3004 Aluminum

What is 3004 Aluminum Alloy?

3004 aluminum alloy is a corrosion-resistant aluminum from the Al-Mn-Mg series, belonging to the 3xxx series of wrought aluminum alloys. With the addition of approximately 1% magnesium to the 3003 aluminum alloy, its strength is about 20-25% higher than 3003, while maintaining excellent formability and corrosion resistance.

• Standard Designations: UNS A93004 / EN AW-3004 / AlMn1Mg1
• Series: 3000 Series Aluminum-Manganese Alloy
• Strengthening Method: Cold work hardening (non-heat-treatable)
• Market Position: The world's primary material for beverage can bodies

Why Choose 3004 Over 3003? 3003 vs 3004 aluminum

Worthwill Product Forms & Specifications

3004 Aluminum Sheet/Plate

Product Specifications

• Thickness Range: 0.2-6.0mm (standard) / 8-200mm (medium-thick plate, custom)
• Width Options: 1000 / 1220 / 1500 / 2000 / 2650mm
• Custom Lengths: 2000-6000mm or cut-to-length as required
• Thickness Tolerance: ±0.05mm (thin sheet) / ±0.02mm (precision grade)
• Tempers: O / H14 / H16 / H24 / H32 / H34 / H38

3004 Aluminum Coil

Product Specifications

• Thickness: 0.15-3.0mm
• Width Range: 100-2650mm (ultra-wide capability)
• Inner Diameter (ID): Φ405mm / Φ505mm
• Coil Weight: 3-8 tons (customizable)
• Tempers: O / H18 / H19 / H24 / H34

3004 Aluminum Foil / Lamp Cap Stock

Product Specifications

• Light gauge Foil: 0.006-0.01mm
• Medium Foil: 0.01-0.1mm
• Heavy Foil: 0.1-0.2mm
• Lamp Cap Stock: 0.2-0.6mm
• Width Range: 100-1700mm
• Temper: O / H19

Chemical Composition & Core Properties

Chemical Elements (GB/T 3880 / ASTM B209)

Physical Properties

Mechanical Properties

Key Insight: By selecting the appropriate temper, an optimal balance between strength and formability can be achieved.

Core Advantages

Corrosion Resistance

3004 aluminum alloy has innate anti-rust capabilities.

• Salt Spray Test: >3000 hours (vs. national standard of 1000h)
• Marine Corrosion Rate: 35% lower than 3003
• Environmental Class: Suitable for C5-M high-corrosion marine environments

Formability

3004 alloy in the O temper exhibits exceptional deep drawing performance.

• Limiting Drawing Ratio (LDR): >2.1
• Deep Drawing Passes: Up to 5 or more
• Elongation: 19% (annealed state)

Cold Working Capability

• Maximum Deformation: 75% (without intermediate annealing)
• Process Suitability: Stamping, drawing, bending, roll forming

Bending Radius Reference (90° Cold Bend / ASTM E290)

Weldability: Worry-Free Connections

Strength Advantage: The Core Logic for Down-Gauging and Cost Reduction

Surface Treatment Solutions

Non-Coated Products

Mill Finish

• Features: Original rolled surface, economical and practical.
• Applications: Industrial equipment, non-aesthetic parts.

Embossed Series

• Patterns: Diamond, stucco, five-bar, pointer-type.
• Uses: Anti-slip flooring, truck body panels, decorative panels.
• Advantages: Enhances friction, conceals scratches.

Brushed Finish / Mirror Finish

• Brushed: Matte metallic texture.
• Mirror: High-gloss decorative effect.
• Applications: Elevator interiors, home appliance panels.

Anodizing

• Caution: Due to its magnesium content, 3004 is prone to color variations and is not recommended for large-area anodizing.
• Alternatives: Use coated finishes.

Coated Aluminum (Pre-painted)

PVDF Fluorocarbon Coating (Top-tier Solution)

• Process: 3-coat, 2-bake.
• Coating Thickness: Front ≥25μm / Back ≥8μm.
• Weathering Life: 25-70 year warranty.
• Salt Spray Resistance: >5000 hours.
• QUV Aging: >90% gloss retention after 4000 hours.
• Applications: Curtain walls, roofing, marine environments.

HDP (High-Durability Polyester) Coating

• Weather Resistance: 20 years.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Better than PVDF.
• Applications: Industrial plants, general buildings.

PE (Polyester) Coating (Economical Choice)

• Coating Thickness: 18-25μm.
• Weather Resistance: 10-15 years.
• Applications: Interior decoration, ceilings, partitions.

