5052 Feuille d'aluminium H18 pour noyau en nid d'abeille: Force, Sizes and Standards

Introduction

When an aluminum honeycomb panel must carry real load, survive outdoor or marine service and stay flat for decades, the core is usually built from 5052 H18 aluminum foil rather than the softer, moins cher 3003.
5052 is an aluminum-magnesium alloy with far higher strength and excellent corrosion resistance, and the full-hard H18 temper gives the thin cell walls the rigidity needed for high compression and shear performance.

This guide explains why 5052 H18 foil is used for honeycomb cores, its composition and mechanical properties, how the foil is converted into a core, the cell sizes, densities and strength values to specify, the relevant aerospace and ASTM test standards, comment 5052 compares with 3003 et 5056, and how to order factory-direct.

Qu'est-ce que 5052 Feuille H18?

5052 is a non-heat-treatable 5xxx-series alloy containing about 2.2–2.8% magnesium plus a small chromium addition; it is strengthened by cold work.

The H18 temper means the foil has been strain hardened to its full-hard condition without subsequent annealing, so it is at its stiffest. Hard foil is ideal for a core because:

• A honeycomb core carries compression and shear rather than being deep-drawn, so it needs high yield strength to stop the thin cell walls from buckling.
• The foil is only printed with node adhesive, stacked, sliced and expanded—it is not severely formed after rolling, so the low elongation of H18 is not a problem.
• Hard H18 walls keep the hexagonal cells uniform during expansion and panel pressing and raise the finished core’s stabilized compression and shear strength.

H19 (extra-dur) is sometimes specified for very thin, high-strength foil, while H38 is a stabilized equivalent; H18 remains the most common commercial full-hard honeycomb temper.

Composition chimique et propriétés mécaniques

Élément	mg	Cr	Fe	Et	Cu	Mn	Zn	Al
5052	2.2–2.8	0.15–0.35	≤0,40	≤0,25	≤0.10	≤0.10	≤0.10	équilibre

 

Magnesium provides the strength, chromium controls grain structure and corrosion behavior, and iron and silicon are kept low for toughness.

Typical foil properties by temper (values rise in thin, fully hard gauges; some mills measure about 319 MPa tensile on 5052 H18 core foil):

Tempérer	Traction (MPa)	Rendement (MPa)	Élongation
O (recuit)	environ. 130–170	environ. 50–90	18–25%
H14	environ. 195–230	environ. 140–170	7–12%
H18 (plein dur)	environ. 250–320	environ. 215–305	about 2–7%

 

Density is about 2.68 g/cm³. Always confirm the tensile, yield and elongation range on the mill certificate for the exact gauge.

De la feuille au noyau en nid d'abeille

Converter production prints parallel lines of node adhesive onto the foil, stacks many sheets, cures the block, slices it to core thickness and expands it into hexagonal cells.

Foil for 5052 cores typically runs about 0.03–0.13 mm (30–130 μm, commonly 0.04–0.06 mm); the foil is often chromated or otherwise conversion-coated to strengthen the adhesive node bonds and improve corrosion resistance.

Paramètre	Typical range
Épaisseur de la feuille	about 0.03–0.13 mm (communément 0.04 / 0.05 / 0.06 mm)
Cell size	1/4″ (6.4), 3/8″ (9.5), 1/2″ (12.7), 3/4″ (19), 1″ (25 mm)
Core thickness	about 5–200 mm (deeper on request)
Supply form	unexpanded block/strip or expanded slice; perforated or solid; slotted
Maximum sheet	commonly up to roughly 1200–2000 mm wide by 2000–3000 mm long

Core Density, Strength and Test Standards

Smaller cells and thicker foil raise density and strength. Indicative expanded-core values (exact figures depend on alloy, foil gauge and supplier):

Cell size	Densité (kg/m³)	Flatwise compression (MPa)	Crush strength (MPa)
1/4″	à propos 81	environ. 0.47	environ. 0.19
3/8″	à propos 54	environ. 0.26	environ. 0.08
1/2″	à propos 38	environ. 0.14	environ. 0.05
3/4″	à propos 30	environ. 0.09	environ. 0.03
1″	à propos 31	environ. 0.05	environ. 0.02

 

5052 cores deliver higher shear (both ribbon L and transverse W directions), fatigue and impact performance than 3003 at the same density.

