2mm thick aluminium sheet alloy 5083 H112

12/04 2025

A Practical Engineer’s Viewpoint

When people ask for “2mm thick aluminium sheet alloy 5083 H112,” they usually already know one thing: they need strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability in a relatively thin sheet. From an engineer’s perspective, this material sits at a sweet spot between structural performance and formability, especially in marine and transport applications.

1. What Does “5083 H112 2mm” Actually Mean?

Breakdown of the designation:

• Alloy 5083

  • A non-heat-treatable aluminium–magnesium–manganese alloy
  • Main strengths: high strength in the 5xxx family, excellent corrosion resistance (including seawater), good weldability

• Temper H112

  • “Slightly strain hardened” temper used mainly for hot- or cold-worked products that are not given a final controlled strain hardening
  • Mechanical properties are specified, but with more forming/weldability margin than harder tempers like H116 or H321

• 2mm thickness

  • Thin enough for panels and skins, stiff enough that oil-canning and deformation can be controlled with proper stiffening

From a design standpoint, 2mm 5083-H112 is typically considered for:

• Marine hull and deck plating, structural linings
• Vehicle body panels, firewalls, floors and side walls
• Pressure vessel cladding, cryogenic liners
• Chemical equipment liners and covers
• Lightweight structural panels in civil/industrial use

2. Why Choose 5083-H112 Over Other 5xxx Alloys?

Looking only at datasheets, 5083, 5086, 5052 and 5454 seem similar. In practice, for 2mm sheet, engineers often lean to 5083-H112 when:

1. Strength vs. weight matters

   • 5083 offers among the highest strengths in common 5xxx alloys
   • At 2mm, you gain noticeable stiffness and load capacity compared with 5052, without a large weight penalty

2. Service in aggressive or marine environments

   • Its high magnesium (Mg) content and proper temper control give excellent seawater and industrial atmosphere resistance
   • Performs well in brine, harbor environments, and under repeated wet–dry cycles

3. Critical weld joints and fatigue life

   • 5083 is widely used in welded marine structures because the welded joints still retain good strength and corrosion resistance
   • Many design codes, ship classifications and standards provide property data specifically for welded 5083 plate and sheet

4. Formability still needed

   • H112 maintains workable ductility for rolling, bending and moderate forming at 2mm
   • Reduced risk of cracking in tight bends compared with harder H116/H321 tempers

In short, 2mm 5083-H112 sits in a usable space: good strength + weldability + formability + corrosion resistance.

3. Chemical Composition (Alloy 5083)

Typical composition limits for aluminium alloy 5083 (per common standards such as ASTM B209 / EN 573; values in weight %):

Engineering implications:

• High Mg (4–5%) → primary strengthening; excellent marine corrosion resistance
• Mn + Cr additions → grain refinement, improved toughness, stress corrosion resistance
• Low Cu → avoids degradation of marine corrosion behavior
• Controlled Fe/Si → help with castability and formability without harming corrosion performance excessively

4. Mechanical Properties of 2mm 5083-H112

Values below are typical (room temperature), actual mill certificates should be consulted for design:

Nominal Iengthwise properties for sheet ~2mm thick:

*Ranges depend on standard (ASTM/EN), thickness, direction (long./trans.), and exact processing. Always use certified values when designing to code.

For 2mm sheet, the formability in H112 remains practical, while giving more stiffness and static capacity than fully annealed O temper.

5. International Standards and Typical Specifications

When ordering or qualifying 2mm 5083-H112, engineers generally refer to:

• ASTM Standards

  • ASTM B209 – Aluminium and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
  • Temper definitions standardized by ASTM B918 / B928 and related documents

• EN / ISO Standards (for Europe)

  • EN 573-3 – Chemical composition
  • EN 485-2 – Mechanical properties of sheet/plate
  • EN 515 – Temper designations

• Marine / Structural Codes (for application)

  • DNV, ABS, LR rules for shipbuilding – approved 5083 grades and minimum properties
  • Eurocode 9 (EN 1999) – Aluminium structures, gives design rules for 5xxx alloys
  • ISO 12215 – Small craft structures

When you specify “2mm thick aluminium sheet, alloy 5083, temper H112, compliant with EN 485-2 / ASTM B209,” suppliers know exactly what is required.