SMP (Silicone Modified Polyester)

• Performance: Between PE and PVDF.
• Weather Resistance: 15 years.
• Applications: General outdoor architecture.

Custom Color Coating Services

• Color Matching: Full coverage of RAL / Pantone color charts.
• Gloss Level: High-gloss (>70) / Matte (<30) / Metallic texture.
• Special Effects: Wood grain, stone grain, brushed texture transfer.

Five Core Application Industries

Beverage Packaging

Why it dominates the can market: With 1% Mg added, the yield strength reaches 270 MPa, allowing can walls to be thinned to 0.26mm, producing 20% more cans per ton of aluminum.

• Can Body Stock: 3004-H19, 0.24-0.30mm, used in 95% of aluminum cans globally.
• Food Container Stock: 3004-O, 0.05-0.2mm, load-bearing capacity 30% higher than 3003.

Architecture & Decoration

Corrosion-resistant DNA: The Al-Mn-Mg system is naturally resistant to chloride ions, with a salt spray corrosion rate 35% lower than common aluminum.

• Al-Mg-Mn Roofing: 0.7-1.2mm thick, H24/H34 temper, with 3-coat PVDF. Withstands wind pressure > -4kPa, 70-year lifespan in C5-M environments.
• Curtain Wall Systems: 1.0-3.0mm color-coated or custom-shaped panels, excellent for curved surfaces.
• Interior Decoration: Ceilings, honeycomb panel substrates, wood-grain transfer profiles.

Home Appliances & Lighting

Transportation

• Automotive: Fuel tanks (good weldability and oil resistance), radiators (excellent thermal conductivity), interior trim panels (lightweight).
• Rail: High-speed train exterior skins, subway interior panels, freight car bodies.
• Marine: Hull plating (H34 for marine corrosion resistance), bulkheads, embossed anti-slip decks.

Chemical Equipment

• Storage Tanks & Vessels: Linings for chemical storage tanks, low-to-medium pressure vessels (<2MPa), reactors, LNG insulation layers.
• Piping Systems: Oil and gas fluid transport, cable conduits, gutter and drainage systems.

Technical Standards & Quality Certifications

International Standard Systems

International Grade Cross-Reference

Selection Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the fundamental difference between 3004 and 3003?

A: The core difference is the magnesium (Mg) content.

• 3003: Contains almost no magnesium.
• 3004: Contains 0.8-1.3% magnesium.
• Result: 3004 is 20-25% stronger. For the same application, it can be down-gauged by 8-10%, making the overall cost lower.

Q2: Why is anodizing not recommended for 3004?

A: The magnesium content causes significant color variation in the anodic film.

• Problem: Sheets from the same batch show inconsistent colors after anodizing.
• Solutions:
1. Use pre-painted PVDF/PE coatings.
2. Use the material with a Mill Finish.
3. Employ a specialized anodizing process (high cost, feasible for small batches).

Q3: Can 3004 be strengthened by heat treatment?

A: No.

• Reason: It is a non-heat-treatable alloy (Al-Mn-Mg system).
• Strengthening Method: Strength can only be increased through cold working (H-tempers).
• In Contrast: 6xxx (Al-Mg-Si) and 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg) series alloys are heat-treatable.

Q4: What are the requirements for use in marine environments?

A: A three-layer protection system is recommended:

1. Substrate Choice: 3004 has naturally better corrosion resistance than 3003.
2. Coating is a Must: Use a PVDF fluorocarbon coating (3-coat, 2-bake).
3. Thickness Recommendation: ≥0.9mm (coastal) / ≥1.2mm (offshore platforms).
4. Maintenance: Annual cleaning to remove salt deposits.

Q5: How to choose between 3004 and 5052?

Conclusion: Choose 3004 for general construction and can stock; choose 5052 for marine applications and fuel tanks.

Why choose Worthwill?

Quality System

Full-process Control: Raw material spectral analysis → In-line monitoring → Finished product inspection → EN 10204 3.1 material certificate.

Key Certifications

• ISO 9001 Quality / ISO 14001 Environmental
• SGS / TÜV Third-Party Certification
• FDA Food Contact Certification (for can stock, food containers)
• RoHS / REACH EU Environmental Compliance

Delivery Capability

Customization Services

• Dimensions: Width up to 2650mm, length up to 16m, thickness down to 0.014mm.
• Surface: Embossing, RAL color matching, wood grain transfer.
• Value-added: One-stop service for embossing + coating, slitting + protective film.