Stucco (orange peel)
Fine random texture; the default for insulation jacketing, cold rooms and appliance liners.
Embossed coil guide
Stucco Embossed Aluminium Coil & Sheet
Stucco embossed aluminium coil carries a random, orange-peel texture rolled into the surface. The pattern hides scratches and dents, cuts glare and stiffens thin sheet, which is why it is the standard skin for pipe and tank insulation jacketing, cold-room panels, truck bodies and appliance liners. Metline supplies stucco and other embossed patterns in 1xxx, 3xxx and 5xxx alloys, plain, coated or with a moisture barrier, worldwide.
- Alloys
- 1060 · 1100 · 3003 · 3105 · 5052
- Tempers
- H14, H16, H24, H32
- Thickness
- 0.3 – 1.0 mm most common
- Standards
- ASTM B209 · ASTM C1729 · EN 485
What is stucco embossed aluminium?
Stucco embossing is a cold-rolling operation. Flat coil passes between a hard steel roll engraved with an irregular stucco texture and a softer backing roll, which presses the pattern through the sheet so it shows on both faces. No metal is removed, so the mass per square metre stays the same as plain sheet of the same gauge.
The texture does three useful jobs. It scatters light, so a large jacketed pipe rack or tank does not glare in the sun. It disguises the small scratches and handling marks that would show on mill-finish sheet. And the slight three-dimensional ripple raises the bending stiffness of thin gauges, so jacketing and liners resist oil-canning and look flatter after installation.
Embossing also work-hardens the metal a little, which is why suppliers usually emboss from a slightly softer temper (for example H14 or H24) so the finished sheet still bends around pipe and forms into lock seams without cracking.
Alloys, tempers and when to use them
| Alloy | Typical tempers | Character | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1050 / 1060 | H14, H24, H18 | Commercially pure, very formable, highest reflectivity | Light-duty jacketing, reflectors, interior panels |
| 1100 | H14, H16, H24 | Pure grade with a small copper addition, good formability | Insulation jacketing, cold-room liners |
| 3003 | H14, H16, H24 | About 20 % stronger than 1100, excellent corrosion resistance | The most common jacketing and appliance alloy |
| 3105 | H14, H24, H26 | Slightly stronger than 3003; good for coated coil | Painted embossed siding, roofing, truck bodies |
| 5052 | H32, H34 | Higher strength and best seawater resistance | Marine, offshore and high-abuse jacketing, refrigerated trailers |
| 8011 | H14, H18, H22 | Mainly foil and thin strip | Embossed foil facings for duct board and insulation |
For heavy foil gauges used on duct board and insulation facings, see embossed aluminium foil.
Typical specifications
Stucco embossed coil and sheet
- Thickness
- About 0.2 – 3.0 mm; jacketing usually 0.40 – 0.80 mm (0.016 – 0.032 in)
- Width
- Narrow slit coil up to about 1250 mm; common jacketing rolls 914 mm (36 in) and 1220 mm (48 in)
- Form
- Coil (core ID 505 or 150 mm), cut sheet, cut-and-rolled jacketing on request
- Surface
- Mill finish embossed, anodised, colour coated (PE / PVDF) or laminated
- Inner side
- Plain, or with polysurlyn or kraft-paper moisture barrier
- Standards
- ASTM B209, ASTM C1729 for jacketing, EN 485 / EN 573, EN 1396 for coated coil
Final thickness tolerance is measured on the flat sheet before embossing; tell us if you need it measured otherwise.
Because embossing does not change mass per area, weight is the same as flat sheet: 2.71 – 2.73 kg per m² per mm for 3003 and 1100.
| Thickness (mm) | Thickness (in) | kg per m² (3003) | kg per linear m, 1000 mm wide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.30 | 0.012 | 0.82 | 0.82 |
| 0.40 | 0.016 | 1.09 | 1.09 |
| 0.50 | 0.020 | 1.36 | 1.36 |
| 0.60 | 0.024 | 1.64 | 1.64 |
| 0.70 | 0.028 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
| 0.80 | 0.031 | 2.18 | 2.18 |
| 1.00 | 0.039 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 1.20 | 0.047 | 3.28 | 3.28 |
Stucco and other embossed patterns
Diamond / rhombus
Regular diamond texture with a decorative look for panels, cabinets and lift interiors.
Hammered and hemisphere
Larger dimples, used for lighting reflectors, decorative ceilings and heat shields.
Five-bar and diamond tread
Raised anti-slip ribs for flooring, steps and toolboxes; see tread plate.
Corrugated
Roll-formed sinusoidal profile for large tanks, walls and roofs where stiffness matters more.