Aerospace cores are qualified to AMS-C-7438 (formerly MIL-C-7438); node-bond strength is tested per ASTM C363, plate shear per ASTM C273, flatwise compression per ASTM C365 and facing adhesion per ASTM C297.

Specify the standard and whether typical or minimum values are required.

Applications typiques

• Architectural curtain-wall and facade honeycomb panels that must stay flat and weather outdoors.
• Rail and transit wall, floor and ceiling panels for high-speed trains and metros (poids léger, stiff, compatible with fire requirements).
• Aerospace floors, interiors and control surfaces, plus marine bulkheads and furniture where salt resistance matters.
• Equipment cabinets, clean-room and elevator panels, meubles, acoustic structures, wind and automotive lightweight parts.

5052 contre 3003 et 5056

Alliage / tempérer	Foil tensile	Force	Corrosion	Best fit
3003 H18	environ. 165–200 MPa	Moyen	Bien	Economical architectural and decorative cores
5052 H18/H19	environ. 250–320 MPa	Haut	Excellent	Outdoor, marin, transit and structural cores
5056 H18	higher again	Très haut	Excellent	Premium aerospace cores at maximum strength

 

Choisir 3003 for cost in mild indoor or general cladding, 5052 when strength, fatigue and corrosion drive the design, et 5056 only where the highest aerospace performance justifies the price.

5052 forms slightly less easily than 3003, but this is irrelevant once the foil is expanded into a core.

Caractéristiques, Yield and Ordering

At about 2.68 g/cm³, g/m² = thickness (je suis) × 2.68, so foil area per ton is easy to estimate for material planning:

Foil gauge	g/m²	Environ. m² per ton
30 je suis	80	12,400
40 je suis	107	9,330
50 je suis	134	7,460
60 je suis	161	6,220
100 je suis	268	3,730

 

Quality control covers gauge and width tolerances, qualité de surface, tensile/yield by temper, chemistry on the MTC and, for finished cores, densité, node bond and shear/compression values, with ISO 9001 and SGS/BV inspection available.

To order foil, send alloy and temper (5052 H18), jauge, width and roll dimensions, ID de base, chromate/coating needs and quantity; for finished cores add cell size, core thickness, densité, standard and expanded or block form.

Common terms are 30% deposit with the balance against the bill of lading, FOB/CFR/CIF.

Foire aux questions

Q: Why use 5052 H18 foil instead of 3003 for honeycomb?

UNE: 5052 H18 is substantially stronger with better fatigue and corrosion (y compris marin) performance, so the core gives higher compression and shear for outdoor, transit, marine and structural panels; 3003 is chosen mainly for lower cost in general cladding.

Q: Why the full-hard H18 temper?

UNE: A core needs stiff, high-yield cell walls and is not deep-drawn after rolling, so full-hard foil maximizes compression and shear while keeping cells uniform during expansion.

Q: What foil thickness and cell size are standard?

UNE: Core foil commonly runs 0.03–0.13 mm (often 0.04–0.06 mm) with cells of 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″ or 1″; smaller cells and thicker foil give denser, stronger cores.

Q: Which standards apply?

UNE: Aerospace cores use AMS-C-7438; node bond is ASTM C363, shear ASTM C273, compression ASTM C365 and facing adhesion ASTM C297, with mill and core test certificates.

Q: Do you supply foil only or finished cores?

UNE: Both—5052 H18 foil in jumbo or slit rolls for converters, and expanded or unexpanded finished honeycomb cores cut to cell size, density and thickness.

Q: Quel est le MOQ et le délai de livraison?

UNE: Foil MOQ is commonly several tons per specification and finished cores depend on size and volume, with samples and trial orders available; lead time varies with gauge, quantity and coating.

Conclusion

5052 H18 is the high-strength, corrosion-resistant foil behind premium aluminum honeycomb cores for architecture, rail, aerospace and marine use.

Its full-hard walls deliver the compression, shear and fatigue that 3003 cannot, while staying lighter and stiffer than almost any alternative.

Specify foil gauge, taille des cellules, core density and the test standard, and buy on certificates and approved samples rather than price alone.