3003 H18 Reflective Aluminum Sheet

Why 3003 Alloy for Reflectors?

While pure aluminum alloys like 1050 or 1060 offer slightly higher potential reflectivity, they are very soft. The 3003 alloy contains manganese (1.0-1.5%), which acts as a strengthening agent. This makes 3003 aluminum approximately 20% stronger than 1100 alloy. For applications like ceiling panels or light fixtures, this added strength prevents denting and ensures the product maintains its flat, reflective integrity over time.

The Critical Role of the H18 Temper

The "H18" designation is crucial. It signifies a full-hard temper, achieved through the maximum degree of strain hardening. This process aligns the grain structure of the aluminum, resulting in a very rigid and stable sheet. For a reflective surface, this is ideal because it minimizes surface distortions like waviness or oil-canning, ensuring a true, crisp reflection. It's perfect for flat panels. However, it's important to note that this hardness makes it unsuitable for applications requiring sharp bends or deep drawing. If your design involves complex forming, we would recommend the 'O' (annealed/soft) temper instead.

 

Daily Uses of 3003 H18 Aluminum Sheet

 

• Commercial LED Troffer & Panel Lights: This is the largest application. The 3003 H18 sheet is cut to size and used as the internal back reflector in recessed office ceiling lights (troffers) and edge-lit LED panels. Its high reflectivity maximizes lumen output, allowing manufacturers to achieve higher energy efficiency ratings (lumens per watt) for their products.
• Decorative Interior Ceiling Systems: In modern shopping malls, airports, and office buildings, suspended metal ceilings are very popular. Our golden and silver mirror-finish sheets are used as decorative tiles. They create a sense of spaciousness and luxury while being lightweight and easy to install.
• Solar Thermal Collectors: In non-concentrating solar water heaters, 3003 reflective sheets are placed behind the copper water pipes to reflect any sunlight that passes through, ensuring maximum thermal energy is captured. Its excellent weather resistance ensures a long service life outdoors.
• Advertising Lightboxes and Signage: The sheet acts as a backing board inside illuminated signs, bouncing the light from the internal LEDs or fluorescent tubes forward and through the translucent graphic, resulting in a brighter, more evenly lit sign.

 

Chemical Composition of 3003 Aluminum

 

Alloy No.	Si	Fe	Cu	Mn		Mg	Cr	Zn	Ti	Others	Al
3003	0.6	0.7	0.05-0.20	1.0-1.5		0	0	0.10	0	0.20	REMAIN
Aluminum Alloy 3003 Products
Products			Type		Temper		Thickness(mm)			Width(mm)	Length(mm)
3003 Aluminum Sheet			Painted, Bare, Mill Finish Tread plate		O H14, H16 H18, H19 H22, H24 H26, H28 H112		0.2-4.5			100-2600	500-16000
3003 Aluminum Coil							0.02-0.055			100-1600	Coil
3003 Aluminum Tread Plate							0.8-7.0			100-2600	500-16000
3003 Aluminum Plate			Mill Finish				4.5-500			200-2650	500-16000

 

 

Item	Details
Alloy	1050, 1060, 1100,3003
Temper	H18
Thickness Range	0.3mm –200mm
Width Range	100mm – 2500mm
Length Range	900mm – 10000mm
Reflectivity Rate	86% – 92%
Surface Treatment	Mill finish, Polished shining
Color Options	Silver or Golden
Aluminum Material	Casting aluminum sheet or Hot rolled aluminum sheet
Payment Terms	30% T/T in advance as deposit, 70% balance by T/T or L/C at sight
Delivery Time	15–20 working days

 

 

 

Our Multi-Step QC Process:

 

Ingot Inspection: We test the chemical composition of every batch of raw aluminum ingots to ensure it meets the 3003 alloy standard precisely.

Rolling & Annealing Control: Surface flatness and thickness tolerance are monitored in real-time by computer-controlled sensors during the rolling process.

Surface Inspection: After polishing, every single sheet is visually inspected under specialized lighting by trained technicians to detect any potential defects like scratches, roll marks, or stains.

Reflectivity Testing: We use a calibrated gloss meter and integrating sphere to test samples from each batch, ensuring the reflectivity rate meets the promised specifications.

 

 

 

Our Packaging:

Step 1 - Surface Shielding: A robust, anti-static blue PE film is applied to the polished surface. This film is designed to be removed cleanly without leaving any adhesive residue.
Step 2 - Interleaving: Soft, moisture-free kraft paper is placed between each sheet. This prevents any micro-scratches that could occur from sheet-on-sheet vibration during transit.
Step 3 - Waterproofing: The entire stack of sheets is tightly wrapped in a thick layer of waterproof plastic film.
Step 4 - Desiccant Deployment: Multiple bags of high-grade desiccant (moisture absorbent) are placed within the packaging to combat the "container rain" phenomenon during long ocean voyages.
Step 5 - Cradling & Securing: The wrapped bundle is placed on and secured to custom-built, seaworthy wooden pallets that are ISPM 15 certified for international shipping. Steel straps are used to ensure zero movement within the container.

 

 

 

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