of 4 aluminum grades.
5A12 vs 5005 and 2 more: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all aluminum grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all aluminum grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)
Elongation at Break
Reduction in Area
Shear Strength
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Brinell
Hardness, Rockwell B
Hardness, Vickers
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.33
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Liquidus Temperature
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Latent Heat of Fusion
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Min Service Temperature -196°C-321 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)
Weldability
Formability (cold)
Castability
Brazeability / Solderability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Modulus of Resilience
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | 5A12 | 5005 | 5050 | 5052 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Sheet metal | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Default condition | ||||
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $ Budget | $ Budget | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.5 mm | |
| Best machined surface | Ra 0.8 µm | Ra 0.8 µm | Ra 0.8 µm | |
| Anodizing Type II | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Cerakote | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Chem Film (Alodine) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| DLC | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| E-Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Electropolishing | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Hard Anodize Type III w/ PTFE | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Hard Anodizing Type III | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Nickel Plating | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| PTFE Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Painting | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Powder Coating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
They share 4 finishes: Electroless Nickel (EN), Epoxy Coating, Gold Plating, Silver Plating.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in 5A12 and 5005 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.