Linen, leather and custom
Fine decorative patterns for appliances and electronics; custom rolls on request.
Stucco embossed aluminium for insulation jacketing
The biggest use of stucco embossed coil is metal jacketing over thermal insulation on pipework, vessels and tanks in refineries, power plants, chemical plants, LNG terminals and HVAC systems. The jacket keeps rain, washdown and mechanical damage out of the insulation; wet insulation loses much of its thermal performance and can cause corrosion under insulation on the steel underneath.
In North America, aluminium jacketing is specified to ASTM C1729, which sets requirements for the alloy, temper, thickness, finish and moisture retarder, with the sheet itself to ASTM B209. A typical pipe specification calls for 0.016 in (0.40 mm) stucco embossed 3003 or 1100 for smaller lines and 0.020 – 0.024 in for larger pipe and equipment, with corrugated sheet for large vertical tanks.
- Moisture barrier: a polysurlyn (polyethylene / ionomer) film, typically around 3 mil (76 µm), or kraft paper, heat-laminated to the inner face to stop galvanic and crevice corrosion between the jacket and wet insulation or the carbon-steel pipe
- Overlaps: longitudinal laps of 50 – 75 mm placed to shed water, with Z-lock or modified Pittsburgh seams on larger equipment
- Fastening: aluminium or stainless bands and seals; stainless bands need an isolation strip under them in wet service
- Fire service: aluminium melts at about 660 °C, so projects that require jacketing to survive a fire specify stainless steel jacketing instead
Other applications
- Cold rooms and refrigeration: facings for insulated sandwich panels, refrigerator and freezer liners
- Transport: truck and trailer body sidewalls, refrigerated container linings
- Building: embossed siding, soffits, roofing and suspended ceilings, usually colour coated
- Appliances: back panels, evaporator plates and liners for fridges, ovens and water heaters
- Lighting: hammered or stucco reflectors that diffuse light evenly
- Ducting: embossed facings for HVAC duct and pre-insulated duct panels
How it is produced and what to inspect
- Cold rollingCoil is rolled to just over the target gauge and to the temper required before embossing.
- Cleaning and levellingRolling oil is removed and the strip is tension-levelled for a flat, uniform base.
- EmbossingPatterned rolls press the stucco texture into the strip at controlled pressure for an even depth.
- Coating or laminationOptional colour coating, anodising, or lamination of a polysurlyn or kraft moisture barrier.
- Slitting and packingSlit to width, cut to sheet or cut-and-rolled, then packed eye-to-wall or eye-to-sky on export pallets.
On delivery, check that the pattern depth is uniform across the width, that there are no oil stains, white corrosion spots or roll marks, and that the moisture barrier is fully bonded at the edges. Each lot should come with an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate confirming alloy, temper and mechanical results.
References and standards
- ASTM C1729 – Standard Specification for Aluminum Jacketing for Insulation
- ASTM B209 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Sheet and Plate
- EN 485-2 – Aluminium sheet, strip and plate: mechanical properties
- EN 1396 – Coil coated sheet and strip for general applications
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
Stucco embossed aluminium (aluminum) coil: FAQ
What is stucco embossed aluminium used for?
Mainly as metal jacketing over pipe, tank and equipment insulation, and as facing for cold-room panels, refrigerator liners, truck bodies and appliance panels where a scratch-hiding, low-glare surface is wanted.
Which alloy is best for stucco embossed jacketing?
3003 in H14 or H24 temper is the most common because it combines good formability with better strength than 1100. 5052 is used for marine and high-abuse areas; 1100 and 1060 for lighter-duty work.
Does embossing make aluminium sheet thicker or heavier?
It makes the sheet measure thicker across the pattern peaks, but it does not add metal, so weight per square metre is the same as flat sheet of the original gauge.
What is the moisture barrier on aluminium jacketing?
A thin polysurlyn film or kraft paper laminated to the inside face. It separates the aluminium from wet insulation and steel pipe, reducing galvanic and crevice corrosion.
What thickness of aluminium jacketing should I use?
For most pipe insulation 0.40 mm (0.016 in) is standard; larger pipes, vessels and areas with foot traffic or mechanical risk use 0.50 – 0.80 mm (0.020 – 0.032 in). Follow your project specification or ASTM C1729.
Can stucco embossed coil be colour coated?
Yes. PE and PVDF coatings are applied before or after embossing, and anodised embossed sheet is also available for appliance and decorative uses.
Need stucco embossed coil?
Send alloy, temper, thickness, width, finish and quantity. We will reply with availability, certification and a delivered price.
