Aluminum 3010: Composition, Properties, Temper Guide & Applications

Comprehensive Overview

3010 is a member of the 3xxx-series aluminum alloys, broadly categorized as manganese-strengthened, non-heat-treatable alloys that rely on solid solution and strain hardening for strength. The alloy’s chemistry centers on aluminum with manganese as the primary intentional alloying addition; trace levels of silicon, iron, copper and zinc are typically present as controlled impurities or minor additions to tailor processing behavior.

Strengthening of 3010 is achieved predominantly through cold working (work hardening) and solid-solution effects from manganese and other minor elements; it does not respond to conventional precipitation heat treatments in the way 6xxx or 7xxx alloys do. Key traits include moderate strength, very good corrosion resistance in most atmospheres, excellent formability in annealed conditions, and generally straightforward weldability using standard aluminum processes.

Industries that commonly adopt 3010 include architectural sheet and building envelope systems, general-purpose automotive body parts where formability and surface finish are prioritized, consumer products and some electrical enclosure applications. The alloy is chosen where a balance of ductility, corrosion resistance and cost-effectiveness is required, and where the design relies on forming rather than post-fabrication heat treatment to achieve mechanical properties.

Engineers select 3010 over other alloys when the application calls for a combination of deep-draw formability and reasonable strength without the need for age hardening. It is preferred over purer, softer commercial-purity aluminum when additional yield/tensile strength is needed but expensive heat-treatable alloys would be unnecessary or detrimental to formability and surface finish.

Temper Variants

Temper	Strength Level	Elongation	Formability	Weldability	Notes
O	Low	High (30–40%)	Excellent	Excellent	Fully annealed, maximum ductility for forming
H12	Low-Moderate	Moderate (20–30%)	Very Good	Excellent	Light work hardening, retained formability
H14	Moderate	Moderate (10–20%)	Good	Excellent	Common commercial temper for drawing and light forming
H16	Moderate	Lower (8–15%)	Fair	Excellent	Higher work hardening for stiffness
H18	High	Low (5–10%)	Limited	Excellent	Heavily strain-hardened for maximum strength without heat treatment
H24	Moderate	Moderate (10–20%)	Good	Excellent	Strain-hardened then partially annealed for tuning ductility
H32	Moderate-High	Moderate (8–15%)	Good	Excellent	Stabilized by controlled strain and natural aging (where applicable)
T4 (if used)	Moderate	Moderate	Good	Excellent	Solution heat-treated then naturally aged (rare for 3xxx but occasionally specified)
T6 (not typical)	Not applicable	Not applicable	Poor	Excellent	3xxx alloys are not conventionally precipitation-hardenable; T6 does not provide typical 6xxx gains

Temper has a first-order effect on the functional trade-offs between ductility and strength for 3010. Annealed O temper is used when extensive forming or deep drawing is required, whereas H-series tempers are selected to provide incremental increases in yield/tensile strength at the expense of formability.

In practice, temper selection is often dictated by the forming sequence and final service loads; parts that require complex forming steps will be formed in O or H12 and may be subsequently partially work-hardened or stabilized to reach the target properties without heat treatment.

Chemical Composition

Element	% Range	Notes
Si	≤ 0.6	Typical impurity; high Si can increase strength modestly but reduce ductility
Fe	≤ 0.7	Common impurity that forms intermetallics and slightly reduces corrosion resistance
Mn	0.6–1.5	Principal alloying element imparting solid-solution strengthening and improving grain structure
Mg	≤ 0.10	Minor or trace; low levels can affect work hardening and corrosion performance
Cu	≤ 0.20	Kept low to limit susceptibility to intergranular corrosion and preserve formability
Zn	≤ 0.25	Minor; higher amounts would push alloy toward 7xxx characteristics
Cr	≤ 0.10	Small additions can control recrystallization and grain structure in some product forms
Ti	≤ 0.05	Grain refiner in cast or specific wrought products
Others	Balance Al; each ≤ 0.05	Residual impurities and intended trace elements to meet processing needs

The manganese content is the defining chemical driver for 3010’s mechanical behavior: Mn dissolves to a limited extent in the Al matrix and hinders dislocation motion, raising strength without severely compromising ductility. Silicon and iron are relatively insoluble and form intermetallic particles which can act as fracture initiators or influence surface finish; their levels are thus controlled. Trace elements such as Cr and Ti are used sparingly to control grain size and stabilize properties during rolling and annealing cycles.

