O
Fully annealed. Rivets, cold heading, lacing and tie wire, and anything twisted or bent tightly.
Aerospace · rivet and forming wire
1100 Aerospace Aluminium Wire
1100 wire is the commercially pure aluminium wire named in US aerospace documents: AMS 4180 for full-hard 1100-H18 wire, AMS-QQ-A-225/1 and ASTM B211 for general wire, and ASTM B316 for rivet and cold-heading stock. It is used for soft "A" rivets, lacing, safety and tie wire, mesh and formed clips. Metline supplies 1100 wire from O to H18, on spools, in coils or cut lengths, with mill certificates, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 1100 (UNS A91100)
- Tempers
- O, H12, H14, H16, H18
- Diameter
- about 0.5 – 12 mm
- Standards
- ASTM B211 · B316 · AMS 4180
Why aircraft use 1100 wire
1100 wire is chosen for ductility, not strength. It heads, bends and twists without cracking, it does not gall or dent the softer parts it touches, and it resists corrosion without any coating.
The most familiar aerospace product made from it is the "A" rivet. In the MS/NAS rivet code the letter A means 1100, and A rivets are driven in the as-supplied soft condition for non-structural joints in fairings, ducting, trim and other light parts. Rivet blanks are cold headed from 1100 wire supplied to ASTM B316 or an equivalent cold-heading specification.
Other uses include lacing and tie wire, mesh for screens and filters, formed clips and retainers, earthing and bonding pieces, and filler wire for welding 1100 and 3003 parts. Full-hard 1100-H18 wire to AMS 4180 is used where the wire must stay straight and stiff, for example in feeders and formed springs for very light duty.
1100 chemical composition
| Element | Limit (wt %) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon + iron (Si + Fe) | 0.95 max combined | The two main impurities are controlled together |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 – 0.20 | Deliberate small addition; raises strength slightly over 1050/1060 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05 max | |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max | |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 max | |
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.00 min | By difference |
Older data sheets sometimes list Cu as 0.05 % max and Si as 0.95 % max on its own; both are wrong for 1100. The correct values are Cu 0.05 – 0.20 % and Si + Fe 0.95 % combined.
Mechanical and physical properties of 1100 wire
Typical values by temper are shown below. Wire specifications set minimum and maximum tensile limits by diameter; the certificate shows the tested values for your lot.
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength (0.2 %) | Elongation (50 mm) | Brinell (500 kg) | Shear strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | 90 MPa / 13 ksi | 34 MPa / 5 ksi | 35 – 45 % | 23 | 62 MPa / 9 ksi |
| H12 | 110 MPa / 16 ksi | 103 MPa / 15 ksi | 12 – 25 % | 28 | 69 MPa / 10 ksi |
| H14 | 124 MPa / 18 ksi | 117 MPa / 17 ksi | 9 – 20 % | 32 | 76 MPa / 11 ksi |
| H16 | 145 MPa / 21 ksi | 138 MPa / 20 ksi | 6 – 17 % | 38 | 83 MPa / 12 ksi |
| H18 | 165 MPa / 24 ksi | 152 MPa / 22 ksi | 5 – 15 % | 44 | 90 MPa / 13 ksi |
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.71 g/cm³ (0.098 lb/in³)
- Melting range
- 643 – 657 °C
- Electrical conductivity
- about 59 % IACS (O), 57 % IACS (H18)
- Thermal conductivity
- about 222 W/m·K (O)
- Thermal expansion
- 23.6 µm/m·°C (20 – 100 °C)
- Modulus of elasticity
- 69 GPa (10,000 ksi)
Electrical conductivity of 1100 (about 59 % IACS annealed) is a little lower than 1350 electrical-conductor wire, which is guaranteed at 61 % IACS or more. For power conductors, use 1350; for formed hardware and rivets, use 1100.
Standards for 1100 wire
| Document | Scope |
|---|---|
| ASTM B211 / B211M (ASME SB211) | Rolled or cold-finished bar, rod and wire, including 1100 |
| ASTM B316 / B316M | Rivet and cold-heading wire and rod |
| AMS-QQ-A-225/1 | Bar, rod and wire, 1100, rolled, drawn or cold finished |
| AMS 4180 | Wire, 99.0 Al (1100-H18) |
| EN 1301-1 / -2 / -3, EN 573-3 | Drawn wire, European route (EN AW-1100) |
| UNS / ISO / JIS | A91100 / Al99.0Cu / A1100W |
AMS 4003 and ASTM B209 are sometimes listed against 1100 wire on supplier data sheets. Both are sheet and plate documents and do not apply to wire.
Choosing a temper
H12
Quarter hard. Formed clips and retainers that must keep their shape after light forming.
H14
Half hard. General-purpose wire with a balance of stiffness and ductility; mesh and formed parts.
H16
Three-quarter hard. Small headed pins and light fasteners where some extra strength helps.
H18
Full hard, to AMS 4180. Straight, stiff wire for feeders and very light springs; limited bendability.
Welding wire
1100 is also drawn as filler wire (ER1100) for welding 1100 and 3003; ask for welding-grade spools.
Sizes, put-up and inspection
Supply range
- Diameter
- about 0.5 – 12 mm round; larger as rod
- Shapes
- Round standard; square and flat wire to order
- Put-up
- Precision-wound spools, coils or straightened cut lengths
- Tolerance
- To ASTM B211 / B316 or EN 1301-3, or tighter by agreement
- Tests
- Tensile per lot; heading (upset) test for rivet wire; dimensional and surface checks
- Certificate
- EN 10204 3.1 with chemistry and test results
For rivet wire, ask for a heading test on the certificate: a short length is upset to a set ratio and inspected for cracks. It is the quickest way to prove the wire will form good rivet heads on your machines.
How to order 1100 wire
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, diameter, put-up and coil weight, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (ASTM B211, ASTM B316, AMS 4180 or AMS-QQ-A-225/1).
- ConfirmWe confirm the specification can be met, the tolerance class, test requirements and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectMaterial is checked for dimensions and surface condition; any extra tests named on the order are carried out or arranged.
- DocumentEach lot ships with a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing chemistry and mechanical results, traceable to the heat or lot number.
- Pack and shipExport packing in sealed, moisture-protected cases or on pallets, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- ASTM B316 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rivet and Cold-Heading Wire and Rods
- ASTM B211 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- SAE AMS 4180 – Aluminum Wire, 99.0 Al (1100-H18)
- SAE AMS-QQ-A-225/1 – Aluminum Alloy Bar, Rod, and Wire, 1100
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
1100 aerospace aluminium (aluminum) wire: FAQ
What are A rivets made of?
A rivets are made from 1100 aluminium wire. They are soft, driven as received, and used only for non-structural joints.
Which specification covers 1100-H18 wire?
SAE AMS 4180 covers 1100-H18 wire. General 1100 wire is also supplied to ASTM B211 and AMS-QQ-A-225/1, and rivet stock to ASTM B316.
Can 1100 wire be used as electrical conductor wire?
It conducts well (about 59 % IACS annealed), but conductor wire is normally 1350, which has a guaranteed conductivity minimum.
What diameters of 1100 wire can you supply?
Typically about 0.5 – 12 mm round, on spools, in coils or as cut lengths; square and flat wire to order.
Does 1100 wire need heat treatment after forming?
No. 1100 is non-heat-treatable. If forming has work-hardened it too much, it can be annealed at around 345 °C.
Need 1100 wire for rivets or formed parts?
Send the diameter, temper, put-up and specification. We will confirm availability, testing and delivery.
