3003 Aluminum Tube and Pipe
3003 aluminum tube is a medium-strength aluminum alloy pipe with manganese as its main alloying element. This aluminum alloy shares similar characteristics with 1100 aluminum but offers higher strength, making it suitable for applications requiring greater strength and good formability.
3003 Aluminum Tube and Pipe Material Properties
| Properties | Description |
| Enhanced Strength | Based on 1100 aluminum alloy, 3003 aluminum tube increases strength by approximately 20% through the addition of about 1.0% manganese. Although its strength is improved, 3003 aluminum still belongs to the soft aluminum series, maintaining excellent flexibility and ductility. |
| Excellent Corrosion Resistance | In humid and corrosive environments, 3003 aluminum tube exhibits outstanding corrosion resistance. The natural oxide film on the aluminum surface effectively prevents further corrosion, making it suitable for applications exposed to atmospheric conditions. |
| Workability | This material has good workability and can be used to manufacture products in various shapes through deep drawing, spinning, bending, and forming processes. Additionally, 3003 aluminum tube is easy to weld and braze. |
| Low Density and Thermal Conductivity | With a density of approximately 2.73 g/cm³, it is a lightweight material ideal for reducing structural weight. At the same time, 3003 aluminum alloy offers good thermal conductivity, making it suitable for heat exchangers, cooling systems, and other thermal management applications. |
| Formability | 3003 aluminum tube has excellent stamping, drawing, and rolling forming properties, enabling the manufacture of complex-shaped products to meet functional and aesthetic requirements. |
| Weldability | 3003 aluminum alloy has good weldability, suitable for structures requiring welding. The welded joints maintain stable performance, with good strength and corrosion resistance, and are compatible with various welding methods, such as gas shielded welding and TIG welding. |
3003 Aluminum Tube Popular Product Forms
| Type | Characteristics | Application Fields |
| 3003 Drawn Aluminum Tubing | High strength, corrosion resistance, good strength, and oxidation resistance | Conveying pipelines, cooling systems, ventilation equipment |
| 3003 Aluminum Round Tubing | Round cross-section, excellent corrosion resistance, medium strength, good flexibility, and weldability | Liquid transportation, frame structures, decorative purposes |
| 3003-0 Aluminum Round Tubing | O temper (annealed), excellent ductility, and flexibility, easy to process and form | Liquid containers, HVAC equipment, decorative purposes |
| 3003 Cold Drawn (Rolled) Seamless Tubes | Exceptional dimensional accuracy, smooth inner and outer surfaces, medium strength, and good corrosion resistance | Precision instruments, chemical pipelines, engineering projects with high-quality surface requirements |
3003 Drawn Aluminum Tubing
3003 drawn aluminum tubing is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy pipe produced using the drawing process. With good formability and easy weldability, this type of tubing is commonly used in industrial and construction projects requiring lightweight and durable materials, such as conveying pipelines, cooling systems, and ventilation equipment.
3003 Aluminum Round Tubing
3003 aluminum round tubing is a circular cross-section aluminum pipe with excellent corrosion resistance and medium strength. It is suitable for applications requiring lightweight and corrosion-resistant materials. Its flexibility and weldability make it popular in liquid transportation, frame structures, and decorative applications, especially in scenarios demanding weather resistance and long service life.
3003-0 Aluminum Round Tubing
3003-0 aluminum round tubing refers to 3003 aluminum alloy in O temper (annealed) in a circular tube form, offering excellent ductility and flexibility. It is easy to process, bend, and form, particularly for complex structural manufacturing. With its corrosion resistance and formability, 3003-0 aluminum round tubing is commonly used in liquid containers, HVAC equipment, and decorative applications.
3003 Cold Drawn (Rolled) Seamless Tubes
3003 cold drawn (rolled) seamless aluminum tubes are manufactured using cold processing methods, providing exceptional dimensional accuracy and smooth inner and outer surfaces. This type of tubing balances medium strength, good corrosion resistance, and lightweight properties. It is widely applied in precision instruments, chemical pipelines, and engineering projects requiring high-quality surface finishes.
Advantages of 3003 Aluminum Tube and Pipe
Cost-Effective
3003 aluminum tube stands out as an economical choice due to its excellent physical properties and relatively low cost. Compared to other materials, 3003 aluminum tube provides similar strength and corrosion resistance while effectively reducing overall project costs, especially in large-scale production and applications. This makes it widely used in construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.
Easy to Weld and Form
The excellent formability and weldability of 3003 aluminum tube make it highly convenient for manufacturing complex structures. Its ductility ensures that it resists cracking or deformation during bending and shaping processes, making it suitable for various welding techniques.
