5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P (Perforated cell walls)
Other
also AMS-C-7438
Pin-perforated foil lets cells vent during autoclave cure and drain condensate; slight strength penalty versus unperforated.
Values for the P condition
Other 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb grades and fills
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb.
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 | — | — |
PThis page 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 | — | — |
What is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb in the P condition — pin-perforated foil lets cells vent during autoclave cure and drain condensate; slight strength penalty versus unperforated. 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P has a yield strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.58 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi). 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 94% of composite grades. 1/8-5056-.001P-3.1 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; P is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), better than 94% of composite grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 50/100, worse than 92% of composite grades
- Low strength — 3 MPa (0.464 ksi), worse than 89% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 1 GPa (0.145 Msi), worse than 86% of composite grades
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical1
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 94% of composite grades.
Mechanical7
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P has a yield strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.58 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 1 GPa (0.145 Msi).
Thermal6
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 2.1 W/m·K (1.21 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 P has an electrical resistivity of 3.4×10⁻⁶ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 92% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P 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 P's machinability is poor (33/100, worse than 51% of composite grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P
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.
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.
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 | — |
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P — frequently asked
What is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P used for?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P 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 P?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P has a typical yield strength of 3 MPa (0.464 ksi) and a tensile strength of 4 MPa (0.58 ksi) — weaker than 89% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is 5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (33/100, worse than 51% 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 P 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 P?
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 P 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 P?
5056 Aluminum Honeycomb P 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.