6. H112 Temper: What It Means in Practice

H112 is often misunderstood, so it’s important for project engineers and procurement to speak the same language.

• H112 = slightly strain hardened (non-heat-treated)
  • Material has been hot- or cold-worked (rolled) to final thickness
  • Mechanical properties meet or exceed minimum standards, but the temper is not as tightly strain-hardened as H116 or H321
  • Has more tolerance for forming and welding than stronger tempers, but somewhat lower strength

Practical characteristics at 2mm thickness:

• Bends fairly well (with proper small inside radius and correct grain direction)
• Less risk of stress cracking in tight folds or deep draws
• Offers more stable behavior when welding large panels or complex assemblies

Where H112 is a good choice:

• Panels that will be CNC-formed, rolled, or press-braked after cutting
• Structures that will be welded extensively, where high restraint may risk cracking with harder tempers
• Designs where some “reserve formability” is more important than the last few MPa of strength

7. Dimensional and Flatness Considerations for 2mm Sheet

At 2mm, 5083-H112 behaves differently than thicker plates:

• Standard sizes (common, but can vary by mill)
  • Width: 1000 / 1200 / 1500 / 2000 mm (and custom)
  • Length: 2000 / 3000 / 4000 mm or cut-to-length
• Thickness tolerance
  • Typically around ±0.05–0.10 mm for 2mm sheet (depends on standard & mill)
• Flatness
  • Proper flatness (low wave, minimal residual stress) matters for laser cutting, precision forming, and panel assembly
  • Reputable mills control rolling and leveling; request flatness class when critical

When the project demands precise fit-up (e.g., robotic welding or panelized facade systems), specify both thickness and flatness tolerances in the purchase order.

8. Forming, Bending and Cutting at 2mm

Forming/Bending Guidance (rule-of-thumb values):

• Minimum recommended inside bend radius (Rᵢ), across rolling direction, for 2mm 5083-H112:

  • ~1.0–1.5 × t (i.e., 2–3 mm) for simple 90° bends
  • For bending parallel to the rolling direction, or tight bends, increase Rᵢ for safety

• Observations in practice:

  • Pre-annealing is rarely needed for typical 2mm work
  • Ensure clean tooling and adequate lubrication to avoid surface pick-up or micro-cracks

Cutting Methods:

• Shearing – fast, economical for straight cuts; minor burr, slight distortion if blades are not sharp or clearances are wrong
• Laser cutting – common for 2mm; fast, precise, minimal HAZ; use parameters optimized for Mg-containing alloys
• Waterjet cutting – excellent edge quality, no HAZ; slower and costlier than laser
• Plasma – usually more relevant for thicker plate; for 2mm may lead to more distortion relative to laser/waterjet

Maintain appropriate protection against bending or denting of thin sheets during handling and storage.

9. Welding Behavior – A Strength of 5083-H112

For 2mm sheet, welding must be done with good control to avoid distortion or burn-through, but 5083 alloy itself is very weld-friendly.

Common Welding Processes:

• GMAW/MIG (solid wire ER5356 or ER5183)
  • High deposition rate; widely used in shipyards and heavy fabrication
• GTAW/TIG (filler 5356/5183)
  • Better control and aesthetic beads on thin 2mm, but lower speed

Practical notes:

• 5083 is susceptible to sensitization (β-phase Mg₂Al₃ precipitation) and local corrosion if improperly welded and exposed to certain conditions, particularly at higher service temperatures. Control heat input and use recommended fillers.
• In welded zones, local mechanical properties drop compared with base material; designers should apply weld strength reduction factors from applicable codes.

Encouragingly, decades of marine engineering experience make 5083 one of the most documented and predictable aluminium alloys for structural welding.

