Alloy 3003 is a non-heat-treatable 1.2% manganese, 0.12% copper alloy commonly available in flat rolled coil, sheet and plate from a wide range of producing mills. It is one of the most commonly used of all aluminium alloys, essentially commercially pure aluminium with the addition of manganese to increase its strength about 20%. It has all the excellent properties of alloy 1100; excellent corrosion resistance plus the ability to be easily drawn or spun, welded or brazed. Alloy 3003 is fairly low strength but it can be hardened to a significant degree by cold working, enabling a series of “H” tempers.

Alloy 3003 is also produced as a bright finish treadplate (also known as chequer plate) with industrial and decorative applications.

The alloy is also produced as drawn or extruded seamless tube, forgings, wire and bar and foil.

Alloy 3003 is also available as an “Alclad” product with one or both sides clad in Alloy 7072.

Corrosion Resistance

Excellent in a wide range of atmospheric environments, in food and architectural applications.

Heat Treatment

Alloy 3003 is not hardenable by heat treatment. It can be significantly hardened by cold work (eg by cold rolling) and various “H” tempers are produced – most commonly H12 (¼ Hard) and H14 (½ Hard) – as well as the soft annealed Temper O condition.

Alloy 3003 is usually supplied in H1x tempers, where the product is strain hardened only; there is no stabilisation treatment as is usual for the 5xxx series alloys. To soften Alloy 3003 it can be annealed by heating to 415°C, hold until uniform temperature then cool; the rate of cooling is not important.

Welding

Excellent weldability by all standard methods; gas, electric and resistance welding. GMAW and GTAW are preferred and widely used to produce structural welds. Filler alloys are usually 1100 although other alloys are possible. Welding of strain hardened tempers will reduce strengths in the heat affected zones.

Machining

Machinability of the softer tempers O and H12 is poor, with the harder tempers such as H14 and above being somewhat easier to machine.

Treadplate

Treadplate in alloy 3003 is typically used in decorative architectural applications, due to its bright reflective finish.

Typical Applications

Building industry: roofing and sidings, acoustic ceilings, corrugated sheets
Chemical and food industries: storage tanks, pipes, metal work
Equipment for heating and cooling: heat exchangers, air condition evaporators, motor vehicle radiators, freezer linings
Home appliances: cooking utensils, bakery moulds
Office equipment
Tube & Pipe
Packaging: containers, closures. Cladding alloy.