1100 vs. 1050 Aluminium Which Alloy is Right for Your Project?
Dec. 27, 2024
Choosing between 1100 and 1050 aluminum ultimately depends on whether your primary requirements are strength and durability or electrical and thermal performance.
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1100 aluminum is ideal for projects requiring strength, corrosion resistance, and ease of manufacturing, such as chemical processing equipment, food containers, and building components.
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1050 aluminum excels in electrical and thermal applications, offering excellent conductivity and purity, making it perfect for electrical conductors, automotive parts, and medical components.
Which Alloy is Right for Your Project: 1100 or 1050 Aluminum?
When choosing between 1100 and 1050 aluminum, it largely depends on your project's specific requirements, including strength, electrical conductivity, thermal performance, and elongation, among other factors.
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Strength and Corrosion Resistance: If you need an aluminum alloy with better strength and corrosion resistance, 1100 aluminum is the better choice. Its mechanical properties, including moderate tensile strength and higher elongation at break, make it more suitable for applications that require strength, formability, and durability in harsh environments, such as chemical processing or food containers.
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Electrical Conductivity and Thermal Conductivity: If your project requires higher aluminum purity, outstanding electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity, along with better formability, 1050 aluminum is the more suitable choice. This alloy is commonly used in electrical conductors, automotive parts, and aerospace components, where conductivity is more important than strength.
1100 Aluminum Properties and Applications
1100 Aluminum Characteristics
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Strength: 1100 aluminum is known for its excellent formability and relatively high strength compared to 1050 aluminum. Its tensile strength range is from 12 to 24 Ksi, making it suitable for applications requiring moderate strength.
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Corrosion Resistance: It has outstanding corrosion resistance, especially in environments with chemicals and moisture, making it ideal for use in harsh conditions.
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Workability: It has high workability, making it easy to weld, form, and machine. The alloy can be easily rolled into sheet form, making it widely used in a range of industrial applications.
1100 Aluminum Applications
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Chemical Processing Equipment: Due to its excellent corrosion resistance, 1100 aluminum is often used in chemical processing equipment that frequently comes into contact with corrosive chemicals and moisture.
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Food Industry Containers: 1100 aluminum is non-toxic and suitable for use in food containers, such as cans and packaging.
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Building Components: Its strength and aesthetically pleasing appearance make it suitable for building elements, including cladding, roofing, and gutters.
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Cookware: The alloy's excellent formability makes it an ideal choice for cookware such as pots, pans, and baking trays.
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Roofing and Drainage: 1100 aluminum's corrosion resistance and ease of forming make it ideal for roofing and drainage applications.
1050 Aluminum Properties and Applications
1050 Aluminum Characteristics
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Electrical Conductivity: 1050 aluminum is known for its excellent electrical conductivity, which is higher than 1100 aluminum. This makes it suitable for electrical and electronic applications.
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Thermal Conductivity: It also has excellent thermal conductivity, making it an ideal choice for heat transfer applications.
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Purity: 1050 aluminum has a higher purity level (99.5% to 100%), making it more suitable for applications where a high aluminum content is critical.
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Formability and Ductility: It has high ductility, with an elongation range from 4.6% to 37%, offering flexibility for various forming processes.
1050 Aluminum Applications
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Electrical Conductors and Heat Exchangers: 1050 aluminum, with its high electrical and thermal conductivity, is commonly used in electrical components such as conductors, busbars, and heat exchangers.
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Aerospace Components: 1050 aluminum's light weight and high purity make it suitable for non-structural aerospace components.
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Automotive Parts: Its formability and conductivity make it ideal for lightweight automotive parts that require good thermal or electrical performance.
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Medical Components: 1050 aluminum is used in medical components, especially those requiring high purity and excellent formability.
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Rivets and Brackets: Due to its high ductility and ease of manufacturing, it is commonly used for making rivets and brackets that require formability and conductivity.
