5049 Aluminum

Representative aluminum material photo; exact grade not verified

Image Credit: azom.com

5049 Aluminum (AA 5049) is an active registered wrought aluminum–magnesium alloy in the 5xxx family. Its specified 1.6–2.5% magnesium and 0.50–1.1% manganese provide moderate strength through solid-solution and strain hardening while retaining the corrosion resistance and weldability associated with Al–Mg sheet alloys. It is a non-heat-treatable grade: strength is selected principally through cold-work temper rather than precipitation heat treatment. 5049 is suited to formed and welded sheet, plate, and tubular components where low weight, atmospheric or marine corrosion resistance, and practical fabrication are important.

Chemical Composition (wt.%)
Chemical Composition wt.%
Element	Min	Max
Silicon	—	0.40
Iron	—	0.50
Copper	—	0.10
Manganese	0.50	1.1
Magnesium	1.6	2.5
Chromium	—	0.30
Zinc	—	0.20
Titanium	—	0.10
Others, each	—	0.05
Others, total	—	0.15
Aluminum	Remainder

Composition notes

Silicon: Maximum
Iron: Maximum
Copper: Maximum
Chromium: Maximum
Zinc: Maximum
Titanium: Maximum
Others, each: Maximum
Others, total: Maximum

Registered wrought composition limits, percent by mass. Aluminum is the remainder. “Others” limits apply as specified by the Aluminum Association registered-composition table; unspecified elements are not interpreted as zero.

The density below is the Aluminum Association’s calculated nominal density for active wrought alloy 5049. Mechanical properties depend strongly on product form, thickness, direction, and temper and should be taken from the applicable product specification or mill test certificate.

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Table of 5049 Aluminum Properties

Table of 5049 Aluminum Properties
Physical Properties	Metric
Density (calculated nominal)	2.70 g/cm³2.70 g/cm³
Density (calculated nominal)	0.097 lb/in³2.68 g/cm³

Test conditions & data notes

Density (calculated nominal): calculated nominal density
Density (calculated nominal): calculated nominal density

Material Conditions & Tempers

5049 is non-heat-treatable. Annealing restores formability, while H tempers obtain higher strength from controlled cold work and, where applicable, partial annealing or stabilization. Available tempers and guaranteed properties must be confirmed for the ordered product form and dimensional range.

Condition	Description	Notes
O	Annealed condition, selected where maximum formability is needed for bending, drawing, or more severe shaping.	Commercial suppliers list O for 5049 sheet, plate, bar, tube, and wire.
H32	Strain-hardened and partially annealed condition intended to provide a balance of formability and increased strength.	Verify applicable thickness range and minimum mechanical properties in the governing product standard.
H34	A higher strain-hardened condition than H32, generally selected where greater strength can be accepted with reduced forming latitude.	Bend radii and forming trials should reflect the actual temper and gauge.
H36	A relatively hard strain-hardened condition for components requiring increased cold-worked strength.	Use only when this temper is offered and certified for the required product form.

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages	Limitations
Good corrosion resistance characteristic of a low-to-medium magnesium 5xxx wrought alloy, making it useful for exposed and moisture-prone fabrications. Non-heat-treatable chemistry avoids dependence on solution treatment and artificial aging; strength can be specified through practical cold-work tempers. Magnesium supplies solid-solution strengthening, while manganese contributes to a useful strength–formability balance. Generally well suited to welded fabrication when appropriate filler, joint design, and post-weld property requirements are selected. Calculated nominal density of 2.70 g/cm³ supports lightweight sheet, plate, and formed structural parts.	5049 cannot be precipitation heat treated to recover strength after welding or annealing; local softening and joint efficiency must be allowed for in design. Strain-hardened tempers provide less forming latitude than O temper, especially for tight bends or deep drawing. Mechanical properties are not single alloy constants: they vary with temper, product form, thickness, orientation, and the applicable standard. As with other Al–Mg alloys, prolonged exposure to elevated service temperatures and certain corrosive environments warrants alloy-, temper-, and service-specific assessment for sensitization and intergranular-corrosion risk. It is not a free-machining alloy; machining practice should control built-up edge and protect the corrosion-resistant surface.

Advantages

Limitations

Good corrosion resistance characteristic of a low-to-medium magnesium 5xxx wrought alloy, making it useful for exposed and moisture-prone fabrications.
Non-heat-treatable chemistry avoids dependence on solution treatment and artificial aging; strength can be specified through practical cold-work tempers.
Magnesium supplies solid-solution strengthening, while manganese contributes to a useful strength–formability balance.
Generally well suited to welded fabrication when appropriate filler, joint design, and post-weld property requirements are selected.
Calculated nominal density of 2.70 g/cm³ supports lightweight sheet, plate, and formed structural parts.

