3102 Aluminum

Representative aluminum material photo; exact grade not verified

3102 Aluminum (AA 3102) is a registered wrought aluminum–manganese alloy in the 3000 series. Its low manganese addition and tightly limited copper content support good corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity relative to many stronger aluminum alloys, and easy cold forming. It is principally supplied as light-gauge sheet, strip, foil, or tube stock, including material for heat-exchanger components. Because 3102 is not heat treatable for strengthening, its mechanical properties are controlled mainly by cold-work temper. Select the temper around the required balance of bendability, stiffness, and post-forming strength.

Chemical Composition (wt.%)
Chemical Composition wt.%
Element	Min	Max
Silicon	—	0.40
Iron	—	0.70
Copper	—	0.10
Manganese	0.05	0.40
Zinc	—	0.30
Titanium	—	0.10
Others, each	—	0.05
Others, total	—	0.15
Aluminum	Remainder

Registered wrought-composition limits in weight percent. Silicon and iron are listed as separate maximum limits in the Aluminum Association registered designation. “Others” limits apply to unspecified elements; aluminum is the remainder.

Values below are reported reference values for 3102-H14 at room temperature unless otherwise stated. Mechanical properties of wrought 3102 depend strongly on product form, thickness, direction, and temper; confirm applicable specification requirements and certified mill data for design or procurement.

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Table of 3102 Aluminum Properties

Table of 3102 Aluminum Properties
Physical Properties	Metric
Density (3102-H14)	2.71 g/cm³2.71 g/cm³
Mechanical Properties	Metric
Elastic Modulus (3102-H14)	69 GPa
Tensile Strength (3102-H14)	130 MPa
Yield Strength (3102-H14)	115 MPa
Elongation at Break (3102-H14)	8 %
Thermal Properties	Metric
Thermal Conductivity (3102-H14)	212 W/m·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (3102-H14)	23.6 µm/m·K
Electrical Properties	Metric
Electrical Conductivity (3102-H14)	52 % IACS

Test conditions & data notes

Density (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14.
Elastic Modulus (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14.
Tensile Strength (3102-H14): Reported typical room-temperature value for 3102-H14.
Yield Strength (3102-H14): Reported typical room-temperature value for 3102-H14.
Elongation at Break (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14; test geometry was not stated in the source excerpt.
Thermal Conductivity (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14.
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14.
Electrical Conductivity (3102-H14): Reported for 3102-H14.

Material Conditions & Tempers

3102 is a non-heat-treatable alloy. O temper is selected where maximum ductility is needed, while H1x tempers develop strength through strain hardening. H2x tempers are strain hardened and then partially annealed, providing a useful compromise where forming after supply is required.

Condition	Tensile Strength	Yield / Proof Strength	Notes
O	90 MPa	35 MPa	Annealed condition for maximum ductility in deep drawing, tube bending, and further rolling. Reported reference values; elongation listed as 35%.
H12	110 MPa	90 MPa	Quarter-hard, strain-hardened condition for light-gauge material requiring good bendability with added stiffness. Reported reference values; elongation listed as 12%.
H14	130 MPa	115 MPa	Half-hard, strain-hardened temper commonly used where moderate strength and acceptable bending are required. Reported reference values; elongation listed as 8%.
H24	130 MPa	105 MPa	Half-hard equivalent produced by strain hardening followed by partial annealing; suited to parts requiring more post-supply forming than H14. Reported reference values; elongation listed as 12%.
H18	165 MPa	150 MPa	Full-hard strain-hardened strip or foil condition for high stiffness and shallow-forming work. Reported reference values; elongation listed as 4%.

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages	Limitations
Good cold formability in soft and lightly strain-hardened tempers, supporting roll forming, bending, drawing, and tube shaping. Manganese-bearing 3000-series chemistry provides better strength than very pure aluminum while retaining useful ductility. Low density, reported as 2.71 g/cm³ for 3102-H14, benefits lightweight sheet and heat-exchanger assemblies. Reported thermal conductivity of 212 W/m·K for H14 supports heat-transfer duties in light-gauge components. Good general corrosion resistance and weldability make it useful for fabricated, non-structural aluminum parts. Cold-work tempers provide a broad, practical strength range without precipitation heat treatment.	3102 is not a heat-treatable structural alloy; it cannot obtain the high strengths associated with precipitation-hardenable 2xxx, 6xxx, or 7xxx alloys. Strength and hardness decrease in the heat-affected zone of welded cold-worked material because local annealing removes strain hardening. Soft tempers can be gummy in machining and may form built-up edge; machining is generally not the alloy’s primary advantage. H14 and harder tempers have reduced elongation, so tight-radius bending, deep drawing, and flaring need temper-specific trials. Published generic values are not substitutes for minimum mechanical-property requirements in the governing product specification.

