3003 aluminum coil belongs to the 3000 series aluminum-manganese alloy (Al-Mn), which is a widely used industrial aluminum alloy material. Its characteristics and applications are closely related to its alloy composition (manganese content is about 1.0%, supplemented by a small amount of silicon, iron and other elements).
Core characteristics of 3003 aluminum coil
1. Mechanical properties: medium strength and work hardening ability
- Strength: tensile strength is about 140-180MPa, yield strength is about 55-110MPa, which is about 30% higher than pure aluminum (1000 series), but lower than heat-treated strengthened aluminum alloys such as 6061 aluminum.
- Work hardening characteristics: strength can be improved by cold working (such as rolling and stretching), and the elongation can reach 15%-20% in the annealing state, which is suitable for processing technology that requires plastic deformation.
- Hardness: The hardness is about 40-60HB in the annealing state, and the hardness can be increased to 80-100HB after cold working.
2. Corrosion resistance: Excellent tolerance to atmosphere and chemical media
- Atmospheric corrosion resistance: Aluminum-manganese alloys are prone to form dense oxide films on their surfaces, and have outstanding corrosion resistance in humid atmospheres and marine environments, which is better than the 2000 series (aluminum-copper alloys) and close to the 5000 series aluminum(aluminum-magnesium alloys).
- Chemical medium resistance: Good tolerance to fresh water, seawater, and food-grade acids and alkalis (such as beverages and oils), but not resistant to strong acids and alkalis (such as hydrochloric acid and concentrated nitric acid).
3. Processing performance: Strong adaptability to forming, welding and painting
- Formability: Excellent plasticity in the annealed state, suitable for deep drawing, spinning, bending and other forming processes, such as making parts with complex shapes (such as fuel tanks and pipelines).
- Weldability: Gas welding, TIG welding, MIG welding and other methods can be used for welding, and the strength loss of the heat-affected zone is small, and no post-weld heat treatment is required.
- Surface treatment: Easy to carry out surface treatments such as anodizing, spraying, and electrophoresis, with strong coating adhesion, suitable for the field of architectural decoration.
4. Physical properties: lightweight and functional characteristics
- Density: about 2.7g/cm³, only 1/3 of steel, meeting the lightweight requirements.
- Thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity: thermal conductivity is about 155W/(m·K), electrical conductivity is about 30% IACS, although it is lower than pure aluminum, it can still be used in general thermal and electrical scenarios (such as radiators, cable sheathing).
- Low temperature performance: it still maintains good toughness in a -200℃ environment, does not become brittle, and is suitable for low-temperature equipment.
5. Non-heat-treatable strengthening
- 3003 aluminum coils cannot be strengthened by heat treatment (such as quenching + aging), and its performance mainly depends on cold working hardening or annealing (after annealing, the strength is reduced and the plasticity is improved).
Typical application areas of 3003 aluminum coil:
1. Construction and decoration field
- Roofing and wall materials: used to manufacture aluminum veneers, corrugated plates, and roof panels. Taking advantage of its corrosion resistance and lightweight characteristics, it is suitable for industrial plants, commercial buildings, and airport terminals.
- Curtain walls and decorative strips: After anodizing or spraying, they are used as exterior wall decorations, combining beauty and durability (such as office curtain walls and indoor ceilings).
- Doors, windows and frames: Processed into profiles, used to make lightweight door and window frames, or building shading systems.
2. Packaging and container industry
- Food and beverage packaging: Make can bodies (matched with 3004 aluminum alloy, 3003 aluminum for can bodies), food foils, and pharmaceutical packaging foils, taking advantage of their corrosion resistance and non-toxic properties.
- Chemical containers: Manufacture the inner walls of small and medium-sized storage tanks, pipelines, and tank trucks to resist general corrosive media (such as oils, weak acids and alkalis).
3. Electronics and electrical fields
- Radiators and heat sinks: Used as heat dissipation components for electronic components (such as power modules and LED lamps), taking advantage of their good thermal conductivity and formability.
- Cable sheathing and shielding layer: As an aluminum sheath for power cables, or electromagnetic shielding materials, it has both conductivity and protection.
- Electrical housing: used to make refrigerator liner and air conditioner evaporator housing, which are moisture-resistant and easy to process.
4. Transportation and automobile industry
- Lightweight body parts: such as automobile engine hood, trunk board, and interior panel, which reduce the weight of the whole vehicle and improve fuel efficiency.
- Fuel tanks and pipelines: Use corrosion resistance to manufacture fuel tanks and coolant pipelines to replace traditional steel materials.
- Ships and rail transportation: used for ship decks, cabin partitions, or high-speed rail car interiors to resist moisture and salt spray environments.
5. Industry and daily necessities
- Kitchenware and tableware: used to make frying pans, baking trays (even heat conduction and corrosion resistance), or food processing equipment (such as blender housing).
- Hardware products: stamped into various hardware (such as lampshades, signs, and luggage frames), using their formability and surface treatment.
- Mechanical parts: manufacture light-load structural parts (such as brackets and covers), or parts that require anti-magnetic properties (such as instrument housings).
Comparison with other aluminum alloys (selection reference)
- vs 1000 series (pure aluminum): 3003 has higher strength and similar corrosion resistance, suitable for molded parts that require a certain strength (pure aluminum is softer and suitable for simple stamping).
- vs 5000 series (aluminum-magnesium alloy): 5000 series has better corrosion resistance (especially in seawater environment) and slightly higher strength, but 3003 has better weldability and lower cost.
- vs 6061 (aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy): 6061 can be heat-treated and strengthened, with higher strength, suitable for structural parts; 3003 is more suitable for non-stressed molding or corrosion-resistant scenarios.
Precautions for use
- Processing state selection: Annealed state (O state) is suitable for deep drawing, semi-hard (H14) or hard state (H18) is suitable for parts that require stiffness.
- Surface protection: In highly corrosive environments (such as industrial waste gas and coastal high salt fog areas), coating treatment (such as fluorocarbon spraying) is recommended to extend life.
- Welding process: The surface oxide film needs to be cleaned during welding. It is recommended to use aluminum silicon welding wire (such as ER4043) to improve the joint strength.
3003 aluminum coil has become a common material in the industrial field from construction to electronics, packaging and other scenes due to its "high cost performance and balanced comprehensive performance". It is especially suitable for applications with medium requirements for strength, corrosion resistance and processability.
