Comprehensive Guide to 1060 Aluminium Alloy
Comprehensive Guide to 1060 Aluminium Alloy Imagine a material that offers remarkable electrical conductivity, impressive corrosion resistance, and is highly…
When it comes to materials that offer exceptional electrical conductivity, impressive formability, and robust corrosion resistance, 1350 Aluminium (UNS A91350) stands out as a top contender. Known for its high purity, this non-heat treatable alloy is a go-to choice in various industries, particularly those demanding reliable performance in electrical applications. But what exactly makes 1350 Aluminium so special?
In this article, we delve into the intricacies of this versatile material, exploring its unique chemical composition, detailed physical and mechanical properties, and the myriad of uses that capitalize on its superior qualities. Whether you’re an engineer looking for the best material for your next project, a purchasing manager seeking reliable specifications, or simply a curious reader eager to understand the nuances of aluminum alloys, you’ll find valuable insights here. From its role in electronics to its applications in forming and welding, discover why 1350 Aluminium remains a preferred choice for experts and manufacturers alike.
Aluminium alloy 1350, known by its UNS designation A91350, is a high-purity aluminium alloy from the 1000 series. It is primarily composed of 99.5% to 100% aluminium, with minor additions of elements like iron, silicon, and copper. These trace elements slightly enhance its properties while maintaining its status as commercially pure aluminium.
1350 aluminium is highly valued across various industries for its unique properties. Its excellent electrical conductivity makes it ideal for electrical applications, such as transformer and switchgear components. Its cost-effective and efficient electrical conductivity sets it apart from other high-purity aluminium alloys, making it an economical and effective solution for manufacturers.
This alloy’s mechanical properties, including tensile and yield strengths, vary depending on the temper. It also demonstrates significant elongation at break, balancing strength and flexibility. Its high thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity enhance its performance in heat dissipation applications.
Due to its superior conductivity, 1350 aluminium is widely used in electrical applications. It is also used in manufacturing wire mesh and other fabrications, where its formability and weldability are beneficial. In general engineering, its moderate strength and excellent corrosion resistance make it suitable for corrosive environments.
Overall, 1350 aluminium’s high purity, excellent conductivity, and formability make it essential for electrical and general engineering applications. Its reliability and cost-effectiveness continue to make it a popular choice in various industries.
Aluminium Alloy 1350, also known as UNS A91350, is a high-purity alloy primarily composed of aluminium. It contains a maximum of 0.10% silicon, 0.40% iron, 0.05% copper, 0.01% manganese, 0.05% zinc, 0.03% gallium, 0.05% boron, and 0.02% vanadium and titanium combined.
Aluminium Alloy 1350’s combination of lightweight, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and excellent mechanical properties makes it a versatile material suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.
Aluminium Alloy 1350 is widely used in applications that need high electrical conductivity, excellent formability, and corrosion resistance. These properties make it a preferred material in several industries, especially for electrical conductors. It is ideal for making electrical wires, busbars, pins, rods, and rivets.
In the electronics industry, it is valued for its high conductivity and formability, making it perfect for wire forms, clips, and connectors.
In transformers and switchgear, its high conductivity and cost-effectiveness are crucial for components like transformer windings and switchgear parts.
In general engineering, Aluminium Alloy 1350 is used in structural applications where lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials are needed, such as angles, channels, and extruded profiles. Its formability and weldability also make it suitable for forming and welding applications like wire mesh, strips, and plates.
In the electrical and electronics sectors, it’s used for power distribution and consumer electronics. In construction and engineering, it’s found in building materials and automotive components. The versatility and beneficial properties of Aluminium Alloy 1350 drive innovation and efficiency across various industries.
1350 aluminium is known for being a non-heat treatable alloy. Cold working, which involves deforming the metal at room temperature to increase its strength through strain hardening, makes the alloy easy to handle and process, reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for specialized heat treatment equipment.
One of the standout features of 1350 aluminium is its high formability. This property allows the alloy to be easily shaped into various products through rolling, extruding, and stamping.
1350 aluminium also boasts excellent weldability, suitable for applications requiring welding techniques like TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) and MIG (Metal Inert Gas). Welding 1350 aluminium without significant loss of mechanical properties or corrosion resistance makes it highly useful in structural and electrical applications.
