Forming
Excellent: deep drawing, tight bends and spinning in O temper. Soft material can gall dies, so use suitable lubricants and polished tooling.
High-purity automotive sheet
1070-O Automotive Aluminium Sheet
1070-O is 99.7 % pure aluminium sheet in the fully annealed condition. It is soft, very ductile and conducts heat and electricity better than almost any other commercial alloy, so vehicle makers use it for EV busbars and cell connectors, lamp reflectors, heat-transfer parts and deep-drawn trim rather than for load-bearing structure. Metline supplies 1070-O sheet, strip and coil to automotive suppliers worldwide.
- Purity
- 99.70 % Al minimum
- Temper
- O (annealed); H14, H24 also
- Thickness
- About 0.3 – 3.5 mm
- Conductivity
- About 61 – 62 % IACS
What is 1070-O aluminium sheet used for in vehicles?
1070 sits in the 1xxx series of commercially pure aluminium. With at least 99.70 % aluminium and tight limits on iron and silicon, it is softer and more conductive than 1050 or 1100. The O temper is fully annealed, giving maximum elongation for deep drawing, bending and spinning.
Those properties suit electrical and thermal jobs rather than structural ones. In electric vehicles, 1070 strip is stamped into busbars, cell-to-cell connectors and tab material because it carries current with low loss and is easy to weld ultrasonically or by laser. In lighting, its high reflectivity after brightening makes it a base for reflectors. In heat management, it forms fins, spreaders and cold-plate parts.
An earlier version of this page described 1070-O as a material for automotive structural parts and instrument panels. With a tensile strength of only about 60 – 90 MPa it cannot carry structural loads; body structures use 5xxx and 6xxx alloys such as 5182, 5754, 6016 and 6061.
1070 chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.70 min | Higher purity than 1050 (99.50) and 1100 (99.00) |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.25 max | Main impurity; kept low for conductivity and ductility |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20 max | |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.04 max | |
| Zinc (Zn) | 0.04 max | |
| Vanadium (V) | 0.05 max | Controlled because it lowers conductivity |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.03 max | |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.03 max | |
| Titanium (Ti) | 0.03 max | |
| Others, each | 0.03 max |
Aluminum Association limits for 1070; EN AW-1070A is very similar.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Temper | Tensile strength | Yield strength | Elongation (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O / H111 | 60 – 90 MPa | ≥ 15 MPa | 30 – 40 % |
| H14 | 100 – 140 MPa | ≥ 70 MPa | 4 – 8 % |
| H24 | 100 – 140 MPa | ≥ 60 MPa | 6 – 12 % |
| H18 | ≥ 125 MPa | — | 2 – 4 % |
Strength ranges follow EN 485-2 for EN AW-1070A; elongation varies with thickness.
Physical properties
- Density
- 2.70 g/cm³
- Melting range
- About 645 – 660 °C
- Thermal conductivity
- About 225 – 230 W/m·K
- Electrical conductivity
- About 61 – 62 % IACS (O temper)
- Thermal expansion
- About 23.5 µm/m·°C
- Modulus of elasticity
- About 69 GPa
Sizes, forms and tolerances
1070 automotive sheet and strip
- Thickness
- About 0.3 – 3.5 mm
- Width
- Slit strip from about 50 mm up to about 2,400 mm wide sheet
- Length
- Cut sheet from about 500 mm; coil for stamping lines
- Tempers
- O, H111, H12, H14, H24, H18
- Surface
- Mill finish, bright rolled or PVC-protected; oiled for stamping on request
- Standards
- EN 485 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-1070A), JIS H4000 (A1070P)
Thickness, width and flatness tolerances follow EN 485-4 for cold-rolled sheet, or tighter limits agreed for stamping and busbar applications. For thin EV connector strip, edge condition (deburred, rounded) and camber are often specified as well as thickness.
Forming, joining and finishing
Welding
Weldable by TIG, MIG (ER1100 or ER4043 filler), laser and ultrasonic methods. Ultrasonic and laser welding are common for EV tabs and connectors.
Machining
Gummy and soft; sharp, high-rake tools and lubricant are required. Usually stamped rather than machined.
Anodising and brightening
Takes a clear, bright anodic film. High-purity grades give the best specular finish for reflectors.
Corrosion
Excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion; isolate from copper with plating or bimetallic transitions in electrical joints.
Handling
O temper dents and scratches easily; interleaving or PVC film protects visible surfaces.
Automotive applications
- EV battery systems: busbars, cell connectors, tab stock and current collectors in modules
- Lighting: reflector blanks and heat spreaders for lamps (the bright reflective layer is often a coated or high-purity surface)
- Thermal management: heat spreaders, fins and cold-plate components for power electronics
- Gaskets and seals: soft aluminium sealing washers and gasket layers
- Trim and nameplates: deep-drawn and anodised decorative parts
- Shielding: thin heat and electromagnetic shields where formability matters more than stiffness
1070 compared with 1050, 1060 and 1100
| Grade | Al min | Conductivity (O) | Tensile (O) | Typical choice for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1070 | 99.70 % | ~61 – 62 % IACS | 60 – 90 MPa | Busbars, connectors, reflectors |
| 1060 | 99.60 % | ~61 – 62 % IACS | 60 – 95 MPa | Electrical and chemical equipment |
| 1050 | 99.50 % | ~61 % IACS | 65 – 95 MPa | General sheet, heat shields, signage |
| 1100 | 99.00 % | ~59 % IACS | 75 – 105 MPa | Fin stock, cookware, general forming |
How to order 1070-O sheet
- SpecifyAlloy and temper, thickness, width, coil or sheet form, quantity and the governing specification with its revision (EN 485, JIS H4000).
- ConfirmWe confirm the specification can be met, the tolerance class, any extra tests and the delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectMaterial is checked for dimensions, straightness and surface condition; tests named on the order are carried out or arranged with a third party.
- DocumentEach lot ships with a mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing chemistry and mechanical results, traceable to the cast or lot number.
- Pack and shipExport packing in sealed, moisture-protected wooden cases, coils on pallets or reels, shipped by sea or air to your port or door.
References and standards
- EN 485-2 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: sheet, strip and plate, mechanical properties
- EN 573-3 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: chemical composition and form of wrought products
- JIS H4000 – Aluminium and aluminium alloy sheets, strips and plates
- 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
1070-O aluminium (aluminum) sheet: frequently asked questions
What does 1070-O mean?
1070 is aluminium of at least 99.70 % purity; O means fully annealed, the softest and most formable condition.
Is 1070 suitable for car body panels?
No. It is far too soft. Body panels use 5xxx alloys such as 5182 and 5754 or 6xxx alloys such as 6016 and 6111.
Why is 1070 used for EV busbars?
It has high electrical conductivity, good formability and welds well by ultrasonic and laser methods, at lower weight and cost than copper for the same current capacity.
What is the difference between 1070 and 1050?
1070 has 99.70 % minimum aluminium against 99.50 %, so it is slightly more conductive and softer.
Which standards cover 1070 sheet?
EN 485 and EN 573-3 (EN AW-1070A) and JIS H4000 (A1070P), with tolerances to EN 485-4.
Need 1070-O sheet or strip?
Send thickness, width, temper and form. We will confirm availability and certification.