Outstanding Durability
3003 aluminum tube offers excellent corrosion resistance, allowing it to perform well in humid, chemically corrosive, or harsh environments for extended periods. Its corrosion resistance not only extends the product’s service life but also reduces maintenance costs. This durability makes 3003 aluminum tube particularly suitable for applications such as water pipes, chemical pipelines, and HVAC systems that require high corrosion resistance.
Environmental Friendliness
The high recyclability of aluminum makes 3003 aluminum tube an environmentally friendly material choice. The recycling process of aluminum is relatively simple and energy-efficient, consuming up to 95% less energy compared to extracting and processing raw materials.
What is 3003 Aluminium used for?
3003 aluminum tube is widely used in various industries, leveraging its excellent physical and chemical properties.
1. Construction Industry
Roof Drainage Pipes, Curtain Walls, Acoustic Ceilings: Due to its lightweight and corrosion resistance, 3003 aluminum tube is extensively used in building roof drainage systems, ensuring efficient rainwater discharge. Its application in curtain walls and acoustic ceilings highlights its mechanical strength and aesthetic appeal, seamlessly integrating with architectural designs.
Exterior Decorative Profiles: Used as decorative profiles for exterior walls, such as wall panels and brackets, 3003 aluminum tube offers a durable and attractive appearance while resisting harsh weather conditions and corrosion.
2. Automotive and Transportation Industry
Radiator Tubes and Oil Coolers: In automobiles and transportation equipment, 3003 aluminum tube is used to manufacture radiators and oil coolers. These components require good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance to ensure efficient heat dissipation for engines and other parts.
Evaporator Tubes for Automotive Air Conditioning Systems: Thanks to its excellent corrosion resistance and formability, 3003 aluminum tube is widely used in automotive air conditioning systems, ensuring reliable operation in humid and variable environments.
3. Industrial Equipment
Tanks and Pipelines: In industrial applications, 3003 aluminum tube is often used to manufacture tanks and pipelines for efficiently transporting liquids and gases, especially in corrosive environments. Its strength and durability ensure long-term safe use.
Fluid Pipelines in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment: 3003 aluminum tube serves as fluid pipelines in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, capable of withstanding internal pressure and efficiently transferring refrigerants to ensure high performance.
4. Household Appliances
Heat Exchanger Components: 3003 aluminum tube is widely used in household appliances as heat exchanger components, such as heater and condenser tubes. These components require good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance to improve thermal efficiency and extend service life.
Lightweight Frame Structures and Appliance Supports: In appliance design, 3003 aluminum tube is used to manufacture lightweight frames and support structures, providing necessary strength while maintaining overall lightness.
5. Chemical Industry
Pipeline Systems in Corrosive Environments: Since the chemical industry often involves corrosive chemicals, 3003 aluminum tube is used to manufacture corrosion-resistant pipeline systems, ensuring safe and reliable liquid transport.
Connector Tubes for Low-Pressure Vessels: In low-pressure vessel applications, 3003 aluminum tube offers strength and sealing performance, suitable for various chemical and industrial processes.
6. Tubes and Pipelines
Extensive Industrial and Civil Pipeline Systems: Thanks to its versatility and superior performance, 3003 aluminum tube can be widely applied to various industrial and civil pipeline systems, meeting diverse fluid transport requirements.
3003 aluminum tube and pipes, with their lightweight, corrosion resistance, and excellent formability, find extensive applications across construction, automotive, industrial equipment, household appliances, chemical industries, and pipeline systems.
The chemical composition of 3003 aluminum tubing
| Element | Composition (%) |
| Si | 0.60 |
| Fe | 0.70 |
| Cu | 0.05-0.20 |
| Mn | 1.0-1.50 |
| Mg | - |
| Cr | - |
| Ni | - |
| Zn | 0.10 |
| Ti | - |
| Al | Remainder |
The mechanical properties of aluminium 3003 tubing
| Alloy | Temper | Wall thickness mm | Longitudinal tensile mechanical properties at room temperature | ||||
| Tension strength Rm N/mm² | Yield strength R p0.2 N/mm² | Elongation after break/% | |||||
| Full section specimen | other samples | ||||||
| A50 mm | A50 mm | Aa | |||||
| Not less than | |||||||
| 3003 | O | All | 95-130 | 35 | - | 20 | 25 |
| H14 | All | 130-165 | 110 | - | 4 | 6 | |
3003 Aluminum Tube Machining Properties
Cold Working:
In the annealed (O) condition, 3003 aluminum tube exhibits the best formability, making it suitable for various cold working processes such as drawing, stamping, and rolling.
Hot Working:
3003 aluminum tube is not recommended for high-temperature heat treatment strengthening, but its strength can be increased through cold working during the manufacturing process.
Surface Treatment:
The surface of 3003 aluminum tube can be anodized to enhance its corrosion resistance and aesthetic appearance.