10. Corrosion Resistance & Surface Treatment

Why engineers trust 5083 for saltwater:

• Mg-rich solid solution and low Cu content provide excellent resistance to seawater and chloride media
• Good resistance to stress-corrosion cracking relative to some 7xxx series alloys

For a 2mm sheet in real environments, considerations include:

• Bare finish
  • Often adequate in marine and industrial atmospheres if design avoids water traps and galvanic couples
• Anodizing
  • 5083 is anodizable; produces a protective oxide layer, though color uniformity can be less consistent than some 6xxx or 5xxx low-Mg alloys
• Painting / Powder Coating
  • Very common: Grit or sweep blasting + conversion coating + marine-grade paint yields robust service life especially for external panels

Galvanic issues:
If 5083 is used alongside carbon steel or copper alloys in saltwater, insulate and design to avoid stagnant crevice zones and dissimilar-metal contacts.

11. Where 2mm 5083-H112 Is Used – Application-Centric View

11.1 Marine and Offshore

• Hull plating for smaller craft, decks, bulkheads, superstructures
• Engine room linings, watertight doors, hatches, stair stringers
• Offshore units: walkways, covers, lightweight cladding

Engineers like 2mm in secondary structures where weight, vibration, and ease of installation are critical.

11.2 Transport and Vehicle Construction

• Body panels, side walls, floors for:
  • Commercial trailers
  • Special vehicles, service trucks, waste collection bodies
• Fire barrier and sound insulation facings in buses and railway cars

Here, the interplay between corrosion resistance (road salts, humidity), light weight, and relatively simple forming makes 2mm 5083-H112 attractive.

11.3 Industrial and Chemical Equipment

• Cladding or lining for chemical tanks and process equipment
• Enclosures, housings, cabinets in corrosive plants
• Panels on cooling towers, desalination plants, and coastal industrial buildings

For many such uses, engineering management values a “fit-and-forget” material – which 5083 largely delivers when properly detailed.

12. How to Specify 2mm 5083-H112 Correctly

From a purchasing/specification standpoint, you reduce technical risk by being precise. A complete spec might include:

1. Material definition

   • Aluminium alloy 5083, 2.0 mm thickness, sheet, temper H112

2. Standards compliance

   • According to ASTM B209 (or EN 573 / EN 485), with properties meeting EN 485-2 Class , or ASTM minimums
   • For marine, in line with DNV/ABS-approved 5083 if required

3. Mechanical property requirements (optional, if stricter than the norm)

   • Yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation min. values
   • Test direction: longitudinal / transverse

4. Tolerances

   • Thickness tolerance ±0.05/0.1 mm (as required)
   • Flatness class if critical (e.g., for laser-cut/robotic welded panels)

5. Surface finish / delivery state

   • Mill finish, or brushed, or intended for painting/anodizing
   • Require protective film on one or both sides if surfaces must remain scratch-free

6. Certification

   • Mill test certificate 3.1 (EN 10204) with composition and mechanical test results

The more clearly the engineer expresses performance needs, the more reliably the supplier can deliver the correct 2mm 5083-H112.

13. Limitations and When to Consider Alternatives

Seeing 5083-H112 as a powerful but not universal solution helps avoid misuse:

• If complex deep drawing or intense forming is needed, consider a softer temper or a more formable alloy such as 5052-O/H32 for intricate shapes.
• If very high stiffness/strength and moderate corrosion protection in non-marine environments are needed, 6xxx or 7xxx may be better (e.g., 6082 T6, 7075 T6) – but they are not direct replacements for 5083 in seawater.
• For exposure at elevated temperatures (>65–70°C) in severe marine conditions, review sensitization risks of 5083 and consult specialized guidelines.

From a practical, field-oriented viewpoint, 2mm thick aluminium alloy 5083 in H112 temper provides:

• Solid strength and stiffness for thin panels
• Excellent seawater and industrial corrosion resistance
• Proven weldability with extensive experience in codes and classification rules
• Manageable forming and bending for fabrication at 2mm thickness
• Reliable, standard-backed properties with clear chemical and mechanical limits

For marine craft plating, vehicle panels, or durable industrial enclosures where weight, life-cycle cost, and corrosion performance intersect, 2mm 5083-H112 is not just a line in a catalog—it’s a carefully balanced, work-tested material that underpins many of the structures we quietly rely on every day.

5083   

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