3F05 aluminum alloy tubes

Kaltra to deliver first microchannel heat exchangers made of 3F05 aluminum alloy

In October 2024, Kaltra has announced yet another milestone in the development of new products-the start to supply microchannel heat exchangers, which are manufactured with tubes of a new aluminum alloy AA3F05 developed. This new alloy boasts further enhanced strength and corrosion resistance, making it just the perfect material for high-performance heat exchangers intended to operate in the most diverse applications.

Earlier this year in 2024, Kaltra performed a successful pilot study with AA3F05 alloy in the H112 temper, where the aluminum alloy is strain-hardened at high temperatures to optimize its properties for brazing.

After that pilot, various extensive testing, validation of an alloy’s long-term performance was conducted, particularly under harsh conditions simulating real-world exposure.

Compared to the widely used AA3F03 alloy and its close variant HA9153, AA3F05 features certain strategic compositional changes: this alloy adds chromium and titanium while reducing ferrum and copper content, with the concentration of other significant elements like silicon and manganese remaining at levels comparable to those in the previous alloy. This is associated with a substantially improved resistance to corrosion; hence, AA3F05 is particularly effective in applications that are very challenging.

For the confirmation of these enhancements, Kaltra carried out severe testing in accordance with conditions of Sea Water Acetic Acid Test – SWAAT, according to the standard ASTM G85 Annex 3. Testing included exposure of zinc-sprayed multiport tubes made from AA3F05 to an extended salt fog atmosphere that emulates very aggressive and corrosive environments. Impressively, AA3F05 samples proved to have double corrosion resistance compared to the previous alloys and resisted more than 6,000 hours of salt fog testing without leaks or damage. This improved performance underlines the durability of this alloy, which in turn will ensure that microchannel heat exchangers made from the same have a much longer operational life.

Kaltra’s decision to adopt AA3F05 for its microchannel heat exchangers comes with the company promise of high-quality and durable solutions for both cooling and HVAC systems. The better corrosion resistance and structural strength make AA3F05 particularly attractive for industrial applications where reliable thermal management has to be provided under hostile conditions.

The newly developed AA3F05 alloy enables Kaltra to offer a completely new level of performance and reliability for microchannel heat exchangers to its customers. This development represents another important achievement for Kaltra in its quest for innovation in materials and confirms leading positions in the field of high-performance cooling.

Headquartered in Germany and Austria, Kaltra designs, develops, and manufactures air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and systems. The company offers air-cooled, water-cooled, and free cooling chillersprecision air conditionersIT cooling systems, including room-, rack- and row-based solutions, and energy management solutions. It also designs and manufactures air-cooled condensersdry coolers, and cooling units for special applications. Additionally, Kaltra offers microchannel heat exchangers for condenser, evaporator, and water cooling and heating applications, as well as aluminium coils for small cooling applications. All Kaltra products are engineered with the clear objective of improving energy efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership.

For more information on Kaltra and its products call +49 (0) 911 384 333 48 or visit www.kaltra.com