What Is 1060 Aluminum Plate?
1060 aluminum plate is a wrought, non-heat-treatable product from the 1xxx series that contains a minimum of 99.60% aluminium. Because the alloying content is deliberately kept extremely low, the material is also described as industrial pure aluminium plate. That purity explains most of its commercial strengths: high electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent ductility, good resistance to atmospheric corrosion and a rolling route simple enough to keep the grade among the most economical plate and strip series available.
The trade-off is strength. 1060 cannot be strengthened by solution treatment or precipitation hardening, so the only practical strengthening mechanism is strain hardening during cold rolling. The grade is supplied in O, H12, H14, H16, H18 and the stabilised H22 to H28 tempers, yet even in the hardest condition its load-bearing capacity remains modest. Designers therefore specify 1060 where formability, conductivity and corrosion resistance matter more than high yield strength.
Chemical Composition and Applied Standards
The limits below follow the standard composition table for the 1060 designation. Iron and silicon are the dominant residual elements, and both are kept low because they reduce electrical conductivity and form coarse constituent particles that impair deep drawing.
| Element | Limit, mass % |
|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.60 minimum |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.25 maximum |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.35 maximum |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 maximum |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.03 maximum |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.03 maximum |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.05 maximum |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.03 maximum |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.05 maximum |
| Others, each / total | 0.03 / 0.10 maximum |
Composition is normally declared against EN 573-3, GB/T 3190 or the equivalent registry entry for grade 1060, while mechanical properties for plate and strip are ordered to EN 485-2, ISO 6361-2, ASTM B209, GB/T 3880.1 and GB/T 3880.2. Temper designations follow EN 515 or ANSI H35.1. Two neighbouring grades are often quoted as alternatives: 1050A, with a 99.50% aluminium minimum, and 1100, with a 99.00% minimum plus 0.05 to 0.20% copper. Moving up the purity scale raises conductivity and formability but costs strength.
Mechanical and Physical Properties
The figures below are indicative ranges for 1060 sheet and plate. The ordered temper and thickness determine the guaranteed values in the governing specification, so property tables should always be read against the relevant standard rather than treated as fixed numbers.
| Temper | Tensile strength Rm, MPa | 0.2% proof stress Rp0.2, MPa | Elongation A50, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| O (annealed) | 60 to 95 | 20 minimum | 23 minimum |
| H12 | 85 to 120 | 65 minimum | 10 minimum |
| H14 | 105 to 145 | 85 minimum | 8 minimum |
| H16 | 120 to 160 | 100 minimum | 6 minimum |
| H18 | 145 to 185 | 120 minimum | 4 minimum |
Key physical data: density 2.71 g/cm3, melting range 646 to 657 degrees C, modulus of elasticity about 69 GPa, thermal conductivity approximately 234 W/(m.K) at 20 degrees C, electrical conductivity about 61% IACS in the annealed condition, electrical resistivity roughly 0.0282 micro-ohm.metre and a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of 23.6 x 10-6 per kelvin between 20 and 100 degrees C. The combination of low density and high conductivity keeps 1060 in demand for current-carrying and heat-dissipating components.
Surfaces, Sizes and Fabrication
1060 plate and sheet are produced from 0.15 mm to 300 mm thick and from 20 mm to 3000 mm wide, with length cut to the ordered size. Standard finishes include mill finish, coated, embossed, brushed, polished, mirror and anodised surfaces.
Anodising is the most common finishing route. The anodic film grown on a high-purity grade is dense, clear and essentially colourless, so hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance all improve without hiding the metallic appearance, and the porous film accepts dyes for decorative work. Typical uses of the anodised finish include architectural panels, appliance trims, nameplates and fascias.
For fabrication, 1060 cuts, bends, roll-forms, spins and deep draws readily and welds with conventional methods. Its machinability is poor because the soft matrix tends to smear, so milling and turning need sharp high-rake tooling, generous clearances and effective lubrication. Forming tools should be kept clean and well polished to avoid pickup marks on the soft surface.
Typical Applications
Building and architecture: roofing, wall cladding, ceilings, window frames, curtain wall facings and interior decorative panels.
Electrical and electronic equipment: busbars, transformer windings, capacitor and battery casings, heat sinks, radiators and conductive components.
Packaging: containers, closures and food-contact components where non-toxicity and hygiene matter.
Transportation: interior panels, vehicle bodies, ship components and rail car fittings that benefit from low weight.
General industry and consumer goods: signage, billboards, reflectors, nameplates, kitchen sinks, lamp holders, fan blades, clock faces, heat exchangers and deep-drawn or spun holloware.
In each case the grade is selected for processability, corrosion resistance and conductivity rather than for structural strength. Where higher loads must be carried, a 3000 or 5000 series alloy is the better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is 1060 aluminum plate considered pure aluminium?
Yes. The designation guarantees a minimum of 99.60% aluminium, which places it among the industrial purity grades rather than the alloyed series.
Q: Can 1060 aluminum plate be heat treated?
No. It is a non-heat-treatable grade. Strength can only be raised by cold work, and an annealed O temper is restored by heating rather than by quenching.
Q: What is the difference between 1060, 1050A and 1100?
1050A requires at least 99.50% aluminium, 1060 requires 99.60%, and 1100 requires 99.00% with 0.05 to 0.20% copper. Higher purity means better conductivity and formability, while lower purity usually means slightly higher strength and lower cost.
Q: Which tempers are available?
O, H12, H14, H16, H18 and the stabilised H22, H24, H26 and H28 tempers are the usual supply conditions, with H24 or H14 most common for general sheet work.
Q: Is 1060 suitable for anodising?
Yes. Its low alloy content produces a clean, dense, colourless anodic film that improves hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and it accepts dyeing well.
Q: Can 1060 aluminum plate be used for food-contact applications?
Yes. The unalloyed composition is non-toxic and free of the heavy-metal additions found in some other series, which is why it is widely used for cookware, storage vessels and packaging components.