Mechanical Properties

3010 displays typical non-heat-treatable alloy tensile behavior: yield and tensile strength are primarily functions of cold work (temper) and thickness, while elongation correlates inversely with the degree of strain hardening. In annealed conditions the alloy exhibits high ductility suitable for deep drawing and forming, with ductile fracture morphology under tensile loading. With increased work hardening (H tempers), tensile and yield strengths increase significantly while elongation decreases and strain-to-failure reduces.

Hardness scales with temper and correlates to yield strength; Brinell or Vickers hardness measurements rise with cold work and are used as quick shop-floor indicators of temper. Fatigue performance in 3010 is moderate and is strongly affected by surface finish, residual stresses from forming and any locations of intermetallic particles or scratches. Plate and sheet thickness influence yield and tensile values due to work-hardening, grain size differences and percent cold work retained through processing.

Corrosion pits or notches reduce fatigue life more severely than uniform yielding; therefore surface finishing and proper design to avoid sharp notches are important for cyclic-loaded components. Thick sections are typically processed and supplied in softer tempers to allow working; thin gauge sheet often achieves higher effective strength after rolling and light tempering.

Property	O/Annealed	Key Temper (e.g., H14/H18)	Notes
Tensile Strength (UTS)	~110–140 MPa	~150–230 MPa	Values depend on temper and thickness; H18 at upper range
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)	~35–70 MPa	~90–170 MPa	Yield varies strongly with work hardening level
Elongation (uniform)	~30–40%	~5–20%	Higher in O; H18 shows limited elongation
Hardness (HB)	~25–40 HB	~45–80 HB	Hardness increases with cold work; indicative of temper

Physical Properties

Property	Value	Notes
Density	~2.70 g/cm³	Typical for wrought aluminum alloys; useful for mass calculations
Melting Range	~645–660 °C	Alloying shifts solidus/liquidus slightly versus pure Al
Thermal Conductivity	~120–135 W/m·K	Slightly lower than pure Al due to alloying elements
Electrical Conductivity	~30–45 % IACS	Reduced compared with commercial-purity grades due to Mn and impurities
Specific Heat	~0.90 J/g·K	Near that of pure aluminum; useful for thermal modeling
Thermal Expansion	~23–24 µm/m·K (20–100 °C)	Typical linear coefficient for aluminum alloys in this class

The density and thermal properties make 3010 attractive where lightweight and thermal management are needed, but designers should account for reduced thermal and electrical conductivity compared to high-purity aluminum. Thermal conductivity remains good for general heat-dissipation tasks, but the alloy is not optimal when maximum electrical conductance is required.

Thermal expansion has design implications for assemblies combining dissimilar materials; engineers must allow for differential expansion in joints and fasteners. The melting range constrains fabrication processes such as brazing and should be considered alongside filler alloy selection during welding.

Product Forms

Form	Typical Thickness/Size	Strength Behavior	Common Tempers	Notes
Sheet	0.2–6.0 mm	Higher effective strength in thinner gauges after rolling	O, H12, H14, H16	Widely used in architectural cladding and formed parts
Plate	6–25 mm	Lower formability; thicker sections often supplied softer	O, H112	Used for structural sections requiring moderate strength
Extrusion	Variable cross-sections	Strength depends on extrusion cooling and subsequent work	O, H32	Limited as alloy choice for complex extrusions but feasible with process control
Tube	0.5–6 mm wall	Performance similar to sheet; welded and seamless variants	O, H14	Common for lightweight enclosure frames and fluid lines
Bar/Rod	Ø3–50 mm	Strength set by drawing or cold work	H18, H14	Used for fasteners, formed components and machined parts

Sheets are the dominant product form for 3010 due to its favorable surface finish, coating compatibility and deep-draw characteristics. Thick plates are less common but are produced where formability requirements are lower and static structural capability is adequate.

