Aluminium Sheet for Tanks: 5454 and Weldable Al-Mg Grades

Start with your task

Choose by service temperature5454 or 5083. Order to the tank standardEN 14286 scope.

Choose the alloy by service temperature as well as strength

A Corus Aluminium patent on wrought Al-Mg products whose applications include pressure vessels (US 7,727,346 B2) gives the nominal composition of AA5454 as 2.4-3.0% Mg, 0.50-1.0% Mn and 0.05-0.20% Cr, and states that with its fairly low Mg level the alloy is not susceptible to intergranular corrosion (IGC), while standard AA5083 with 4.0-4.9% Mg is known to be susceptible to IGC, so that a product with low IGC resistance cannot be used reliably, in particular at service temperatures above 65 °C. [1]

The patent's laboratory sheets put numbers on the trade-off: in the parallel direction the AA5454 sheet gave 237 MPa tensile and 108 MPa proof strength and the AA5083 sheet 299 MPa and 149 MPa, both with 19% elongation. It tested corrosion by ASTM G67 weight loss after sensitising at 100 °C for 100 hours, and the higher-strength alloys it claims gave less than 15 mg/cm² in that test. [1]

Righton Blackburns' data sheet for 5454 O/H111 sheet and plate describes the alloy as used for chemical storage tanks and in particular applications that may be subject to temperatures above 65 °C, with good strength from 65 to 170 °C, and gives for sheet of 0.2 to 6.0 mm to BS EN 485-2 a minimum proof stress of 85 MPa and tensile strength of 215 to 275 MPa, with a density of 2.69 g/cm³. [2]

Editorial calculation: in the patent's tests 5083 was 299 ÷ 237 ≈ 1.26 times as strong in tension and 149 ÷ 108 ≈ 1.38 times in proof strength as 5454, which is the strength a designer gives up when choosing 5454 for a hotter tank. At 2.69 g/cm³, one square metre of 4 mm 5454 sheet weighs 2.69 × 4 = 10.76 kg. [1] [2]

Give the supplier the tank type and contents, highest service temperature, alloy and temper, thickness, width and length, product standard and its edition, mechanical properties at temperature if needed, corrosion test requirements such as ASTM G67 after sensitising, inspection certificate type, flatness and surface, and quantity.

Order to the tank product standard and the regulations

EN 14286 (SS-EN 14286:2008), as summarised by the Swedish Institute for Standards, specifies the inspection and delivery conditions, mechanical properties and dimensional and form tolerances of rolled aluminium alloy products intended for tanks for the storage and transportation of dangerous goods, in particular gasoline and other liquid hydrocarbons, and applies to hot- or cold-rolled strip, sheet and plate from 3.0 mm up to and including 12.0 mm used as wall material. [3]

The same summary notes that compliance with the standard does not ensure compliance with national or international regulations, that the user must check the material against all applicable regulations, and that depending on the goods carried or stored it can be necessary to agree on additional properties or inspection conditions. [3] Editorial note: name the regulation that governs the tank as well as EN 14286 in the order, and ask which alloys and tempers the mill supplies under it.

CHAL 5754, 5052 and 5083 sheet and plate

CHAL lists 5754 aluminium sheet described for corrosion resistance, 5052 coil and 5083 alloy plate among its products. Ask for the alloy, temper, standard and certificates for tank use.

Magnesium content, temper and IGC resistance the sheet must prove

Magnesium content decides both strength and intergranular-corrosion risk: the Corus patent describes 5454's lower Mg as not susceptible to IGC, while 5083 is, in particular in service above 65 °C.

Property	Why it matters	Fix in the order
Mg content	Higher Mg raises strength but IGC susceptibility. [1]	Alloy and composition limits.
Temper	O or H111 tempers named for these products. [1] [2]	Temper.
Strength	Sets wall thickness. [1] [2]	Minimum proof and tensile.
IGC resistance	ASTM G67 after sensitising. [1]	Test and limit.
Thickness range	3.0-12.0 mm under EN 14286. [3]	Thickness and tolerance.
Regulatory fit	Standard does not ensure regulatory compliance. [3]	Regulation named.

EN 14286 thickness, 5454 and 5083 strength and sensitising test data

Order against EN 14286 for tank walls of 3.0 to 12.0 mm and ask for the ASTM G67 result after sensitising, not only tensile figures.

Field	What it means and published values	Ask the supplier for
Thickness (mm)	EN 14286 covers 3.0-12.0 mm wall material. [3]	Thickness and tolerance.
Width (mm)	Sheet or plate width.	Width.
Length (mm)	Sheet or plate length.	Length.
Tensile strength (MPa)	Examples: 215-275 MPa 5454 O/H111 sheet; 237 vs 299 MPa in one test. [2] [1]	Minimum values.
Elongation (%)	Example: 19% for both test sheets. [1]	Minimum.
Hardness (HB)	Indicative for temper.	Value.
Alloy grade	5454 (2.4-3.0% Mg) or 5083 (4.0-4.9% Mg). [1]	Alloy and composition.
Temper	O or H111 named for these products. [1] [2]	Temper.
Corrosion resistance	IGC by ASTM G67 after sensitising 100 °C/100 h. [1]	Test and limit.
Surface finish	Mill finish for welding.	Finish.
Flatness (mm/m)	Tolerance on form under the product standard. [3]	Tolerance.
Density (g/cm³)	Example: 2.69 g/cm³ for 5454. [2]	Value.
Operating temperature (°C)	5454 for service above 65 °C; good strength 65-170 °C. [2] [1]	Highest service temperature.
Weldability	Good by some methods; soldering and brazing not recommended for 5454. [2]	Filler and procedure.

Send the tank and service data with the sheet request

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Tank: [type; contents; regulation]
Service: [highest temperature; pressure]
Alloy: [grade; temper; composition limits]
Size: [thickness; width; length; quantity]
Properties: [proof and tensile minimum; elongation]
Corrosion: [ASTM G67 after sensitising; limit]
Standard: [EN 14286 or other; certificate type]

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Buyer questions

Why is 5454 used for hotter tanks instead of 5083?

A Corus patent states 5454's lower Mg (2.4-3.0%) avoids IGC susceptibility, while 5083 (4.0-4.9% Mg) is susceptible, a concern above 65 °C. [1]

How much strength does 5454 give up against 5083?

In the patent's tests 5454 sheet gave 237 MPa tensile and 108 MPa proof against 299 and 149 MPa for 5083. [1]

What does EN 14286 cover?

Rolled aluminium strip, sheet and plate from 3.0 to 12.0 mm used as wall material for dangerous-goods tanks. [3]

What strength does 5454 O/H111 sheet have?

Righton Blackburns gives a minimum proof stress of 85 MPa and tensile strength of 215-275 MPa for 0.2-6.0 mm sheet. [2]

Sources and what still needs a direct check

Sources checked 2026-10-12. The Corus Aluminium patent reports laboratory tests on standard and new Al-Mg alloys; Righton Blackburns is a UK metals stockholder publishing alloy data; the Swedish Institute for Standards publishes the scope of EN 14286.

Still to check yourself

State the highest service temperature.
Choose alloy by temperature and strength.
Require IGC testing where needed.
Name the product standard and regulation.
Verify the legal supplier and mill.

Corrosion-resistant aluminium sheet for tanks (weldable Al-Mg sheet, including 5454 for service above 65 °C)