O (annealed)
For bending, coiling, flaring and expanding into fins. Often supplied in coils for refrigeration and instrument lines.
Commercially pure aluminium tube
1100 Aluminium Tube
1100 aluminium tube is commercially pure (99.0 % minimum) aluminium, drawn or extruded into round, square and coiled tube. It is the most formable and one of the most corrosion-resistant and conductive tube grades, used for heat-exchange lines, chemical and food-handling tubing, instrument lines and decorative work. Metline supplies 1100 tube in O, H14, H18 and H112 to ASTM and EN standards, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 1100 (Al 99.0 % min)
- Tempers
- O, H14, H18, H112
- Process
- Drawn seamless, extruded
- Standards
- ASTM B210 · B221 · B241
What is 1100 aluminium tube?
1100 is the commercially pure grade of the 1xxx series: at least 99.0 % aluminium with a small, deliberate copper content of 0.05 – 0.20 %. It cannot be heat-treated; any extra strength comes from cold work, which is why its tempers are designated O and H.
As tube, 1100 is chosen for what it does well rather than for strength. It bends, flares, expands and swages without cracking, even in tight radii; it resists corrosion in fresh water, many chemicals and food products; and it conducts heat and electricity far better than alloyed grades. Annealed 1100 tube can be hand-bent into coils and fitted with flare or compression fittings.
Its weakness is low strength: about 90 MPa tensile in the O temper, roughly a third of 6061-T6. If the line carries significant pressure, vibration or structural load, 3003 (about 20 % stronger) or 6061 is usually specified instead. For many heat-transfer, instrumentation and fluid-handling jobs, though, 1100 is the simplest and most forgiving choice.
1100 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits are the registered Aluminum Association values, also used for EN AW-1100 (Al99.0Cu) under EN 573-3.
| Element | Limit (wt %) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.00 min | Commercially pure |
| Silicon + iron (Si + Fe) | 0.95 max | Main impurities |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 – 0.20 | Deliberate small addition; slightly raises strength |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05 max | |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max | |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 |
Mechanical properties of 1100 tube by temper
Typical values from Aluminum Association and ASM data. Specified minimums for drawn tube are listed in ASTM B210 and for extruded tube in ASTM B221 and B241; they vary by temper and wall thickness and are reported on the mill certificate.
| Temper | Condition | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | Annealed, softest | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 34 MPa / 5 ksi | 35 – 45 % | 23 HB |
| H12 | Quarter hard | 110 MPa / 16 ksi | 103 MPa / 15 ksi | 12 – 25 % | 28 HB |
| H14 | Half hard (common drawn temper) | 124 MPa / 18 ksi | 117 MPa / 17 ksi | 9 – 20 % | 32 HB |
| H18 | Full hard | 165 MPa / 24 ksi | 152 MPa / 22 ksi | 5 – 15 % | 44 HB |
| H112 | As extruded, with property limits | Typically 75 – 105 MPa | About 20 – 35 MPa | High | — |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.71 g/cm³
- Modulus of elasticity
- 68.9 GPa
- Thermal conductivity (O)
- About 222 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity (O)
- About 59 % IACS
- Thermal expansion (20 – 100 °C)
- 23.6 µm/m·°C
- Melting range
- 643 – 657 °C
Choosing a temper for 1100 tube
H14
The standard straight-length drawn temper: stiffer, holds its shape, still bends to moderate radii.
H18
Full hard for maximum strength and stiffness where the tube is used straight, such as antenna or decorative tubing.
H112
Extruded tube supplied as pressed, for larger diameters and thicker walls where cold drawing is not needed.
Standards and equivalent designations
| System | Designation | Tube standard |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Association / UNS | 1100 / A91100 | ASTM B210 (drawn seamless), B221 (extruded), B241 (seamless pipe and extruded tube), B483 (drawn tube for general purpose) |
| ASME | 1100 | SB-210, SB-241 |
| European (EN) | EN AW-1100 (Al99.0Cu) | EN 754-2 (drawn), EN 755-2 (extruded), EN 573-3 |
| ISO | Al99.0Cu | ISO 6363 (drawn), ISO 6362 (extruded) |
| Japan (JIS) | A1100 | JIS H4080 (A1100TD drawn, A1100TE extruded) |
Some national designations are close to 1100 but not identical in composition. Specify the governing standard on the order rather than an equivalent name.
