Aluminium Sheet and Strip for 3C Electronics Housings
"3C" covers computers, communication devices and consumer electronics, and aluminium is the standard housing material for many of them because it is light, stiff, conducts heat and takes a premium anodised finish. The right alloy depends on the part: bright-anodising 5252 and 5052 for stamped covers, 6xxx grades for CNC-machined shells and 7xxx grades where frames must be thin and strong. This guide maps alloys to parts.
- Alloys
- 1xxx · 5xxx · 6xxx · 7xxx
- Tempers
- O, H14 – H36, T4, T6, T651
- Thickness
- about 0.25 – 12.5 mm
- Finish
- Anodise-quality, filmed
What electronics makers need from aluminium
A device housing is judged first by how it looks and feels, so electronics-grade aluminium is bought as much for surface and anodising response as for strength.
Four requirements drive alloy choice. Manufacturing route: stamped and drawn parts need formable non-heat-treatable sheet, while unibody shells and frames are CNC-machined from plate or thick sheet. Strength and stiffness: thinner devices need stronger alloys so frames do not bend in a pocket. Finish: decorative anodising shows every inclusion, streak and grain variation, so low-iron, fine-grained material is essential. Thermal management: housings increasingly double as heat spreaders, which favours high-conductivity grades.
Which alloy for which part
| Part | Common alloys | Process | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone back cover (stamped) | 5252, 5052 | Stamping, CNC finishing, bright anodising | Formable and very bright after anodising |
| Phone middle frame / mid-plate | 6013-T6, 7021-T6, 7075-T6 | CNC from plate or extrusion | High strength for thin frames |
| SIM tray, buttons | 6061-T6, 6063-T6, 6013-T6 | CNC, sandblast, anodise | Machinability and even matte finish |
| Laptop and tablet shell | 6061-T6, 6063-T6, 5052-H32 | CNC unibody or stamping | Stiffness and premium finish |
| Keyboard plate | 5052-H32 | Stamping | Formability and flatness |
| All-in-one back panel | 5252, 5052 | Stamping, drawing | Large bright-anodised surfaces |
| Heat sinks, router housings | 1050, 1060, 1070 | Stamping, folding | Highest thermal conductivity |
| TV and monitor frames | 6063-T5 / T6, 5052 | Extrusion or stamping | Thin walls, good finish |
| Camera and lens housings | 6061-T6, 5052, 5252 | CNC or deep drawing | Dimensional stability and finish |
| Wearables | 7021-T6, 6013-T6, 6061-T6 | CNC | Strength in very small sections |
How the main alloys compare
| Alloy / temper | Typical tensile strength | Thermal conductivity | Anodising appearance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1050 / 1060-H14 | about 105 – 110 MPa | about 220 – 230 W/m·K | Good, soft colour | Heat spreaders and shields |
| 5052-H32 | about 230 MPa | about 138 W/m·K | Good; slight yellow tint | Best general-purpose stamping alloy |
| 5252-H32 / H34 | about 235 – 260 MPa | about 138 W/m·K | Very bright, clear | High-purity base (low Fe and Si) for mirror-like finishes |
| 6063-T6 | about 240 MPa | about 200 W/m·K | Excellent, uniform | Extruded frames and thin shells |
| 6061-T6 | about 310 MPa | about 167 W/m·K | Very good | Most common CNC unibody alloy |
| 6013-T6 | about 360 – 400 MPa | about 150 W/m·K | Good | Stronger 6xxx alloy with copper |
| 7021-T6 | High (7xxx) | about 130 – 150 W/m·K | Good with tuned process | Zn-Mg alloy developed for good anodising among 7xxx |
| 7075-T6 | about 570 MPa | about 130 W/m·K | Fair; can look slightly yellow | Strongest; used for thin frames |
Typical values from Aluminum Association and ASM data for comparison only; mechanical minimums are given in ASTM B209 or EN 485-2 for each thickness.
Getting a flawless anodised finish
- Specify anodising qualityOrder "anodise quality" or "decorative anodising" material, not general engineering sheet. It is cast and rolled with tighter control of inclusions and grain size.
- Control iron and siliconLow Fe and Si (as in 5252) reduce cloudy, grey anodic films and keep colours bright.
- Ask about grain and streaksCoarse grains and rolling streaks appear as bands after etching and anodising. Agree a sample-anodising test on each lot.
- Protect the surfaceLaser-cuttable PE film (transparent, blue or black and white) prevents scratches during stamping and CNC.
- Keep one source per programmeMixing material from different casts can change colour shade across a production run.
Supply range
Typical supply
- Alloys
- 1050, 1060, 1070, 5005, 5052, 5252, 6061, 6063, 6013, 7021, 7075
- Tempers
- O, H14, H24, H32, H34, H36, T4, T6, T651
- Thickness
- about 0.25 – 12.5 mm
- Width
- Slit strip from about 16 mm to sheet about 2100 mm
- Length
- Cut sheets about 1000 – 12000 mm, or coil
- Surface options
- Anodise-quality mill finish, film protected; pre-anodised or painted on request
- Standards
- ASTM B209, EN 485, GB/T 3880
- Packing
- Wooden cases or frames with moisture barrier
Common mistakes when specifying housing material
- Ordering standard 6061 plate for a cosmetic part and finding stripes or blotches after anodising
- Choosing 7075 for appearance parts without testing the anodised colour, which can look yellowish
- Specifying a hard temper for a deep-drawn cover, leading to cracking at corners
- Ignoring flatness on thin strip, which shows as waviness on large back panels
- Forgetting that the housing is a heat path: a low-conductivity alloy can raise chip temperature
References and standards
- ASTM B209 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
- EN 485-2 – Aluminium sheet, strip and plate: mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Chemical composition and form of wrought products
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
- ASM Handbook Vol. 5 – Surface Engineering: anodising of aluminium
Aluminium for electronics housings: frequently asked questions
Which aluminium alloy is used for laptop housings?
Machined unibody shells are commonly 6061-T6 or 6063-T6; stamped lids and keyboard plates are often 5052-H32. Thin, high-end designs may use stronger 6013 or 7xxx alloys.
What is 5252 aluminium used for?
Bright-anodised stamped parts such as phone back covers and all-in-one panels. Its high-purity base gives a clearer, brighter anodic finish than 5052.
Why do phone frames use 7xxx alloys?
Thin frames must resist bending. 7xxx alloys such as 7075 and 7021 offer roughly twice the strength of 6061, allowing slimmer sections.
Does anodising change thermal performance?
The thin anodic layer has little effect on heat spreading through the metal and increases surface emissivity, which helps radiate heat.
What does "3C" mean?
Computers, communications and consumer electronics: phones, laptops, tablets, routers, cameras, TVs and wearables.
Can you supply film-protected, cut-to-size sheet?
Yes. Sheet and strip can be supplied slit or cut to size with PE protective film and export packing.
Sourcing aluminium for device housings?
Send the part, process, alloy, temper, thickness and finish requirements. We will recommend a grade and quote delivery.