Extrusions and drawn products are sensitive to billet chemistry and thermal history, and may require tight control of homogenization and pre-heating to avoid surface defect formation and to obtain consistent mechanical properties across sections.

Equivalent Grades

Standard	Grade	Region	Notes
AA	3010	USA	Wrought alloy designation under Aluminum Association system (usage can vary by mill)
EN AW	3xxx-series (e.g., AW-3003)	Europe	Comparable 3xxx manganese-based alloys; exact chemistry may differ slightly
JIS	A3xxx (e.g., A3003)	Japan	JIS uses 3xxx designations for similar Mn-containing wrought alloys
GB/T	3Axx (e.g., 3A21/3003 equivalent)	China	Chinese standards have close equivalents in the 3A21 family

Across standards, the “3010” label can map to slightly different chemistries and product specifications depending on region and mill practice. Suppliers may market alloys under the 3010 name with proprietary control limits (e.g., slightly higher Mn or controlled Cu) to tune properties for particular forming routes. When substituting, purchasers should compare chemical limits, specified mechanical properties, product form limits and surface treatment compatibility to ensure interchangeability.

Corrosion Resistance

3010 exhibits generally good atmospheric corrosion resistance typical of the 3xxx family; a naturally forming oxide film provides passive protection in most environments. In rural and urban atmospheres the alloy performs well and resists general pitting; anodizing and organic coatings further improve aesthetics and long-term weathering performance.

In marine or highly chloride-bearing environments 3010 is moderately resistant but less robust than 5xxx (Al–Mg) series alloys specifically designed for marine service. Localized pitting can occur on bare surfaces if crevices exist or if stray galvanic currents are present; proper material pairing and coatings are advisable in aggressive exposures.

Stress corrosion cracking susceptibility is low relative to high-strength heat-treatable alloys, because 3010’s strength is moderate and it lacks the precipitation microstructures that often drive SCC. Galvanic interactions should be managed by avoiding pairing 3010 directly with cathodic metals such as copper or stainless steels without insulating layers; when electrically connected to more noble metals in a wet environment 3010 may become anodic and corrode preferentially.

Compared with 1xxx purity grades, 3010 trades slightly reduced electrical conductivity for improved strength and similar general corrosion resistance. Versus 5xxx alloys, 3010 is often less resistant to localized corrosion in chloride environments but may be preferred where forming and surface finish outweigh the incremental corrosion benefits of Al–Mg alloys.

Fabrication Properties

Weldability

3010 is readily welded by conventional fusion processes including TIG (GTAW) and MIG (GMAW). Filler alloys such as Al-4043 (Al–Si) or Al-5356 (Al–Mg) are commonly used depending on base metal composition, desired joint ductility and post-weld finishing requirements. Hot-cracking risk is low compared with high-copper or high-strength alloys, but good joint design and pre-cleaning are essential to avoid porosity and oxide entrapment. Heat-affected-zone softening is not a primary concern for 3xxx alloys, but local loss of work-hardened strength can occur in H tempers adjacent to welds.

Machinability

Machinability of 3010 is moderate to fair; it machines better than many high-strength aluminum alloys but is not as free-cutting as some leaded or high-silicon alloys. Tooling using carbide cutters with positive rake, controlled feeds and higher speeds produce good surface finish and long tool life. Chips are typically short to medium in morphology when cutting parameters are optimized; adhesion and built-up-edge can be mitigated by appropriate coolant and cutting speeds.

Formability

Formability in O and light H tempers is excellent, enabling deep drawing, roll forming and complex bends with tight radii. Recommended minimum inside bend radii depend on temper and thickness but typical design practice for deep draw sheet uses r/t ratios of 0.5–1.5 in annealed states and larger radii under H16–H18 to avoid cracking. The alloy responds well to incremental forming and stretch forming, and springback is moderate and can be predicted via standard aluminum constitutive models.

