F (as forged)
Straight from the press or hammer, with no guaranteed properties. Normal for parts that will be machined and used where strength is not specified.
Aerospace · commercially pure forgings
1200 Aluminium Forgings for Aerospace
1200 is a 99.0 % commercially pure aluminium that can be open-die or closed-die forged into blocks, discs, rings and shaped parts. Forgings in 1200 are used where conductivity, corrosion resistance and soundness matter more than strength: electrical bus connectors, heat-spreading blocks, vacuum and cryogenic fittings and test-rig parts. Metline supplies 1200 forgings as forged (F), H112 or annealed (O), with mill certificates, worldwide.
- Alloy
- 1200 / EN AW-1200 (Al99.0)
- Tempers
- F, H112, O
- Forms
- Bars, blocks, discs, rings, die forgings
- Heat-treatable
- No
What a 1200 forging is for
Forging commercially pure aluminium is not about strength. It is about getting a sound, fully wrought, dense part in a size or shape that plate and bar cannot supply, in a metal with near-pure-aluminium conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Typical uses in aerospace and related industries include heavy electrical connectors and bus pieces for ground power and test equipment, heat-spreader and cold-plate blanks, flanges and fittings for vacuum chambers and cryogenic rigs, where pure aluminium stays ductile at very low temperatures, and large discs or rings that are later machined into covers, seals or electrical parts. Forging closes casting porosity and gives a fine, uniform grain, which helps vacuum tightness and gives an even finish after anodising.
For any part that carries structural load in an aircraft, choose a heat-treatable forging alloy: 2014, 2618, 6061, 7050 or 7075. 1200 has a tensile strength in the region of 75 – 100 MPa as forged, which is a small fraction of those grades.
A correction on tempers: 1200 has no T tempers
Some listings advertise 1200 forgings in T3, T4, T6, T351 or T651. Those tempers describe solution heat treatment and ageing, which only work in heat-treatable alloys (2xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx). 1200 contains no alloying elements that precipitate on ageing, so heat treatment cannot strengthen it. The only meaningful conditions for a 1200 forging are:
H112
As forged with minimum mechanical properties confirmed by test. Order this if your drawing needs any strength figure.
O (annealed)
Fully soft after an anneal at about 345 °C. Gives the highest ductility and conductivity, and removes forging stresses before precision machining.
If a supplier offers 1200 in a T temper, treat it as a sign that the alloy or the certificate needs checking.
1200 chemical composition
| Element | Limit (wt %) |
|---|---|
| Silicon + iron (Si + Fe) | 1.00 max combined |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05 max |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.05 max |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.10 max |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.05 max |
| Others, each / total | 0.05 / 0.15 max |
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.00 min |
1200 differs from 1100 mainly in copper: 1100 requires 0.05 – 0.20 % Cu, while 1200 limits it to 0.05 % max.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Condition | Tensile strength (guide) | 0.2 % proof (guide) | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| O | about 75 – 105 MPa | about 25 MPa min | High (25 % or more) |
| F / H112 | about 75 – 110 MPa, depending on section and forging reduction | about 25 – 40 MPa | High |
There is no single international table of minimum properties for 1200 forgings, so the values to be tested are normally agreed on the order, for example by reference to the minimums for 1200 in the annealed condition. Thick sections and light forging reductions sit at the lower end of the range.
Physical properties (typical)
- Density
- 2.71 g/cm³
- Electrical conductivity
- about 59 – 61 % IACS
- Thermal conductivity
- about 220 – 230 W/m·K
- Melting range
- about 645 – 657 °C
- Thermal expansion
- about 23.5 µm/m·°C
Standards for commercially pure forgings
| Document | Relevance |
|---|---|
| EN 573-3 | Chemistry of EN AW-1200 (Al99.0) |
| EN 586-1 / -2 / -3 | European forging standard: delivery conditions, properties and tolerances; check whether your grade is listed |
| ASTM B247 | US die and hand forgings; the commercially pure grade listed is 1100 (H112), the usual substitute where an ASTM forging standard is required |
| ISO 209 | International designation Al99.0 |
| Customer drawing | Properties, NDT and dimensional tolerances agreed per order |
Note that AMS 4120, sometimes listed against 1200 forgings, is a 2024 bar specification and does not apply. We will confirm the right document at quotation.
Forged forms and inspection
- Forged bars and blocks: square and rectangular sections for machining large connectors and cold plates
- Discs and pancakes: for flanges, covers and electrical pads
- Seamless rolled rings: for large-diameter flanges and seals
- Closed-die forgings: near-net shapes to drawing in repeat quantities
- Inspection: dimensional check, chemistry, hardness or tensile tests as agreed, ultrasonic testing on request
Pure aluminium is soft at forging temperature and fills dies easily, but it also scratches and dents easily afterwards. Ask for machined or rough-machined condition and protective packing for parts with critical sealing faces.
How to order 1200 forgings
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, forged shape and dimensions or a drawing, condition, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (EN 573-3 chemistry with agreed properties, EN 586, or your drawing).
- 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
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- EN 586 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: forgings (parts 1 to 3)
- ASTM B247 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Die Forgings, Hand Forgings, and Rolled Ring Forgings
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits (Teal Sheets)
- ASM Handbook, Vol. 2 – Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials
1200 aluminium (aluminum) forgings: FAQ
Can 1200 forgings be supplied in T6 or T651?
No. 1200 is not heat-treatable, so T tempers do not apply. Order F, H112 or O. If you need T6-type strength, use a 6061 or 2014 forging.
Why forge pure aluminium at all?
To get large, sound, fine-grained parts with high conductivity and corrosion resistance, in sizes or shapes that plate or bar cannot supply.
What is the difference between 1200 and 1100 forgings?
1100 contains 0.05 – 0.20 % copper and is listed in ASTM B247; 1200 has copper limited to 0.05 %. Properties are very similar.
Are 1200 forgings suitable for cryogenic use?
Pure aluminium stays ductile at very low temperatures, so 1200 is suitable for lightly loaded cryogenic fittings. Structural cryogenic parts normally use 5083 or 2219.
What inspection is available?
Chemistry, dimensional checks and agreed mechanical tests as standard; ultrasonic testing and third-party inspection on request.
Need a 1200 forging for an electrical or vacuum part?
Send the drawing, condition and quantity. We will confirm feasibility, testing and delivery.
