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5052 aluminum disc belongs to the 5xxx aluminum-magnesium alloy family. It is a non-heat-treatable alloy containing approximately 2.2-2.8% Mg, with small additions of Cr and Mn to enhance corrosion resistance and stress-corrosion performance.
Thanks to its excellent seawater/salt spray corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability, 5052 aluminum disc is widely used in marine parts, automotive fuel tanks, fuel containers, pressure vessels, electronic housings, traffic signs, cookware, and kitchen equipment.

Tempers of 5052 Aluminum Circles

O Temper

O temper is fully annealed. The grain structure is soft, uniform, and has low dislocation density, giving the material maximum ductility. It can undergo significant plastic deformation during forming without cracking, making it suitable for deep drawing and complex spinning processes.

H32 Temper

H32 is achieved by strain hardening followed by a partial anneal (stabilization treatment). Cold working introduces a large number of dislocations, which interact with precipitates and hinder slip, resulting in higher tensile and yield strength, but lower ductility. The stabilization reduces age softening and maintains consistent mechanical properties over time.

5052 Aluminum Disc: H32 vs O Temper

Mechanical Properties

Formability

5052-O aluminum discs are the preferred choice for deep stamping, spinning, and complex forming. Their extremely high plasticity allows for significant tensile deformation without cracking, making them ideal for manufacturing parts with deep cavities and complex curved surfaces, such as cookware, lamp housings, and precision instrument casings. This provides designers with maximum freedom of form.

5052-H32 aluminum discs, on the other hand, possess good cold formability and can handle moderate bending, shallow drawing, and flanging. Due to their high yield strength, they require greater tonnage during forming, and springback is more pronounced than in the O state, necessitating precise compensation in mold design. They are suitable for manufacturing parts with relatively simple shapes but requiring a certain level of rigidity and resistance to deformation, such as certain appliance bases and structural linings.

Machinability

Both tempers offer medium machinability.

• O temper: softer, more prone to tool adhesion ("built-up edge"), affecting surface finish.

• H32 temper: higher hardness, produces cleaner edges.

Sharp carbide tools and lubrication are recommended in both cases.

Weldability

Weldability is a major advantage of the 5052 alloy.
Both O and H32 tempers have excellent weldability using common MIG or TIG welding methods. No heat treatment is needed after welding, and welded joints maintain good corrosion resistance.

Surface Treatment

Both types of aluminum discs can undergo surface treatments such as anodizing, spraying, and powder coating to achieve decorative effects or enhance surface properties. Note that 5052 alloy typically exhibits a matte gray surface after anodizing.

Fatigue Resistance

H32 typically has higher strength, so its fatigue limit (at the same stress ratio) may be better than O. However, the fatigue crack propagation rate also depends on surface quality and residual stress distribution. Surface roughness, chamfering, and voids can all significantly affect fatigue life.

Application Areas

5052 O Aluminum Circles: Suitable for complex, multi-pass deep drawing, stretching, or spinning. For example, manufacturing deep cookware (such as saucepans and pressure cookers), complex-shaped kettles, and lampshades with extremely high depth requirements.

5052 H32 Aluminum Circles: Suitable for simple or shallow stretching, bending, and rolling, where the finished product requires a certain degree of rigidity. For example, manufacturing shallow trays, traffic signs, instrument housings requiring a certain load-bearing capacity, and chimney covers.

How to Choose the Right Temper?

(1) Product Depth and Shape Complexity

For deep drawing, extreme stretching, or complex spinning → 5052-O is mandatory.

For shallow drawing, bending, punching, or parts needing stiffness → 5052-H32 is better.

(2) Required Strength and Stiffness

For load-bearing or rigidity requirements → choose H32.

For non-load-bearing liners or decorative parts → choose O temper.

(3) Cost Consideration

Material price difference is minor, but wrong temper selection can cause much higher scrap rates, tool modifications, or extra processing steps. Correct selection reduces overall production cost.

(4) Supplier Capability

Specifying the correct temper ensures smoother procurement.
HAOMEI Aluminum supplies 5052 aluminum discs in multiple tempers and sizes, supporting both small-batch and bulk customization.