What is the difference between aluminum 1050 and 1350?

Apr. 10, 2025

Both 1050 aluminum and 1350 aluminum belong to the pure aluminum series (1XXX series), but there are significant differences between them in composition, applications, and performance.

1050 and 1350 aluminum alloys are known for their high purity and excellent corrosion resistance. While they share many similarities, there are slight differences in chemical composition and typical applications.

Although both 1050 and 1350 aluminum are high-purity alloys with generally similar properties, the key distinction lies in their silicon content, making 1350 aluminum more suitable for electrical applications requiring high conductivity.

Summary of Key Differences Between Aluminum 1050 and 1350

‌Electrical Conductivity‌: 1350 aluminum has higher conductivity, suitable for precision electrical scenarios; 1050 aluminum is used for general conductivity needs‌.
‌Impurity Control‌: 1350 aluminum has stricter limits on impurities like silicon and iron to reduce resistance‌.
‌Application Focus‌: 1050 aluminum is oriented towards general industrial materials, while 1350 aluminum is optimized for the electrical industry‌.

Performance Comparison Between 1050 and 1350 Aluminum

‌Characteristic‌	‌1050 Aluminum‌	‌1350 Aluminum‌
‌Electrical Conductivity‌	Good conductivity, suitable for general electrical scenarios (e.g., heat sinks)‌.	Superior conductivity, specifically designed for high-conductivity requirements (e.g., wires and cables)‌.
‌Strength‌	Low strength, cannot be strengthened by heat treatment‌.	Also low strength, but can be slightly improved by cold working‌.
‌Corrosion Resistance‌	Excellent corrosion resistance, suitable for exposed environments‌.	Good corrosion resistance, but attention is needed for long-term electrochemical corrosion protection‌.
‌Workability‌	High ductility, easy to stamp and weld‌.	Similar workability, but with more emphasis on balancing ductility and conductivity‌.

1050 Aluminum Performance and Applications

Performance: Excellent corrosion resistance, high ductility, good thermal and electrical conductivity.
Applications: Commonly used in chemical equipment, food industry containers, construction components, and decorative applications.

1350 Aluminum Performance and Applications

Performance: Due to its controlled low impurity content, it offers superior electrical conductivity.
Applications: Mainly used in electrical conductors, transformer windings, and other electrical applications requiring high conductivity.

1050 vs 1350 Aluminum Chemical Composition

1050 Aluminum Alloy: Minimum aluminum content of 99.5%.
1350 Aluminum Alloy: Minimum aluminum content of 99.5%.

The main difference lies in the maximum allowable silicon content:

Silicon Content:

1050 Alloy: Maximum silicon content of 0.25%.
1350 Alloy: Maximum silicon content of 0.10%.

Slight differences in silicon content can affect alloy performance, especially in applications sensitive to electrical conductivity.

Minor differences in silicon content may impact conductivity and suitability for critical electrical applications, as higher silicon content may slightly reduce conductivity.

Impurity Control:

1350 has stricter limits on trace elements (e.g., manganese (Mn) ≤ 0.01% vs. 1050 at 0.05%) and chromium (Cr ≤ 0.01% vs. no specified limit for 1050). These tighter controls make 1350 better suited for specialized electrical applications.

1050 vs 1350 Aluminum Mechanical Properties

Below is a detailed comparison table of the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys 1050 and 1350 (represented in H14 temper), covering tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at break:

Property Indicator	Aluminum Alloy 1050	Aluminum Alloy 1350-H14 (common temper)
Tensile Strength	76–140 MPa (varies by temper)	Approx. 110 MPa
Yield Strength	25–120 MPa (varies by temper)	Approx. 96 MPa
Elongation at Break	4.6%–37% (from annealed to soft temper)	Approx. 6.8%

Additional Notes:

The performance variation in 1050 alloy mainly depends on heat treatment (such as O, H12, H14, H18 tempers), offering a wide range of ductility that can be selected based on application needs.
1350 alloy is typically used in the electrical field, commonly in H14 temper, focusing on a balance between high conductivity and moderate strength.

1050 vs 1350 Aluminum Electrical Conductivity

Both alloys exhibit high conductivity (approximately 61% IACS), but due to stricter compositional control and slightly higher consistency in electrical performance, 1350 alloy is generally more suitable as a conductor. For example, it is used in transformer windings, busbars, and transmission lines.

1050 vs 1350 Aluminum Typical Application Areas

‌Typical Applications of 1050 Aluminum‌

‌Industrial Use‌: Food packaging containers, architectural decorative panels, general heat sinks, etc.
‌Processing Scenarios‌: Suitable for forming processes such as stamping and bending, used in components with low strength requirements.

‌Typical Applications of 1350 Aluminum‌

‌Electrical Field‌: Electrical wire and cable conductors, transformer windings, high-conductivity connectors, etc.
‌Special Requirements‌: Electrical equipment requiring high conductivity and low impurity sensitivity.

1050 vs 1350 Aluminum Cost and Availability

Compared to higher purity alloys (such as 1199), both of these alloys are more economical. However, due to stricter manufacturing controls, the price of 1350 alloy may be slightly higher.

1050 alloy is more widely used in general industrial applications, while 1350 alloy is dedicated to the power market.

Considerations

‌Connection Issues‌: When connecting to copper materials (such as cable terminals), both alloys require consideration of galvanic corrosion protection (e.g., coating isolation).
‌Substitution Trend‌: In industry, 1050 aluminum is gradually being replaced by the more balanced-performance 1060 aluminum, while 1350 aluminum remains irreplaceable in the electrical field.

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