Forming
Outstanding: 1050-O can be bent flat on itself, deep drawn and spun. H14 and H24 still bend tightly; H24 has better elongation than H14 at the same strength.
Commercially pure aluminium
1050 Aluminium Sheet & Plate
1050 is commercially pure aluminium with at least 99.5 % Al, valued for very high formability, excellent corrosion resistance and high thermal and electrical conductivity rather than strength. Sheet and plate in 1050 and its close European variant 1050A are used for chemical equipment, reflectors, signage, heat exchangers and deep-drawn parts. Metline supplies 1050 sheet and plate in all common tempers to customers worldwide.
- Purity
- 99.5 % Al minimum
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14, H24, H16, H18
- Thickness
- about 0.2 – 150 mm
- Standards
- EN 485 · EN 573-3 · JIS H4000
What is 1050 aluminium?
1050 belongs to the 1xxx series, where the last two digits give the minimum aluminium content above 99 %: 1050 means 99.50 % Al. With almost no alloying elements, it is soft, extremely ductile and highly resistant to corrosion, and it conducts heat and electricity better than any alloyed grade except higher-purity 1060, 1070 and 1350.
Strength comes only from cold work. Annealed 1050-O is about as soft as aluminium gets; full-hard H18 is roughly twice as strong but still far below 3003 or 5052. For that reason, 1050 is chosen when the part must be deep drawn, spun, bent flat or anodised to a bright finish, or when conductivity and chemical resistance matter more than load-bearing capacity.
In Europe and much of Asia the standard variant is EN AW-1050A, which differs slightly in its zinc and titanium limits; the two are interchangeable for almost every use. In North America 1050 is less common, and buyers usually specify 1060 or 1100 under ASTM B209 for similar applications.
1050 and 1050A chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | 1050 (Aluminum Association) | EN AW-1050A (EN 573-3) |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon (Si) | 0.25 max | 0.25 max |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.40 max | 0.40 max |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 max | 0.05 max |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05 max | 0.05 max |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.05 max | 0.05 max |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.05 max | 0.07 max |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.03 max | 0.05 max |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.05 max | — |
| Others, each | 0.03 max | 0.03 max |
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.50 min | 99.50 min |
Each delivery carries a mill test certificate reporting the actual analysis of the lot.
Mechanical properties of 1050 sheet by temper
The specified ranges below are EN 485-2 values for EN AW-1050A sheet of moderate thickness; exact limits depend on the thickness band. Typical values describe what the material usually achieves.
| Temper | Tensile strength (EN 485-2) | Yield strength min. (EN 485-2) | Typical tensile | Typical elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O / H111 (annealed) | 65 – 95 MPa | 20 MPa | about 75 MPa | 30 – 40 % |
| H12 (quarter hard) | 85 – 125 MPa | 65 MPa | about 95 MPa | about 8 – 12 % |
| H22 | 85 – 125 MPa | 55 MPa | about 95 MPa | about 12 – 15 % |
| H14 (half hard) | 105 – 145 MPa | 85 MPa | about 110 MPa | about 6 – 10 % |
| H24 | 105 – 145 MPa | 75 MPa | about 115 MPa | about 8 – 12 % |
| H16 (three-quarter hard) | 120 – 160 MPa | 100 MPa | about 130 MPa | about 4 – 8 % |
| H18 (full hard) | 140 MPa min. | 120 MPa | about 155 MPa | about 2 – 6 % |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.705 g/cm³
- Melting range
- about 646 – 657 °C
- Modulus of elasticity
- about 69 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- about 220 – 230 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- about 61 – 62 % IACS (O temper)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion
- about 23.5 – 24 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
1050 standards and international equivalents
| System | Designation | Sheet and plate standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / UNS | 1050 / A91050 | Ordered to EN or JIS standards, or to ASTM B209 by agreement |
| European | EN AW-1050A (EN AW-Al 99.5) | EN 485-1 to -4, EN 573-3 |
| German Werkstoff | 3.0255 (Al99.5) | DIN EN 485 |
| ISO | Al99.5 | ISO 6361 |
| Japan | A1050P | JIS H4000 |
| China | 1050 / 1050A | GB/T 3880, GB/T 3190 |
| India | 19500 | IS 737 |
1050 sheet and plate sizes and weights
Supply range
- Thickness
- Sheet about 0.2 – 6 mm; plate 6 – 150 mm
- Width
- 1000, 1220, 1250, 1500 mm and up to about 2000 mm
- Length
- 2000, 2440, 2500, 3000 mm or cut to order from coil
- Surface
- Mill finish, bright, PVC-film protected, brushed, embossed or anodised
- Processing
- Shearing, cut-to-size blanks, circles and slitting into strip
1050 weighs 2.705 kg/m² per millimetre of thickness.
