5086-H38 Aluminum
5086-H38 aluminum is 5086 aluminum in the H38 temper. This is the strongest temper normally produced through the action of strain hardening followed by stabilization. It is closely related to H18. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare 5086-H38 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
3.4 %
Fatigue Strength
140 MPa 21 x 103 psi
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
26 GPa 3.7 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
230 MPa 33 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
390 MPa 57 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
320 MPa 46 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
400 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Corrosion
65 °C 150 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
190 °C 370 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
640 °C 1180 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
590 °C 1090 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
900 J/kg-K 0.22 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
130 W/m-K 73 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
24 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
31 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
100 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
9.5 % relative
Calomel Potential
-760 mV
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)
13 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
750 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
14 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
50 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
40 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
44 points
Thermal Diffusivity
52 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
17 points
Alloy Composition
| Al | 93 to 96.3 | |
| Mg | 3.5 to 4.5 | |
| Mn | 0.2 to 0.7 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.5 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.4 | |
| Cr | 0.050 to 0.25 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.25 | |
| Ti | 0 to 0.15 | |
| Cu | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.15 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Further Reading
ASTM B928: Standard Specification for High Magnesium Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate for Marine Service
ASTM B547: Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Formed and Arc-Welded Round Tube
ASTM B209: Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
Pressure Vessels: External Pressure Technology, 2nd ed., Carl T. F. Ross, 2011
EN 755-2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys. Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles. Mechanical properties
Aluminum Standards and Data, Aluminum Association Inc., 2013
ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 1993
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