5056 Aluminum Honeycomb
also AMS-C-7438
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is an expanded core made from higher-magnesium 5056 foil to AMS-C-7438, supplied in 1/8 in and 3/16 in cells with 0.0007 in to 0.002 in foil at densities of about 2.0 to 6.1 pcf (0.05 g/cm³ typical).
Reference datasheet — 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb 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 1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 condition
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb grades and fills
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. 1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3/16 in cell, 0.0007 in foil, 2.0 pcf | Lightest practical 5056 core — radomes, fairings and low-load sandwich skins where stiffness-per-weight beats strength. | 1 | 2 | ||
1/8 in cell, 0.0007 in foil, 2.3 pcf | Most common lightweight aerospace grade — general sandwich panels, ducting and lightly loaded floors. | 2 | 3 | ||
Perforated cell walls | Pin-perforated foil lets cells vent during autoclave cure and drain condensate; slight strength penalty versus unperforated. | 3 | 4 | ||
1/8-5056-.001P-3.1Default 1/8 in cell, 0.001 in foil, 3.1 pcf | Workhorse density — cabin floor panels, control surfaces and bonded assemblies needing balanced shear and crush strength. | 3 | 4 | ||
1/8 in cell, 0.0015 in foil, 4.4 pcf | High-load core for cargo floors, ramps and localized inserts where crush and shear strength govern. | 6 | 8 | ||
1/8 in cell, 0.002 in foil, 6.1 pcf | Densest standard grade — heavily loaded fittings, energy absorbers and crush cores with a defined plateau stress. | 11 | 13 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
CRIII | CR III | Surface finish |
What is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is an expanded core made from higher-magnesium 5056 foil to AMS-C-7438, supplied in 1/8 in and 3/16 in cells with 0.0007 in to 0.002 in foil at densities of about 2.0 to 6.1 pcf (0.05 g/cm³ typical). It is used where a panel needs more shear and compressive strength than 5052 core provides, with 2.2 W/m·K thermal conductivity and a 175 °C maximum service temperature, and is normally ordered CR III (trivalent chromate) coated or perforated. It costs more than 5052 core, remains galvanically active against carbon-fibre skins, and is easily crushed in handling; 5052-H39 is the cheaper alternative at lower loads. 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 94% of composite grades. 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has a yield strength of 3 MPa (0.493 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.624 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.149 Msi).
What is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb used for?
- primary aircraft structural panels
- high-load helicopter panels
- missile fairings
- load-bearing sandwich floors
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), better than 94% of composite grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 3 MPa (0.493 ksi), worse than 89% of composite grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 87% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 1 GPa (0.149 Msi), worse than 86% of composite grades
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb-1/8-5056-.001P-3.1; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical1
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 94% of composite grades.
Mechanical7
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has a yield strength of 3 MPa (0.493 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.624 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.149 Msi).
Thermal6
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 2.2 W/m·K (1.27 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 24.1 µm/m·K (13.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has an electrical resistivity of 3.2×10⁻⁶ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 87% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 16.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability1
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 50% of composite grades).
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 composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb
Is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb easy to machine?
Cut with sharp band saw, hot-wire-guided router or waterjet using frozen-water/wax cell support; CNC contour-milling of core needs vacuum fixturing and very sharp, high-rake cutters to avoid cell tearing.
Can 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb be welded?
Not welded — cores are node-bonded/expanded and joined to skins with film adhesive; splices use foaming core-splice adhesive and edges are closed with potting compound or closure sections.
Can 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb be formed, bent or molded?
Formed to single-curvature by roll/drape forming or crush-core processing; compound curvature requires flexible (OX/flex-core) cell geometry or machined-to-shape core.
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mg | 4.5 – 5.6 | 5.1 |
| Mn | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Cr | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.12 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.4 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Others (each/total)0.05 each, 0.15 total | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Al | balance |
What surface finishes work on 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb?
Foil is supplied CR III (trivalent chromate) coated for corrosion; after cutting, expose edges are sealed with primer/potting, and any drilled inserts must be potted to prevent moisture ingress.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- AMS-C-7438
- Other
- 5056
How much does 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb cost?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is a high-cost composite ($$$$), 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.
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb — frequently asked
What is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb used for?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is typically used for primary aircraft structural panels, high-load helicopter panels, missile fairings and load-bearing sandwich floors. In short: strongest aluminum honeycomb core; higher shear than 5052; 175 °C service limit.
What is the yield strength of 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb has a typical yield strength of 3 MPa (0.493 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.624 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 50% of composite grades). Cut with sharp band saw, hot-wire-guided router or waterjet using frozen-water/wax cell support; CNC contour-milling of core needs vacuum fixturing and very sharp, high-rake cutters to avoid cell tearing.
Can 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb be welded?
Not welded — cores are node-bonded/expanded and joined to skins with film adhesive; splices use foaming core-splice adhesive and edges are closed with potting compound or closure sections.
What surface finishes work on 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb?
Foil is supplied CR III (trivalent chromate) coated for corrosion; after cutting, expose edges are sealed with primer/potting, and any drilled inserts must be potted to prevent moisture ingress.
Can 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb be formed, bent or molded?
Formed to single-curvature by roll/drape forming or crush-core processing; compound curvature requires flexible (OX/flex-core) cell geometry or machined-to-shape core.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb 1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 and 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P?
1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 is the default condition — workhorse density — cabin floor panels, control surfaces and bonded assemblies needing balanced shear and crush strength. P: pin-perforated foil lets cells vent during autoclave cure and drain condensate; slight strength penalty versus unperforated. Yield strength is 3 MPa in 1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 versus 3 MPa in P.
How much does 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb cost?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is a high-cost composite ($$$$), 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
- AMS-C-7438 Core Material, Aluminum, for Sandwich Construction — SAE International (2019)
- ASTM C365 / C273 — Flatwise Compressive and Shear Properties of Sandwich Cores — ASTM (2022)
- HexWeb Honeycomb Attributes and Properties — Hexcel (2023)
- PAMG-XR1 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb data sheet — Plascore (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Aluminum Alloys (5056) — ASM International (1990)
- MIL-HDBK-23 Structural Sandwich Composites — US DoD (1968)
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.