Heat Treatment Behavior

As a 3xxx-series alloy, 3010 is fundamentally non-heat-treatable for strengthening purposes; it will not gain significant strength from conventional solution treatment and artificial aging cycles used for 6xxx and 7xxx alloys. Attempts to apply T6-style heat treatments will not produce the peak precipitation hardening typical of those other families and are rarely specified.

Strength control is achieved through controlled cold working and annealing: full anneal (O) is performed to restore ductility, while partial anneals or stabilization cycles are used to set a target balance between ductility and strength. Recrystallization during annealing is influenced by Mn and trace elements; process control of furnace temperature and time is necessary to achieve consistent microstructure in rolled or extruded products.

Where slight natural aging effects are reported (e.g., H32 stabilization), these are attributable to relaxation of residual stresses and minor solute clustering rather than true precipitation hardening. For most engineering purposes, thermal processes are used for stress relief and dimensional stabilization rather than strength enhancement.

High-Temperature Performance

3010 loses strength progressively as temperature increases, with notable reductions above approximately 100–150 °C and significant softening approaching 200–300 °C. Creep resistance at elevated temperatures is modest and the alloy is not intended for sustained high-temperature structural loads. Oxidation is limited to a thin Al2O3 layer which protects the surface; catastrophic oxidation is not a practical concern in usual service temperatures.

Heat-affected zones from welding will see localized property changes but not the severe hardening/softening transitions found in age-hardening alloys. For short-duration high-temperature excursions (e.g., paint baking cycles), 3010 can tolerate typical automotive or industrial bake temperatures without permanent loss of useful mechanical integrity, provided exposure times and peak temperatures remain controlled.

Designers should limit continuous service temperature to ranges where yield and stiffness remain acceptable for the part function; long-term exposure above ~150 °C requires testing and validation for creep and dimensional stability.

Applications

Industry	Example Component	Why 3010 Is Used
Automotive	Body panels, interior trim	Excellent formability and surface finish; sufficient strength for non-structural panels
Marine	Cabin fittings, trim strips	Good atmospheric corrosion resistance and ease of fabrication
Aerospace	Non-critical fittings, fairings	Favorable strength-to-weight for secondary structures where forming and low cost matter
Consumer/Appliances	Refrigerator panels, housings	Surface quality, paintability and formability
Electronics	Enclosures, chassis	Lightweight with adequate thermal conductivity for passive dissipation

3010 is commonly specified where forming complexity, surface appearance and general corrosion resistance are design drivers and where higher-strength heat-treatable alloys are unnecessary or would complicate forming operations. It finds recurring use in industries that value low-cost, high-ductility sheet combined with acceptable structural performance for non-critical applications.

Selection Insights

3010 sits in the practical middle ground for engineers choosing between commercial-purity aluminum and higher-strength alloys. Compared with 1100, 3010 sacrifices some electrical and thermal conductivity but offers materially higher yield and tensile strength while retaining good formability and similar general corrosion resistance.

Against common work-hardened alloys such as 3003 or 5052, 3010 typically provides comparable formability and similar corrosion behavior; selection is driven by subtle differences in strength, coatability and mill availability. Versus heat-treatable alloys like 6061 or 6063, 3010 will have lower peak strength yet often superior formability and lower cost, making it preferable for complex-formed components and where post-forming strength is achieved by cold work rather than aging.

Choose 3010 when the design emphasizes deep drawing, surface finish and cost-effectiveness, and when peak age-hardening strength is not required; specify alternate alloys when high fatigue resistance, elevated temperature capability or maximum structural strength are primary requirements.

Closing Summary

3010 remains a relevant and practical aluminum alloy for modern engineering where a balanced combination of formability, corrosion resistance and moderate strength is required; its non-heat-treatable, manganese-based chemistry enables predictable, economical processing for sheet, plate and drawn components across a wide range of industries.