1100 Aluminum vs. 1050 Aluminum Performance Comparison Table
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Attribute
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1100 Aluminum Alloy
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1050 Aluminum Alloy
|
|
Strength-to-Weight Ratio
|
Higher
|
Lower
|
|
Tensile Strength
|
Higher
|
Slightly Lower
|
|
Yield Strength
|
Improved
|
Slightly Lower
|
|
Fatigue Strength
|
Enhanced
|
Lower
|
|
Shear Strength
|
Enhanced
|
Lower
|
|
Aluminum Content
|
99.0% to 99.95%
|
99.5% to 100%
|
|
Thermal Conductivity
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
|
Electrical Conductivity
|
Good
|
Enhanced
|
|
Elongation at Break
|
Slightly Lower
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Higher
|
|
Heat Treatment Status
|
O, H112, H14, H18
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O, H14, H18
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1100 vs. 1050 Aluminium Alloy Composition
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Alloy Composition
|
1100 Aluminum
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1050 Aluminum
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|
Aluminum (Al), %
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99 to 99.95
|
99.5 to 100
|
|
Copper (Cu), %
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0.050 to 0.2
|
0 to 0.050
|
|
Iron (Fe), %
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0 to 1.0
|
0 to 0.4
|
|
Magnesium (Mg), %
|
0
|
0 to 0.050
|
|
Manganese (Mn), %
|
0 to 0.050
|
0 to 0.050
|
|
Silicon (Si), %
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0 to 1.0
|
0 to 0.25
|
|
Titanium (Ti), %
|
0
|
0 to 0.030
|
|
Vanadium (V), %
|
0
|
0 to 0.050
|
|
Zinc (Zn), %
|
0 to 0.1
|
0 to 0.050
|
|
Residuals, %
|
0 to 0.15
|
0
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1100 vs. 1050 Aluminium Mechanical Properties
|
Property
|
1100 Aluminum
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1050 Aluminum
|
|
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, x 10⁶ psi
|
10
|
9.9
|
|
Elongation at Break, %
|
1.1 to 32
|
4.6 to 37
|
|
Fatigue Strength, x 10³ psi
|
4.6 to 10
|
4.5 to 8.3
|
|
Poisson's Ratio
|
0.33
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0.33
|
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Shear Modulus, x 10⁶ psi
|
3.8
|
3.7
|
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Shear Strength, x 10³ psi
|
7.8 to 14
|
7.5 to 12
|
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Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), x 10³ psi
|
12 to 24
|
11 to 20
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Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof), x 10³ psi
|
4.1 to 22
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3.7 to 18
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1100 vs. 1050 Aluminium Thermal Properties
|
Property
|
1100 Aluminum
|
1050 Aluminum
|
|
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g
|
400
|
400
|
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Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °F
|
360
|
340
|
|
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °F
|
1210
|
1190
|
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Melting Onset (Solidus), °F
|
1190
|
1190
|
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Specific Heat Capacity, BTU/lb-°F
|
0.22
|
0.22
|
|
Thermal Conductivity, BTU/h-ft-°F
|
130
|
130
|
|
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K
|
24
|
24
|
1100 vs. 1050 Aluminium Electrical Properties
|
Property
|
1100 Aluminum
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1050 Aluminum
|
|
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume, % IACS
|
59
|
61
|
|
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific), % IACS
|
190
|
200
|
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
|
Property
|
1100 Aluminum
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1050 Aluminum
|
|
Base Metal Price, % relative
|
9.0
|
9.5
|
|
Calomel Potential, mV
|
-740
|
-750
|
|
Density, lb/ft³
|
170
|
170
|
|
Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material
|
8.2
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8.3
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Embodied Energy, x 10³ BTU/lb
|
66
|
67
|
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Embodied Water, gal/lb
|
140
|
140
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Common Calculations
|
Property
|
1100 Aluminum
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1050 Aluminum
|
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Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work), MJ/m³
|
0.76 to 52
|
5.4 to 22
|
|
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience), kJ/m³
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5.7 to 170
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4.6 to 110
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Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points
|
14
|
14
|
|
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points
|
50
|
50
|
|
Strength to Weight: Axial, points
|
8.7 to 17
|
7.8 to 14
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Strength to Weight: Bending, points
|
16 to 25
|
15 to 22
|
|
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s
|
90
|
94
|
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Thermal Shock Resistance, points
|
3.7 to 7.4
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3.4 to 6.2
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