| Thickness (mm) | kg per m² | 1000 × 2000 mm (kg) | 1220 × 2440 mm (kg) | 1500 × 3000 mm (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.35 | 2.7 | 4.0 | 6.1 |
| 1 | 2.71 | 5.4 | 8.1 | 12.2 |
| 1.5 | 4.06 | 8.1 | 12.1 | 18.3 |
| 2 | 5.41 | 10.8 | 16.1 | 24.3 |
| 3 | 8.12 | 16.2 | 24.2 | 36.5 |
| 4 | 10.82 | 21.6 | 32.2 | 48.7 |
| 5 | 13.53 | 27.1 | 40.3 | 60.9 |
| 6 | 16.23 | 32.5 | 48.3 | 73.0 |
| 8 | 21.64 | 43.3 | 64.4 | 97.4 |
| 10 | 27.05 | 54.1 | 80.5 | 121.7 |
| 12 | 32.46 | 64.9 | 96.6 | 146.1 |
| 20 | 54.10 | 108.2 | 161.0 | 243.4 |
Forming, welding and finishing 1050
Welding
Welds very easily by TIG, MIG, resistance and friction stir; use 1100 or 4043 filler, or 1050/1070 filler for conductivity and colour match.
Machining
Soft and gummy; use sharp, polished, high-rake tools and lubricant to avoid built-up edge.
Anodising
Gives a clear, bright and uniform anodic film; widely used for decorative and reflective anodised products.
Corrosion
Excellent resistance to atmosphere, water and many chemicals, including nitric acid and some food products.
Brazing and soldering
Readily brazed and can be soldered with suitable fluxes.
Where 1050 aluminium sheet and plate is used
- Chemical and food: tanks, process vessels and liners where purity and corrosion resistance matter
- Lighting: lamp reflectors and light fittings
- Building: flashing, cladding, insulation jacketing and roofing
- Signage and printing: signs, name plates and lithographic plate substrate
- Thermal and electrical: heat-exchanger fins, heat spreaders, cable shielding and transformer strip
- Formed products: deep-drawn and spun parts, cookware, circles for utensils
1050 compared with 1060, 1100 and 3003
| Property | 1050 | 1060 | 1100 | 3003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Al | 99.50 % | 99.60 % | 99.00 % | about 97 % |
| Typical H14 tensile | about 110 MPa | about 97 MPa | about 125 MPa | about 150 MPa |
| Conductivity (O) | about 61 – 62 % IACS | about 62 % IACS | about 59 % IACS | about 50 % IACS |
| Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Very good |
| Main standard | EN 485 / JIS H4000 | ASTM B209 | ASTM B209 | ASTM B209 / EN 485 |
Pick 1060 or 1070 when conductivity is the priority, 1100 for a little more strength with similar forming, and 3003 when the part must carry more load while staying easy to form.
How to order 1050 sheet and plate
- SpecifyGrade (1050 or 1050A), temper, thickness, width and length or blank drawing, finish and film, quantity, and the governing standard (EN 485, JIS H4000).
- QuoteWe confirm alloy, temper, tolerances, certification, packing and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP) for your destination.
- ProcessSheets and plates are cut to size, film-protected where needed, and inspected for thickness, flatness and surface.
- DocumentEach delivery carries a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 with the cast analysis and mechanical results; third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
- ShipBundled, interleaved or crated for export and shipped by sea or air on EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP terms.
References and standards
- EN 485-1 to -4 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: sheet, strip and plate
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- JIS H4000 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy sheets, strips and plates
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets)
- ASM Handbook, Volume 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
1050 aluminium (aluminum) sheet and plate: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 1050 and 1050A?
Both are 99.5 % minimum aluminium. 1050A is the European registration and allows slightly more zinc (0.07 % vs 0.05 %) and titanium (0.05 % vs 0.03 %), with no separate vanadium limit. In practice they are interchangeable.
Is 1050 aluminium strong?
No, it is one of the softest aluminium grades: about 75 MPa tensile when annealed and around 155 MPa when full hard. Choose it for formability, conductivity and corrosion resistance, not for structural loads.
Which 1050 temper should I order for bending?
O or H111 for the tightest bends and deep drawing; H24 for a good balance of stiffness and bendability; H14 when flatness and a little more stiffness matter and bends are moderate.
Can 1050 aluminium be anodised?
Yes. Its high purity gives a clear, bright and uniform anodised finish, which is why it is widely used for reflectors and decorative anodised parts.
What is the US equivalent of 1050 aluminium?
1050 is a registered Aluminum Association grade (UNS A91050), but North American mills more commonly supply 1060 or 1100 sheet to ASTM B209 for similar uses.
How much does a 1050 aluminium sheet weigh?
About 2.705 kg per m² per millimetre. A 1220 × 2440 × 1 mm sheet weighs about 8.1 kg and a 1500 × 3000 × 3 mm sheet about 36.5 kg.
Need 1050 sheet or plate?
Send temper, thickness, size, finish and quantity. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