Supply range and weight per metre
Supply range
- Round tube
- Small-bore drawn tube from a few millimetres OD; larger diameters as extruded tube
- Coiled tube
- Annealed O-temper coils in small diameters and thin walls
- Square and rectangular
- Extruded or drawn to order
- Length
- Coils, random lengths or fixed cut lengths
- Surface
- Mill finish, cleaned, anodised or polished on request
- Processing
- Cutting to length, bending, end forming
Mass per metre is π × (OD − t) × t × 2.71 g/cm³. Quick reference values; use the tube weight calculator for other sizes.
| OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | ID (mm) | Mass (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 4 | 0.043 |
| 8 | 1 | 6 | 0.060 |
| 10 | 1 | 8 | 0.077 |
| 12 | 1 | 10 | 0.094 |
| 12.7 | 1.24 | 10.22 | 0.121 |
| 16 | 1.5 | 13 | 0.185 |
| 19.05 | 1.65 | 15.75 | 0.244 |
| 20 | 2 | 16 | 0.306 |
| 25 | 2 | 21 | 0.392 |
| 25.4 | 1.65 | 22.1 | 0.334 |
| 32 | 2 | 28 | 0.511 |
| 40 | 3 | 34 | 0.945 |
| 50 | 3 | 44 | 1.200 |
| 63.5 | 3 | 57.5 | 1.545 |
| 76.2 | 3.2 | 69.8 | 1.989 |
| 100 | 5 | 90 | 4.044 |
Bending, joining and finishing 1100 tube
Bending
O-temper tube bends tightly with simple tooling; use a mandrel or spring for thin walls to prevent kinking. H14 needs larger radii.
Flaring and expanding
Very ductile, so it accepts flare fittings and mechanical expansion into fin packs without splitting.
Welding
TIG and MIG weld easily with ER1100 or ER4043 filler. Strength in the weld zone falls to the O level.
Brazing
Brazes readily with Al-Si filler (4047 or 4343-clad parts) because of its high melting point.
Machining
Soft and gummy; use sharp, polished tools with large rake angles and plenty of lubricant.
Finishing
Anodises to a clear, bright finish and polishes well for decorative tube.
Where 1100 tube is used
- Heat transfer: heat-exchanger and evaporator tube, refrigeration lines, solar-thermal collectors
- Chemical and food processing: product lines, cooling coils and equipment where cleanliness and corrosion resistance matter
- Instrumentation: gauge, sampling and pneumatic control lines
- Electrical: conductors, shielding and antenna elements
- Decorative and furniture: trim, frames and bright-anodised tube
- Cryogenic and laboratory equipment: transfer lines where ductility at low temperature matters
1100 compared with 1060, 3003 and 6063 tube
| Property | 1060 | 1100 | 3003 | 6063-T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium content | 99.6 % min | 99.0 % min | About 98 % | About 98.5 % |
| Typical tensile (O / T6) | 70 MPa (O) | 90 MPa (O) | 110 MPa (O) | 241 MPa (T6) |
| Thermal conductivity | Highest (about 234 W/m·K) | About 222 W/m·K | About 193 W/m·K | About 200 W/m·K |
| Formability | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Fair |
| Typical use | Electrical, chemical | Heat exchange, general | HVAC, heat exchangers | Architecture, structures |
3003 is the usual upgrade when 1100 is too soft: same easy fabrication, about 20 % more strength. See 3003 tube.
How to order 1100 tube
- SpecifyAlloy and temper (e.g. 1100-O), OD and wall or ID, straight lengths or coils, quantity and the governing standard.
- QuoteWe confirm availability, tolerance class, certification and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- ProcessCutting, end capping, cleaning or bending as ordered.
- ShipBundled or crated with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate, by sea or air.
References and standards
- ASTM B210/B210M – Drawn Seamless Tubes
- ASTM B241/B241M – Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube
- ASTM B221 – Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- EN 754-2 / EN 755-2 – Cold drawn and extruded rod, bar and tube: mechanical properties
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
1100 aluminium (aluminum) tube: frequently asked questions
What is 1100 aluminium tube used for?
Heat-exchanger and refrigeration lines, chemical and food-processing tubing, instrument and pneumatic lines, electrical conductors and decorative tube: jobs that need formability, conductivity and corrosion resistance more than strength.
Can 1100 tube be heat-treated for strength?
No. 1100 is non-heat-treatable; strength comes only from cold work (H tempers). Annealing returns it to the soft O temper.
What is the difference between 1100-O and 1100-H14 tube?
O is fully annealed, about 90 MPa tensile, and bends and flares easily. H14 is half hard, about 124 MPa tensile, stiffer and better for straight lengths, but needs larger bend radii.
Is 1100 or 3003 better for tubing?
3003 is about 20 % stronger with similar formability and corrosion resistance, so it is preferred for pressure lines and HVAC. 1100 has higher conductivity and slightly better ductility.
Can 1100 tube be welded?
Yes, very easily by TIG or MIG using ER1100 or ER4043 filler. It is also readily brazed.
Do you supply 1100 tube in coils?
Yes, annealed 1100 tube in small diameters and thin walls can be supplied in coils, as well as straight lengths cut to size.
Need 1100 tube or coil?
Send size, temper, form (straight or coil), quantity and destination for a delivered quote.