Advantages

Limitations

Good cold formability in soft and lightly strain-hardened tempers, supporting roll forming, bending, drawing, and tube shaping.
Manganese-bearing 3000-series chemistry provides better strength than very pure aluminum while retaining useful ductility.
Low density, reported as 2.71 g/cm³ for 3102-H14, benefits lightweight sheet and heat-exchanger assemblies.
Reported thermal conductivity of 212 W/m·K for H14 supports heat-transfer duties in light-gauge components.
Good general corrosion resistance and weldability make it useful for fabricated, non-structural aluminum parts.
Cold-work tempers provide a broad, practical strength range without precipitation heat treatment.

3102 is not a heat-treatable structural alloy; it cannot obtain the high strengths associated with precipitation-hardenable 2xxx, 6xxx, or 7xxx alloys.
Strength and hardness decrease in the heat-affected zone of welded cold-worked material because local annealing removes strain hardening.
Soft tempers can be gummy in machining and may form built-up edge; machining is generally not the alloy’s primary advantage.
H14 and harder tempers have reduced elongation, so tight-radius bending, deep drawing, and flaring need temper-specific trials.
Published generic values are not substitutes for minimum mechanical-property requirements in the governing product specification.

Processing & Fabrication

Process	Description
Cold forming	Use O, H11x, or lighter H1x/H2x tempers for demanding drawing, roll forming, or tube bending. As cold-work level rises toward H14, H16, and H18, bend radii and forming severity should be increased.
Welding	GTAW, GMAW, and resistance welding are practical for 3102 fabrication. Plan for softening adjacent to the weld in strain-hardened tempers; design strength should reflect the annealed heat-affected zone where applicable.
Machining	3102 is relatively soft and can produce built-up edge. Sharp polished tooling, positive rake, lubrication or coolant, and chip-control geometry improve surface finish; harder tempers generally machine more cleanly.
Annealing	Intermediate annealing may be used during extensive cold reduction or forming to restore ductility. Establish the cycle with the product supplier or a validated procedure because final properties depend on reduction, gauge, and required temper.
Surface finishing	The alloy can be cleaned and coated for service. Conversion coating, paint systems, and anodizing should be qualified for the intended environment and appearance, as manganese-bearing alloys can show a slightly different anodized color from high-purity aluminum.

Applications

3102 is most useful in light-gauge, formed products where thermal performance, corrosion resistance, low weight, and economical fabrication matter more than high structural strength. Temper and product geometry should be selected for the forming route and the strength required in service.

Heat-exchanger tubes and formed components: The alloy’s useful thermal conductivity, formability, and light weight suit formed tube and heat-transfer components.
HVAC and refrigeration sheet or coil parts: Light-gauge 3102 can be rolled, stamped, and bent into non-structural heat-management and enclosure components.
Aluminum foil and strip stock: O through hard strain-hardened tempers offer a practical range from highly formable foil stock to stiffer strip.
Insulation and cladding sheet: Low density, corrosion resistance, and easy roll forming support lightweight protective or insulating facings.
General fabricated sheet-metal parts: The alloy is appropriate for welded or formed non-load-critical components where moderate strength is sufficient.

Standards & Designations

Designation	Value	Description
Aluminum Association	3102	Registered active wrought aluminum alloy designation; composition limits are listed in the Aluminum Association Teal Sheets.
AA designation	AA 3102	Common designation form for the same registered wrought alloy.
UNS	A93102	UNS designation reported by the supplied 3102-H14 datasheet.
EN	EN AW-3102 / AlMn0.2	European designation reported by the supplied 3102-H14 datasheet; verify the applicable product standard and delivery condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes 3102 aluminum from 3003 aluminum?

3102 has a much lower registered manganese range, 0.05–0.40%, than 3003, which is registered at 1.0–1.5% manganese. This makes 3102 a lower-strength 3000-series alloy that is particularly suited to light-gauge, conductive, readily formed products such as heat-exchanger tube or strip.

Which 3102 temper is best for bending or tube forming?

O temper offers the greatest ductility. H12 provides a modest strength increase while retaining good bendability, while H24 is useful when a half-hard strength level is wanted with more post-supply forming latitude than H14. The final choice should be validated for gauge, bend radius, and forming method.

Does welding affect 3102-H14 strength?

Yes. 3102-H14 obtains much of its strength from strain hardening rather than heat treatment. Welding locally anneals the material near the joint, so the heat-affected zone can have strength closer to a softer condition. Joint design and allowable stresses should account for this reduction.

References & Data Notes

(n.d.). Aluminum Association — International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys (Teal Sheets), December 2025. https://www.aluminum.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/Teal%20Sheets%20December%202025.pdf
(n.d.). FabDigit — Aluminum 3102-H14: Properties, Heat Treatment & Uses. https://www.fabdigit.com/materials/aluminum-3102/h14
(n.d.). MakeItFrom — 3102-O Aluminum. https://www.makeitfrom.com/material-properties/3102-O-Aluminum

Composition is the registered Aluminum Association wrought-alloy chemistry for 3102. Property values are source-reported reference data for 3102-H14 and are not certification values. Verify product-form specification, temper, thickness-dependent requirements, and mill test documentation before engineering release or purchase.