What is the difference between 3003 and 3004 aluminum?

3004 aluminum alloy has superior strength and mechanical properties compared to 3003 aluminum alloy, particularly in shear strength, tensile strength, and fatigue resistance, making it suitable for applications that require higher mechanical stress, while 3003 aluminum alloy is more suitable for applications with lower strength requirements.

Due to its higher magnesium content, 3004 aluminum is stronger than 3003 aluminum, making it more suitable for applications that require higher mechanical strength and performance under stress.

For applications where strength is not the primary concern, and formability and corrosion resistance are the main requirements, 3003 is a good choice.

3004 has higher strength, especially in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, making it more suitable for use under mechanical stress, such as structural panels and equipment that require higher durability.

Properties	3003 Aluminum Alloy	3004 Aluminum Alloy
Main Composition	Approximately 99% aluminum, with a small amount of manganese (1.0-1.5%)	Approximately 99% aluminum, with manganese (1.0-1.5%) and higher magnesium content (0.8-1.3%)
Tensile Strength	Relatively low, suitable for applications that do not require high strength	Relatively high, particularly stronger in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength
Shear Strength	Relatively low, performance is not as good as 3004 aluminum alloy	Relatively high, offers better shear strength
Fatigue Resistance	Relatively low, not suitable for high-fatigue environments	Relatively high, suitable for applications under more mechanical stress
Thermal and Electrical Properties	Similar to 3004 aluminum alloy, with comparable thermal and electrical conductivity	Similar to 3003 aluminum alloy, with comparable thermal and electrical conductivity
Applications	Suitable for low-strength applications such as roofing, wall panels, cookware, and decorative parts	Suitable for high-strength applications such as roofing, wall panels, cookware, etc., better suited for environments that withstand mechanical stress

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Strength Characteristics

3003 Aluminum: Due to its lower magnesium content, 3003 aluminum has lower tensile strength, shear strength, and fatigue strength compared to 3004. This makes it suitable for applications where strength is not a primary consideration, such as decorative parts or containers.
3004 Aluminum: The increased magnesium content in 3004 enhances its strength, particularly in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. It shows better performance under mechanical stress, making it more suitable for applications that require more structural integrity.

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Applications

3003 Aluminum: Due to its lower strength, 3003 is typically used in applications that do not require high strength. Typical uses include roofing materials, wall panels, kitchen utensils, and decorative elements.
3004 Aluminum: Due to its higher strength, 3004 can be used in more demanding applications that require higher mechanical performance, such as roofing, wall panels, and cooking utensils, especially when subjected to mechanical stress or tension.

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Alloy Composition

3003 Aluminum: This is a commercial-grade aluminum alloy with an average aluminum content of 99%, usually containing small amounts of manganese (1.0–1.5%). It does not contain significant amounts of magnesium.
3004 Aluminum: Although also a high-purity aluminum alloy, 3004 has a slightly higher magnesium content (0.8–1.3%), which helps improve its strength characteristics. It also contains small amounts of manganese, similar to 3003.

Element	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Aluminum (Al), %	96.8 to 99	95.6 to 98.2
Copper (Cu), %	0.050 to 0.2	0 to 0.25
Iron (Fe), %	0 to 0.7	0 to 0.7
Magnesium (Mg), %	0	0.8 to 1.3
Manganese (Mn), %	1.0 to 1.5	1.0 to 1.5
Silicon (Si), %	0 to 0.6	0 to 0.3
Zinc (Zn), %	0 to 0.1	0 to 0.25
Residuals, %	0	0 to 0.15

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Mechanical Properties

3003 Aluminum: Typically, 3003 has poor durability in high-stress environments, with lower performance in shear strength, fatigue resistance, and tensile strength.
3004 Aluminum: The addition of magnesium gives 3004 excellent mechanical properties, particularly in shear strength, tensile strength, and fatigue resistance. It performs better in high mechanical stress environments, making it more suitable for demanding applications.

Property	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Brinell Hardness	28 to 65	45 to 83
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, x 10^6 psi	10	10
Elongation at Break, %	1.1 to 28	1.1 to 19
Fatigue Strength, x 10^3 psi	5.7 to 13	7.9 to 17
Poisson's Ratio	0.33	0.33
Shear Modulus, x 10^6 psi	3.8	3.8
Shear Strength, x 10^3 psi	9.9 to 19	15 to 25
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), x 10^3 psi	16 to 34	25 to 45
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), x 10^3 psi	5.7 to 30	9.9 to 40

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Thermal Properties

3003 and 3004 aluminum alloys have similar thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Their performance in heat and electrical transmission is nearly identical, with the main difference being in their strength characteristics rather than thermal or electrical conductivity.

Property	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g	400	400
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °F	360	360
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °F	1210	1210
Melting Onset (Solidus), °F	1190	1170
Specific Heat Capacity, BTU/lb-°F	0.21	0.21
Thermal Conductivity, BTU/h-ft-°F	100	94
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K	23	24

3003 and 3004 Aluminum Electrical Properties

Property	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS	44	42
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS	140	140

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Property	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Base Metal Price, % relative	9.5	9.5
Calomel Potential, mV	-740	-750
Density, lb/ft³	170	170
Embodied Carbon, kg CO2/kg material	8.1	8.3
Embodied Energy, x 10³ BTU/lb	66	66
Embodied Water, gal/lb	140	140

Common Calculations

Property	3003 Aluminum	3004 Aluminum
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³	0.95 to 63	3.2 to 27
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³	11 to 300	33 to 540
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points	14	14
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points	50	50
Strength to Weight: Axial, points	11 to 24	18 to 31
Strength to Weight: Bending, points	18 to 30	25 to 37
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s	71	65
Thermal Shock Resistance, points	4.7 to 10	7.6 to 13

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