5049 cannot be precipitation heat treated to recover strength after welding or annealing; local softening and joint efficiency must be allowed for in design.
Strain-hardened tempers provide less forming latitude than O temper, especially for tight bends or deep drawing.
Mechanical properties are not single alloy constants: they vary with temper, product form, thickness, orientation, and the applicable standard.
As with other Al–Mg alloys, prolonged exposure to elevated service temperatures and certain corrosive environments warrants alloy-, temper-, and service-specific assessment for sensitization and intergranular-corrosion risk.
It is not a free-machining alloy; machining practice should control built-up edge and protect the corrosion-resistant surface.

Processing & Fabrication

Process	Description
Cold forming	Use O temper for demanding forming operations. H32, H34, and H36 material should be formed with bend radii and tooling appropriate to its higher work-hardened strength; prototype trials are prudent for tight geometry.
Welding	5049 is generally suitable for conventional aluminum welding. Match filler selection to the joint, base-metal temper, corrosion environment, and required post-weld strength; design welded regions recognizing that cold-work strengthening is reduced by welding heat.
Cutting and machining	Shearing, sawing, routing, and CNC machining are practical. Use sharp tools, suitable lubrication, and chip-control practices to reduce galling and preserve edge quality.
Annealing and thermal exposure	Do not use solution heat treatment and artificial aging as a strengthening route for this alloy. Any annealing or stress-relief cycle should be established against the required final temper, dimensional tolerance, and mechanical-property requirement.
Surface finishing	Clean fabrication residues before service. Mechanical finishing, coating, or anodic finishing may be considered where appearance or additional environmental protection is required, subject to qualification for the finished component.

Applications

5049 is appropriate for wrought products that benefit from the corrosion resistance and weldability of an Al–Mg–Mn alloy, with strength tailored by temper. Final selection should be based on certified product-form properties and the governing design or pressure-equipment specification.

Marine and coastal sheet fabrications: Its Al–Mg composition provides useful resistance to atmospheric and moisture exposure while supporting lightweight formed and welded construction.
Welded tanks, vessels, and process enclosures: The alloy’s non-heat-treatable, weldable character is useful for fabricated containment components; pressure-service use requires the applicable material approval and certified temper properties.
Vehicle and transport structures: Sheet or plate parts can reduce mass while using strain-hardened tempers to obtain more strength than annealed material.
Architectural panels and formed cladding: Good corrosion resistance and formability support exterior or interior panel work where surface quality and low weight matter.
General fabricated frames and brackets: The alloy offers a practical balance of moderate strength, bendability, and corrosion performance for fabricated rather than highly machined components.

Standards & Designations

Designation	Value	Description
Aluminum Association / ANSI H35	5049	Active registered wrought aluminum alloy designation; composition limits are listed in the Aluminum Association Teal Sheets.
UNS	A95049	Designation identified for Aluminum 5049 by AZoM.
EN	EN AW-5049	European designation reported for Aluminum 5049 by AZoM.
DIN	3.3527	Equivalent designation reported by AZoM; confirm applicability against the current controlling specification.
Industry name	AlMg2Mn0.8	Composition-style designation associated with EN AW-5049 in supplier and materials-portal references; verify the governing standard before substitution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 5049 Aluminum heat treatable?

No. 5049 is a non-heat-treatable 5xxx Al–Mg alloy. Its strength is developed principally by magnesium in solid solution and by cold work, so O and H temper selection is important.

What is the difference between 5049 and 5052 aluminum?

Both are wrought 5xxx corrosion-resistant alloys, but their registered chemistries differ. 5049 specifies 1.6–2.5% Mg and 0.50–1.1% Mn, whereas 5052 has a higher specified Mg range and much lower manganese limit. They should not be substituted without checking the applicable product specification and required properties.

Can 5049 be used in welded marine fabrications?

It can be a practical choice where corrosion resistance and weldability are needed. However, welding reduces cold-work strengthening adjacent to the weld, so joint design, filler choice, corrosion exposure, and required post-weld properties must be qualified for the actual product and service.

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.). AZoM — Aluminum 5049 Alloy (UNS A95049). https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8642
(n.d.). Applus+ Laboratories Materials Portal — EN AW-Al Mg2Mn0,8 / EN AW-5049. https://www.appluslaboratories.com/materials-portal/datasheet/en-aw-al-mg2mn0-8-en-aw-5049/-1766855973

Composition values are registered limits from the Aluminum Association and are not a typical melt analysis. Density is a calculated nominal value. No grade-specific, temper-qualified mechanical, thermal, or electrical values were supplied in the source excerpts; obtain those values from the applicable product standard and mill test certificate.