Aluminum 5454 · temper
Aluminum 5454-H38
Properties of the H38 condition, compared with the other 5454 tempers.
Full-hard 5454 sheet given a low-temperature stabilizing treatment for stable strength and reduced age-softening; highest strength temper of the alloy.
What is 5454-H38?
5454-H38 is 5454 in the H38 temper — full-hard 5454 sheet given a low-temperature stabilizing treatment for stable strength and reduced age-softening; highest strength temper of the alloy. 5454-H38 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 70.3 GPa (10.2 Msi). 5454-H38 has a density of 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of aluminum grades. It melts at 602°C (1,116 °F).
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 75/100, better than 88% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 85% of aluminum grades
- High strength — 295 MPa (42.8 ksi), better than 75% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
5454-H38 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 5454-H38 — 36 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 5454 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
5454-H38 has a density of 2.68 g/cm³ (0.0968 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of aluminum grades. It melts at 602°C (1,116 °F).
Mechanical10
5454-H38 has a yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 70.3 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal6
5454-H38 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 134 W/m·K (77.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
5454-H38 conducts electricity at 34 % IACS, worse than 52% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), better than 88% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 5454-H38 takes about 155 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
5454-H38's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 65% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability poor (30/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 5454 tempers and conditions
5454 is also supplied in 14 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 5454 overview.
- H38Full-hard 5454 sheet given a low-temperature stabilizing treatment for stable strength and reduced age-softening; highest strength temper of the alloy.295 MPa yield · 93 HB
- H28Full-hard 5454 sheet cold worked beyond H18 then partially annealed back to full-hard level; high strength with limited cold formability.285 MPa yield · 90 HB
- H36Highest commonly registered strength temper for 5454 sheet, stabilized — for flat high-strength panels rather than formed parts.255 MPa yield · 86 HB
- H34Stabilized half-hard temper for higher-strength welded vessels and tanker sheet still intended for warm service.240 MPa yield · 81 HB
- H32The workhorse stocked temper for 5454 sheet and plate: balanced strength, formability and stabilized properties for tankers and hot vessels.205 MPa yield · 73 HB
- H111Standard supply condition for 5454 extrusions and some plate: near-annealed strength with good forming and full weldability.120 MPa yield · 64 HB
- OPick for maximum formability — deep drawing, tight bends, spinning and severe roll forming before welding.117 MPa yield · 62 HB
- FAs-fabricated 5454 (hot-rolled, extruded or forged) with no guaranteed mechanical limits; properties vary with product form and thermal history.115 MPa yield · 62 HB
Working with 5454-H38
Is 5454 easy to machine?
Machines like other 5xxx alloys — gummy and prone to built-up edge in O/H111; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, positive rake and generous coolant/lubricant, and prefer H32/H34 for better chip break.
Can 5454 be welded?
Excellent GMAW/GTAW and friction-stir weldability with ER5356 (or ER5183 for strength); no post-weld heat treatment needed and no sensitization risk at elevated service temperature, but the HAZ reverts toward O-temper strength.
Can 5454 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability in O/H111 (deep drawing, roll forming, tank-head pressing); H32/H34 need larger bend radii and allowance for springback; avoid warm forming above ~350 °C for long times to limit grain coarsening.
What surface finishes work on 5454?
Takes clear and hard anodize well (Mg can slightly grey the film), accepts chemical conversion coating and paint after proper alkaline/acid etch; polishing is fair — expect some Mg-related streaking on bright finishes.
5454 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SiSi+Fe combined limits apply in some standards | ≤ 0.25 | 0.1 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.4 | 0.25 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| Mn | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Mgkept below ~3 % to avoid sensitization/SCC in warm service | 2.4 – 3 | 2.7 |
| Cr | 0.05 – 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.2 | 0.03 |
| Others (each)0.15 % total | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Alremainder, ~95.2–96.6 % | balance | — |
5454-H38 — frequently asked
What is 5454-H38 used for?
5454-H38 is typically used for hot-product road tanker barrels, pressure-vessel shells and tank heads, hot chemical and mine-water vessels, marine hulls and superstructure plate, welded structural weldments and elevated-temperature piping and ducting. In short: hot-service work-hardening alloy.
What is the yield strength of 5454-H38?
5454-H38 has a typical yield strength of 295 MPa (42.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 340 MPa (49.3 ksi) — stronger than 75% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 15 listed tempers.
Is 5454-H38 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 65% of aluminum grades). Machines like other 5xxx alloys — gummy and prone to built-up edge in O/H111; use sharp polished-flute carbide, high speed, positive rake and generous coolant/lubricant, and prefer H32/H34 for better chip break.
Can 5454-H38 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent GMAW/GTAW and friction-stir weldability with ER5356 (or ER5183 for strength); no post-weld heat treatment needed and no sensitization risk at elevated service temperature, but the HAZ reverts toward O-temper strength.
What surface finishes work on 5454-H38?
Takes clear and hard anodize well (Mg can slightly grey the film), accepts chemical conversion coating and paint after proper alkaline/acid etch; polishing is fair — expect some Mg-related streaking on bright finishes.
Can 5454-H38 be formed, bent or molded?
Very good cold formability in O/H111 (deep drawing, roll forming, tank-head pressing); H32/H34 need larger bend radii and allowance for springback; avoid warm forming above ~350 °C for long times to limit grain coarsening.
What is the maximum service temperature of 5454-H38?
5454-H38 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 5454-H38?
Yes — 5454-H38 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
- Aluminum Association International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (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)
- EN 755-2 — Aluminium extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles, 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)
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.