Aluminum 5182 · temper
Aluminum 5182-H18
Properties of the H18 condition, compared with the other 5182 tempers.
Fully cold-worked (8/8 hard) Al-Mg4.5Mn0.4 sheet/strip with very high strength and low ductility, used for can end and tab stock.
What is 5182-H18?
5182-H18 is 5182 in the H18 temper — fully cold-worked (8/8 hard) Al-Mg4.5Mn0.4 sheet/strip with very high strength and low ductility, used for can end and tab stock. 5182-H18 has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi). 5182-H18 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 577°C (1,071 °F).
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 9.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 385 MPa (55.8 ksi), better than 87% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
5182-H18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5182-H18 — 37 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 5182 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
5182-H18 has a density of 2.65 g/cm³ (0.0957 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of aluminum grades. It melts at 577°C (1,071 °F).
Mechanical10
5182-H18 has a yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
5182-H18 is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 123 W/m·K (71.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 74% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 24.1 µm/m·K (13.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5182-H18 conducts electricity at 31 % IACS, worse than 68% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 83% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5182-H18 takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 9.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
5182-H18's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability poor (25/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 5182 tempers and conditions
5182 is also supplied in 6 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 5182 overview.
- H39Cold-worked to extra-hard level then low-temperature stabilized, giving the highest 5182 strip strength with stable properties for can end/tab stock.400 MPa yield · 110 HB
- H19The high-strength can-end and tab stock condition — pick when maximum strength in thin gauge with adequate residual formability for scoring/curling is required.395 MPa yield · 110 HB
- H18Fully cold-worked (8/8 hard) Al-Mg4.5Mn0.4 sheet/strip with very high strength and low ductility, used for can end and tab stock.385 MPa yield · 105 HB
- H48H19-strength coil that is coil-coated on one or both faces; the standard supply condition for beverage-can ends and tabs going straight to the press.385 MPa yield · 108 HB
- H111Standard European sheet condition for formed parts where light levelling/flattening strain is acceptable and O-temper stretcher strains must be reduced.150 MPa yield · 75 HB
- OChoose for maximum drawability — automotive inner panels, deep-drawn shells and stampings that need high uniform elongation.130 MPa yield · 70 HB
Working with 5182-H18
Is 5182 easy to machine?
Soft and gummy in O/H111 — use sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed, generous rake and flood lubrication; H19/H48 chips break better but the alloy is normally blanked, not machined.
Can 5182 be welded?
Readily GTAW/GMAW/resistance and laser welded with 5356 or 5183 filler; no post-weld heat treatment needed but the weld zone reverts to near-O strength and high-Mg welds should stay below ~65 °C service.
Can 5182 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding stretch/deep-draw formability in O temper (high n-value); expect Lüders/stretcher-strain marks in O and use H111 or a temper roll pass for visible surfaces; H19/H48 is designed for high-speed shell pressing, scoring and curling only.
What surface finishes work on 5182?
Accepts clear/bright anodizing, conversion coating and coil lacquer well; degrease thoroughly since Mg-rich surface oxide forms fast, and pre-etch before painting for reliable adhesion.
5182 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | ≤ 0.2 | 0.08 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Mngrain-structure control | 0.2 – 0.5 | 0.35 |
| Mgprincipal strengthening element | 4 – 5 | 4.5 |
| Cr | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Tigrain refiner | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Al | balance | — |
5182-H18 — frequently asked
What is 5182-H18 used for?
5182-H18 is typically used for beverage can end stock, pull tabs and easy-open ends, automotive inner door and hood panels, deep-drawn body-in-white inner structures, bottle and container closures and stamped brackets and reinforcements. In short: beverage can lid alloy.
What is the yield strength of 5182-H18?
5182-H18 has a typical yield strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 410 MPa (59.5 ksi) — stronger than 87% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is 5182-H18 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 72% of aluminum grades). Soft and gummy in O/H111 — use sharp polished-flute carbide tools, high speed, generous rake and flood lubrication; H19/H48 chips break better but the alloy is normally blanked, not machined.
Can 5182-H18 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). Readily GTAW/GMAW/resistance and laser welded with 5356 or 5183 filler; no post-weld heat treatment needed but the weld zone reverts to near-O strength and high-Mg welds should stay below ~65 °C service.
What surface finishes work on 5182-H18?
Accepts clear/bright anodizing, conversion coating and coil lacquer well; degrease thoroughly since Mg-rich surface oxide forms fast, and pre-etch before painting for reliable adhesion.
Can 5182-H18 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding stretch/deep-draw formability in O temper (high n-value); expect Lüders/stretcher-strain marks in O and use H111 or a temper roll pass for visible surfaces; H19/H48 is designed for high-speed shell pressing, scoring and curling only.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5182-H18?
5182-H18 is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5182-H18?
Yes — 5182-H18 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B209 / B209M — Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate — ASTM International (2021)
- EN 485-2 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys, sheet, strip and plate: mechanical properties — CEN (2016)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Can end and tab stock (5182) product data — Novelis / Constellium (2023)
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.