Key facts
Where to buy| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.099 lb/in³ (2.73 g/cm³) | Teal Sheets |
| Brinell hardness, O / H16 | 28 / 47 | AC 43.13-1B Table 4-5 |
| Tempers | H, strain-hardened | AC 43.13-1B Table 4-4 |
| Fuel tank repair | May be repaired by welding | AC 43.13-1B par. 8-32 |
| Rivets for it | 1100 | AC 43.13-1B par. 7-2c |
3003 is not in MIL-HDBK-5J, and no strength value is given here: use the mill certificate. The AMT Handbook says it contains a small percentage of magnesium; the composition limits show manganese as the main addition.
Reading the alloy and temper code
Composition limits, weight percent
| Element | Limit |
|---|---|
| Si | 0.6 |
| Fe | 0.7 |
| Cu | 0.05–0.20 |
| Mn | 1.0–1.5 |
| Zn | 0.10 |
| Al | Remainder |
A single number is a maximum. Other elements: 0.05 each, 0.15 total, except where the Teal Sheets say otherwise. Source: Aluminum Association Teal Sheets (Aug 2018).
Where it is used
The AMT Handbook says 3003 is similar to 1100, used for the same purposes: fuel tanks, cowlings and oil tanks, and stronger and harder than 1100 (p. 4-30).
Soft tubing of 1100, 3003 or 5052 under ¼ in outside diameter may be bent by hand (AC Chapter 9, p. 9-18).
Welded or riveted fuel tanks of 3003 may be repaired by welding (AC par. 8-32).
Questions people actually ask
Can 3003 be heat-treated?
No. The AC groups it with alloys hardened by cold work, and it uses H tempers.
Can I use 3003 in place of 2024?
No. It has no structural allowables in the handbook, and it does not replace a structural part without approved data.
Limits — when NOT to use this
- Not a source of design allowables. Values are for reference. MMPDS and the SRM govern a repair.
- Not a substitution approval. A different alloy or temper needs approved data.
- No strength values here. The public sources used for this site do not print them.
Where to buy
Distributors coming soon.
Sources
- FAA AC 43.13-1B CHG 1, Chapters 4 and 7 — Tables 4-4, 4-5; pars. 7-2, 8-32; p. 9-18.
- FAA-H-8083-31B, AMT Handbook — Airframe, Volume 1, Chapter 4 — p. 4-30.
- Aluminum Association, International Alloy Designations (Teal Sheets), rev. Aug 2018 — chemical composition limits and nominal densities.