5042 (AlMg3.5Mn) Aluminum
5042 aluminum is a 5000-series aluminum alloy: the main alloying addition is magnesium, and it is formulated for primary forming into wrought products. 5042 is the Aluminum Association (AA) designation for this material. In European standards, it will be given as EN AW-5042. Additionally, the EN chemical designation is AlMg3,5Mn. And the UNS number is A95042.
It originally received its standard designation in 1980.
The properties of 5042 aluminum include four common variations. This page shows summary ranges across all of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare 5042 aluminum to: 5000-series alloys (top), all aluminum alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
68 GPa 9.9 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
1.1 to 3.4 %
Fatigue Strength
97 to 120 MPa 14 to 18 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.7 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
200 MPa 29 to 30 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
340 to 360 MPa 50 to 52 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
270 to 310 MPa 39 to 45 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
400 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
180 °C 360 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1190 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
570 °C 1060 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
130 W/m-K 75 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
24 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
33 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
110 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Density
2.7 g/cm3 170 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
8.8 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
150 MJ/kg 66 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
1180 L/kg 140 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
3.6 to 12 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
550 to 720 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
50 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
35 to 37 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
40 to 42 points
Thermal Diffusivity
53 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
15 to 16 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought aluminum alloys, the composition of 5042 aluminum is notable for containing a comparatively high amount of magnesium (Mg). Magnesium promotes hardenability through both heat treatment and strain hardening mechanisms. It also increases susceptibility to intergranular corrosion.
| Al | 94.2 to 96.8 | |
| Mg | 3.0 to 4.0 | |
| Mn | 0.2 to 0.5 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.35 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.2 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.15 | |
| Cr | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ISO 6361-2: Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys - Sheets, strips and plates - Part 2: Mechanical properties
EN 573-3: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Chemical composition and form of wrought products. Chemical composition and form of products
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993