The high purity of 1350 aluminium significantly enhances its corrosion resistance, as it forms a natural oxide layer that protects against moisture and chemicals. This resistance to oxidation and general corrosion ensures the alloy’s long-term durability and reliability in various environments.
Its superior corrosion resistance makes 1350 aluminium ideal for marine applications, outdoor structures, and electrical components exposed to harsh conditions. This corrosion resistance reduces maintenance costs and extends the lifespan of products made from 1350 aluminium.
1350 aluminium is available in various tempers, denoting different levels of hardness and strength achieved through cold working. Common tempers include O (Annealed) for maximum formability, H12, H14, H16 for a balance of strength and ductility, and H18 for maximum strength. Engineers and designers can choose the temper that best suits their specific application needs.
1350 aluminium comes in various forms to suit different applications and processing needs. Common forms include wire, sheets and plates, coils, bars and rods, and extrusions.
1350 aluminium meets several industry standards to ensure quality and suitability, such as ASTM B609/B609M, ASTM B230/B230M, ASTM B231/B231M, and EN 573-3. These standards specify the chemical composition, mechanical properties, and other critical parameters to ensure the material performs well in its intended applications.
Typical chemical composition includes at least 99.5% aluminium, with small amounts of silicon (up to 0.1%), iron (up to 0.4%), and other elements in minimal quantities.
The mechanical properties of 1350 aluminium vary depending on temper:
1350 aluminium products adhere to specific dimensional tolerances for consistency. These tolerances depend on the product form and the relevant standards.
The surface finish of 1350 aluminium can be customized based on application needs, such as mill finish for general use, bright finish for aesthetic applications, and anodized finish for enhanced corrosion resistance.
1350 aluminium is non-heat treatable, meaning it achieves its properties through cold working, which simplifies processing and reduces costs.
1350 aluminium is ideal for electrical power transmission lines because of its high electrical conductivity and lightweight properties. A utility company replaced older copper conductors with 1350 aluminium in a major transmission line project, which resulted in reduced line sag, lower overall weight, longer spans between towers, and decreased installation costs.
1350 aluminium is widely used in transformer windings due to its excellent electrical and thermal properties. A manufacturer used 1350 aluminium windings in distribution transformers, enabling efficient operation under varying loads and better heat dissipation, thus extending transformer lifespan and reducing maintenance.
1350 aluminium is highly beneficial for busbars in electrical distribution systems due to its superior conductivity and ease of fabrication. A manufacturer used 1350 aluminium busbars in switchgear assemblies, which improved performance through lower electrical resistance and enhanced durability in harsh environments.
1350 aluminium’s corrosion resistance makes it valuable in the marine industry. A shipbuilding company used 1350 aluminium extrusions for structural components in coastal vessels, improving efficiency and longevity while allowing for complex designs.
The aerospace industry values materials that are both strong and lightweight. An aerospace company used 1350 aluminium for parts like brackets and supports, reducing aircraft weight and improving fuel efficiency and payload capacity.
In consumer electronics, 1350 aluminium is used for its high conductivity and easy fabrication. A high-end audio equipment manufacturer used 1350 aluminium for wiring and connectors, ensuring minimal signal loss, superior sound quality, and reliable, long-lasting components.
1350 aluminium is renowned for its high purity and excellent electrical conductivity, making it a sought-after material in various industries. Here are some leading suppliers:
Metal Ministry Inc. is a prominent manufacturer and exporter of EN AW-1350 UNS A91350 aluminium products, offering a wide range of extrusions, profiles, sections, sheets, and plates. Their products meet Indian, UK, and European standards, ensuring high quality and reliability. Metal Ministry Inc. supplies to regions including India, Kuwait, Qatar, Africa, Europe, the UK, and the USA.
United Aluminum specializes in providing 1350 aluminium alloy in various forms and offers detailed data sheets to aid in material selection and comparison. Known for their high-purity aluminium, United Aluminum ensures that their products meet stringent industry requirements, guaranteeing quality and performance.
