5456-H112 Aluminum vs. 5456-H116 Aluminum

Last Updated : Jan. 03, 2025

The main difference between 5456 aluminum alloy in H112 and H116 tempers lies in their mechanical properties, particularly in aspects such as fatigue strength, tensile strength, ductility, elastic modulus, and fatigue resistance.

Differences Between 5456 H112 and 5456 H116

5456 H112 Aluminum vs. 5456-H116 Aluminum

Fatigue Strength

H116: Compared to H112, H116 has higher fatigue strength. This means that H116 aluminum alloy is better at resisting fatigue failure under repeated loading, making it more suitable for applications that require cyclic load resistance or long-term repeated stress, such as ships, bridges, pressure vessels, and other high-load conditions.

H112: Fatigue strength is relatively lower and not as resistant to repeated stress or high-frequency loads as H116. Therefore, it is more suitable for applications where less fatigue strength is required.

Tensile Strength

H116: Has higher tensile strength, including higher yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, enabling H116 to withstand higher stress. It is particularly suitable for structural applications requiring high load-bearing capacity and high strength. Its enhanced tensile strength ensures it performs better in high-pressure working environments.

H112: Tensile strength is slightly lower than H116. Although it is still suitable for most structural applications, it may not be as stable as H116 when subjected to high-strength stress or environments requiring higher load-bearing capacity.

Elongation at Fracture

H116: Elongation at fracture is slightly lower than H112, indicating that H116 aluminum alloy has slightly worse ductility. In applications that require higher plasticity and formability, the performance of H116 may not be as good as that of H112.

H112: Has better elongation at fracture, indicating higher ductility. This makes H112 more suitable for applications that require more formability or flexibility, such as pipes, containers, and components with complex shapes.

Elastic Modulus (Stiffness)

H116: Has a higher elastic modulus, meaning it can better resist deformation and absorb energy. H116 is more suitable for applications that involve heavy impact or high loads, such as mechanical parts, heavy equipment, and transportation vehicles.

H112: The elastic modulus is lower, and while it can handle normal stresses, its ability to resist deformation under high impact or high-load conditions is weaker than H116, making it less effective in those environments.

Fatigue Resistance and Overall Strength Performance

H116: Overall, H116 has stronger fatigue resistance and tensile strength, making it especially suitable for applications subjected to high-stress environments and repeated loads. In harsh working conditions, H116 provides better long-term reliability and structural safety.

H112: While H112 has good mechanical properties and is suitable for general load environments, it does not perform as well as H116 in applications requiring higher fatigue resistance and strength.

5456-H112 Aluminum vs. 5456-H116 Aluminum Applications

H116 Aluminum Alloy: Its key features are enhanced fatigue strength and tensile strength, making it particularly suitable for high-load, repeated load, and high-stress applications, such as marine structures, ships, pressure vessels, etc.

H112 Aluminum Alloy: Although it excels in formability and ductility, it is slightly inferior in fatigue strength, tensile strength, and resistance to high stress. It is more suitable for applications with lower load requirements or those requiring higher ductility.

5456-H116 Aluminum Alloy Applications

5456-H116 is a high-strength aluminum alloy that performs exceptionally well in high-load and repeated-load environments, making it ideal for applications requiring high fatigue strength and tensile strength. The H116 temper has an optimized structure through special heat treatment, giving it strong fatigue resistance and stress-bearing capabilities, especially in marine environments.

Typical Applications:

Marine Structures:

Due to its excellent corrosion resistance and fatigue strength, 5456-H116 is commonly used in critical structural components in marine environments. For example, the structural frames of offshore platforms, pontoons, ship decks, and structural supports are able to withstand seawater corrosion and wave impact over extended periods.

Shipbuilding:

This alloy is used in high-strength ship hull construction, particularly in parts that endure continuous impact, repeated loads, or marine climates, such as ship bottoms, cargo holds, hull structures, and strength components in wave zones. Its superior fatigue resistance helps increase the service life and safety of ships.

Pressure Vessels:

5456-H116 is also widely used in the manufacture of high-pressure vessels, especially those that need to resist internal and external pressure fluctuations over long periods, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks and chemical reactors. Its high tensile strength and corrosion resistance ensure the safety of containers in high-pressure environments.

Offshore Platforms and Oil & Gas Extraction Facilities:

Suitable for offshore oil and gas platform frameworks, support structures, and other high-stress components. Particularly in deep-sea environments, it can effectively resist salt spray corrosion, seawater erosion, and extreme weather conditions.

5456-H112 Aluminum Alloy Applications

While 5456-H112 aluminum alloy has lower strength than H116, it offers better formability and ductility, making it suitable for applications that prioritize these properties. The H112 temper is typically achieved by annealing to lower the strength, and its excellent machinability makes it popular in certain specific fields.

Typical Applications:

Marine and Shipbuilding:

Although the strength of H112 aluminum alloy is lower than H116, it is still suitable for certain marine and shipbuilding applications that do not require high-load or high-stress conditions, especially in situations with lower structural requirements, such as external decorations, partitions, interior linings of compartments, and other low-stress parts of ships.

Lightweight Structures:

Due to its good ductility and ease of processing, H112 is often used in lightweight structural applications, such as the exterior framework of buildings, stair railings, decorative structures, and parts of transportation vehicles that do not require high strength.

Welding Applications:

H112 temper 5456 aluminum alloy has excellent weldability, making it ideal for applications requiring extensive welding work, such as aluminum alloy hull construction and other marine equipment that involves welding techniques. Due to its lower hardness, it allows for more uniform welding joints.

Die Casting and Deep Processing Applications:

Suitable for applications that require good machinability, such as the manufacture of deep-processed aluminum parts, including those in aerospace, vehicles, machinery, and other fields where parts do not experience excessive pressure.

Non-High-Pressure Container and Tank Applications:

Suitable for applications where the strength requirements for containers are not high, such as lightweight liquid storage containers, food and beverage containers, etc.

When choosing to use 5456 aluminum alloy, the choice between H112 and H116 mainly depends on the specific application's need for fatigue resistance, strength, ductility, and resistance to deformation. If the application environment requires high or repeated loads, H116 is recommended.

5456 H112 and 5456 H116 Aluminum Mechanical Properties Comparison

5456 H112 and 5456 H116 Aluminum Thermal Properties Comparison

5456 H112 and 5456 H116 Aluminum Electrical Properties Comparison

Otherwise Unclassified Properties Comparison

Common Calculations Comparison

Further reading: 5456 H112 Aluminum 5456 H116 Aluminum 5456 Marine Grade Aluminum Plate Sheet Marine Grade Aluminum Round Bar 5754 5454 5456 5456 5454 5754 Marine Grade Aluminum Bar 5456 H111 Aluminum 5456 H32 Aluminum 5456 H321 Aluminum 5456 O Aluminum

Tags: Marine Aluminum 5456 5 Series Marine Aluminum