0.1mm-3mm Thick Aluminum Sheet/Plate: Why It Outperforms NM500 Steel & Stainless Steel in Corrosion Resistance

0.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm Thick Aluminum Sheet/Aluminium Plate is a versatile solution for industrial and commercial needs. While NM 500 steel (for mining machinery, construction equipment) and stainless steel(for food processing, medical devices) have specific uses, aluminum sheets excel in key areas—especially corrosion resistance—making them ideal for flexible, cost-efficient projects. These flat sheets are made of advanced alloys: 1060 (pure aluminum), 3003 (manganese reinforced), 5052 (magnesium added), 5754 (marine grade), 5083 (structure), 5 a 06 (aerospace) and 6063 (architecture). Customized grades can be used for special requirements, such as special hardness or low temperature resistance. Unlike dense and hard NM 500 steel (which needs heavy machinery to form), our plate balances light weight (1/3 of steel’s weight) and strength. Customized grades can meet special requirements, such as special hardness or low temperature tolerance. Compared to stainless steel, they’re more malleable—fit for 0.1 mm electronic substrates (flexible circuits) to 3 mm structural parts (shelving brackets, small equipment frames).

Unique advantages

Although stainless steel has good corrosion resistance, it needs to be cleaned regularly to remove salt or chemical residues-our plates only need to be wiped occasionally, saving customers in coastal areas more than 30% of maintenance costs. Aluminum forms a self-healing oxide layer, which is very suitable for outdoor use (building exterior walls, garden furniture) and ocean use (hulls and dock components). Lightweight and durable: Density is 2.7 grams/cm (compared with. NM 500 steel‘s 7.85 g/cm ³, stainless steel‘s 7.93 g/cm ³) eases handling and cuts shipping costs by 20–25% for bulk orders. High-grade alloys such as 5052 (230 MPa tensile strength) and 5083 (310 MPa) can handle medium loads (ship bulkheads, automobile door panels, light scaffolding parts).

· Excellent formability: 0.1 mm to 3 mm plates are bent 90 degrees without cracking, cut into complex shapes with standard scissors and stamp into customized designs (logo embossed plates, decorative grids). Unlike the rigid NM 500 steel (which requires laser cutting or plasma torch), this material is suitable for decorative lighting, retail display tables or electronic housings, saving small manufacturers time and equipment costs.

· Strong Conductivity: 60% of copper’s thermal conductivity and 40% of stainless steel‘s electrical conductivity (far superior to 15% of stainless steel). 1060 alloy plate is suitable for electronic radiators (notebook computers, LED lamps and power supplies), which can prevent overheating and prolong the service life of equipment by 15-20%. The low conductivity of NM 500 steel makes it unsuitable for this purpose.

· High cost performance: more affordable than stainless steel (2-3 times more expensive) and NM 500 steel (high price of wear-resistant additives). CC process (thin sheets 0.1–2 mm, high-volume, consistent thickness) and DC process (thick plates 2–3 mm, enhanced structural integrity) reduce material waste by 8–10%. Monthly 500+ ton output lets us offer competitive prices for small businesses (5–10 ton orders) and large enterprises (100+ ton projects).

Product standard

· Grades: 1000 series (1060, 99.6% aluminum, with good corrosion resistance for heat exchanger and chemical storage tanks); 3000 series (3003, containing 1.2% manganese, which can be used for roofs, siding and kitchen tailgates); 5000 series (5052, containing 2.5% magnesium, used for auto parts; 5083, which contains 4.4% magnesium, has strong corrosion resistance for shipbuilding and offshore platforms); 6000 series (6063, magnesium-silicon alloy for curtain walls and window frames); Width 20–2500mm (narrow strips for electric wires and wide plate for building roofs/wallboard).

· Dimensions: Thickness 0.1–8.0 mm (in-demand: 0.1/1/1.5/2/3 mm); Surface smoothness: grinding smoothness (internal parts, no aesthetic requirements); We can also cut the plate into customized lengths (1-6 meters) according to the requirements of customers.

· Surface treatment: grinding treatment (internal parts, no aesthetic requirement); Plaster embossing (texture, diamond/linear patterns, floor anti-slip); Indoor PE, matte/glossy, more than 30 colors); Anodized (5-20 micron oxide layer, enhanced corrosion resistance, more than 20 kinds of dyeing colors for furniture/lighting)

· Quality Assurance: comply with ASTM B 209/EN 573-1 standard. SGS/BV inspections every month ensures a+++ quality-leveling smoothness, and no oil stains (using food-grade lubricants), roll marks, ripples, dents or scratches.

· Building: 6063 alloy for curtain walls (light weight, reducing the load of high-rise buildings and weather resistance); 3003 is used for roofing (reasonable in price, easy to install with standard tools, and resistant to rain corrosion) color-coated sheets for exterior decorative panels (matches building facades) and interior partitions (quick renovation, no heavy lifting).

· Decoration: bright polished/anodized plate for lighting (polished and reflected light, anodized to increase color-black for modern, gold for luxury);

· Transportation: 5052/5754 is used for automobile panels (light weight, fuel efficiency increased by 5-8%, and road salt rust resistance); 5083 is used for marine parts (better seawater resistance and lower maintenance cost than most stainless steel grades); 3003 is suitable for non-magnetic electrical enclosures (to avoid interfering with sensitive parts);

· Electronics: 1060 is used for radiator (heat dissipation from microchips); 3003 is suitable for non-magnetic electrical enclosures (to avoid interfering with sensitive parts); By virtue of quality inspection, customization and reliable delivery, they are suitable for construction, decoration, transportation and electronic products.

Conclusion

In short, 0.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm aluminum plates are superior to NM 500 steel and stainless steel in versatility (10+ industries), corrosion resistance (outdoor life of 10-15 years) and cost (total ownership is reduced by 30-50%). With quality inspection, customization and reliable delivery, they are suitable for the construction, decoration, transportation and electronics industries.