ATT Advanced Elemental Materials Co., Ltd. supplies 1350 aluminium in forms such as powder, bar, ingot, ribbon, wire, shot, sheet, and foil. They offer both typical and custom packaging options and are available for customized services to meet specific needs.
When sourcing 1350 aluminium, consider the following factors:
1350 aluminium is available as wire, sheets, plates, coils, bars, rods, and extrusions.
Ensure the products meet industry standards like ASTM B609/B609M, ASTM B230/B230M, and EN 573-3 to guarantee performance.
When looking to source 1350 aluminium, consider these steps:
By following these steps and choosing reputable suppliers, you can ensure the quality and reliability of 1350 aluminium products for your specific applications.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:
1350 Aluminium, also known as UNS A91350, has a minimum aluminum content of 99.5%. The chemical composition limits include a maximum of 0.10% silicon, 0.40% iron, 0.05% copper, 0.01% manganese, 0.01% chromium, 0.05% zinc, 0.05% boron, 0.03% gallium, and 0.02% vanadium plus titanium. Other unspecified elements should not exceed 0.03% each, with a total of other elements not exceeding 0.10%.
The mechanical properties of 1350 Aluminium vary depending on the temper. In the annealed (M) temper, it has a tensile strength of approximately 60 MPa (8.7 ksi), a yield strength around 4 MPa (0.58 ksi), and an elongation of 23% in 50mm. In the H12 temper, the tensile strength is 140 MPa (20 ksi) and the yield strength is 120 MPa (17.4 ksi), with reduced elongation. For the H14 temper, tensile strength is 160 MPa (23 ksi) and yield strength is 140 MPa (20 ksi), with further reduced elongation. In the H16 temper, tensile strength reaches 180 MPa (26 ksi) and yield strength is 160 MPa (23 ksi), with even lower elongation. The H18 temper has a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi), yield strength of 170 MPa (24.6 ksi), elongation at break of 3.5%, fatigue strength of 50 MPa (7.3 ksi), and shear strength of 110 MPa (15.9 ksi). The H19 temper exhibits the highest tensile strength of 270 MPa (39.1 ksi) and yield strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi), with an elongation of around 1.5%. As the temper increases, the tensile and yield strengths increase, while elongation decreases, making higher tempers suitable for high-strength applications and lower tempers better for formability and corrosion resistance.
1350 Aluminium is typically used in applications that require high electrical conductivity, such as electrical conductors, wires, pins, rods, and rivets. It is also employed in the electronics industry and in various wire forms where conductivity and formability are crucial. Additionally, it finds use in corrosion-resistant applications and general fabrication due to its excellent formability and good corrosion resistance properties.
1350 Aluminium is renowned for its exceptional electrical conductivity, especially within the 1000 series of commercially pure aluminum alloys. It has an electrical conductivity of about 61% of the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), making it highly efficient for electrical applications. This level of conductivity is significantly higher than many other aluminum alloys, such as AA-8006 and AA-8011, which do not match the electrical performance of 1350 Aluminium. The high purity and conductivity of 1350 Aluminium make it an optimal choice for applications that demand excellent electrical properties, such as in electronics, power transmission, and wire mesh.
1350 Aluminium (UNS A91350) is classified as a non-heat treatable alloy. This means it cannot be strengthened through heat treatment due to its composition as nearly pure aluminium with minimal alloying elements. Instead, any increase in strength and hardness is typically achieved through cold work processes, such as strain hardening. While heat treatment cannot be used to enhance its mechanical properties, 1350 Aluminium can be annealed to soften it for improved formability.
1350 Aluminium (UNS A91350) exhibits excellent corrosion resistance primarily due to its high aluminum content, which is a minimum of 99.5%. The high purity of aluminum provides inherent protection against corrosion, especially in comparison to other aluminum alloys with lower aluminum content. Additionally, the presence of gallium in the alloy further enhances its corrosion resistance by modifying the alloy’s response to treatments like etching and brightening. Strict control over impurities such as silicon, iron, and copper ensures minimal presence of corrosion-prone elements, further boosting the alloy’s durability against corrosive environments. These properties make 1350 Aluminium a reliable choice for applications requiring good corrosion resistance, such as electrical conductors and components in transformers and switchgear.
