1050 1060 1070 1100 5005 5052 5083 6061 7075 aluminum coils

01/08 2026

In the world of rolled metals, “aluminum coil” is a broad term. But when you narrow it down to specific alloys like 1050, 1060, 1070, 1100, 5005, 5052, 5083, 6061, and 7075, you’re no longer just buying a material—you’re choosing a performance package.

A practical way to understand these coils is to think of them as a continuum: from ultra-soft, ultra-pure conductivity materials to high-strength structural metals that can rival steel. Each alloy is engineered by adjusting just a few elements—mainly magnesium, manganese, copper, silicon, and zinc—but the result is a completely different behavior in forming, welding, anodizing, and corrosion resistance.

Below is a concise, application-focused guide that helps make sense of this family of alloys, along with typical parameters, tempers, and chemical compositions.

Pure and Near-Pure Series: 1050, 1060, 1070, 1100

These coils sit at the “purity” end of the spectrum. Their main function is not strength, but workability, conductivity, and clean surface.

Typical roles of these alloys

1050 / 1060 / 1070: electrical bus bars, transformer windings, capacitor shells, decorative strips, thermal shielding, lamp bases
1100: chemical and food equipment, nameplates, thin storage tanks, architectural trim, HVAC fins

functional traits

Very high aluminum content (over 99% for 1050/1060/1070; 1100 has a small copper addition)
Outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity
Excellent deep drawing and spinning performance
Non-heat-treatable; strength is achieved mainly by cold working (H tempers)
Corrosion resistance is naturally high in most atmospheres

Typical tempers

O (annealed): maximum formability, lowest strength
H14 / H16 / H18: increasing strength with reduced formability
H24 / H26: half-hard to three-quarter hard, often used for better rigidity in thin gauges

International implementation standards

ASTM B209 (USA)
EN 485 / EN 573 (Europe)
GB/T 3880 (China)

For customers, the decision point is straightforward: when you need easy forming, clean anodized or mill finish, and high conductivity rather than high structural strength, these are the workhorse alloys.

Magnesium-Modified Non-Heat-Treatable Series: 5005, 5052, 5083

Moving up the spectrum, magnesium is added to aluminum to create real structural capability without sacrificing corrosion resistance. These 5xxx series coils are the backbone of marine, transportation, and architectural applications.

Typical roles

5005: architectural cladding, curtain walls, anodized fascia panels, interior decoration
5052: fuel tanks, truck bodies, marine panels, pressure vessels, toolbox and cabinet panels, refrigerator liners
5083: ship hulls, offshore platforms, cryogenic tanks, high-load marine and transport components

functional traits

Magnesium additions from about 0.5% up to more than 4.0%
Non-heat-treatable; strengthened by cold work and solid solution effects
Excellent corrosion resistance, especially in marine and industrial environments
Good weldability; 5083 in particular is a marine standard for welded structures
5005 is tailored for color-consistent anodizing, often used when 6061’s anodized appearance is too variable in façade work

Typical tempers

H14 / H24: semi-hard for panels and general forming
H32 / H34 / H36: balanced strength and formability for automotive and marine plates and coils
O: for complex forming or deep drawing
For 5083, tempers like H111, H116, H321 are commonly used for marine plates, though coils typically appear in softer H tempers for further processing

Implementation standards

ASTM B209, B928 for marine grades
EN 485, EN 573, EN 1386 (building applications)
DNV, ABS, LR approvals for marine structure usage (primarily plate, but chemistry and properties follow the same philosophy in coil)

Functionally, 5005 positions itself as the “architectural anodizing” alloy, 5052 as the “general-purpose high-strength coil,” and 5083 as the “heavy-duty marine and cryogenic” solution.

Heat-Treatable Structural Alloys: 6061 and 7075

On the high-performance side, 6xxx and 7xxx coils deliver strength through heat treatment (solution treatment and artificial aging). These are the alloys for when hardness, rigidity, and fatigue resistance become critical.

Typical roles

6061: structural panels, lightweight frameworks, rail car components, high-load brackets, machined parts from coil-fed lines, bicycle components
7075: aerospace structural members, high-stress fastener stock, precision components, high-performance sports equipment where coil stock is slit and further processed

functional traits of 6061

Alloyed mainly with magnesium and silicon (forming Mg2Si)
Heat-treatable: can be supplied in T4, T6, T651, etc. (coils are usually T4 or T6-like after subsequent processing)
Good balance of strength, weldability, and machinability
Good corrosion resistance, but slightly lower than 5xxx marine alloys in severe saltwater conditions

functional traits of 7075

High levels of zinc with magnesium and copper
Extremely high strength, some tempers exceeding many steels on a strength-to-weight basis
Not as corrosion-resistant as 5xxx or 6xxx; usually protected by coatings or cladding
Limited weldability; typically mechanically fastened or adhesively bonded
Common tempers for flat products: T6, T651, T73 (improved stress corrosion performance)

Implementation standards

ASTM B209, B221, AMS specifications (aerospace)
EN 485, EN 573 for 6xxx and 7xxx flat-rolled products

In coil form, 6061 is more widely used than 7075 because it balances formability, heat-treatability, and downstream processing compatibility.

Choosing by Function: How These Coils Map to Real Projects

Instead of seeing each alloy as an isolated code, it helps to map them to functional decision points:

Need maximum conductivity and easy forming, with modest strength: choose 1050 / 1060 / 1070
Need formable yet slightly stronger, with better chemical compatibility: choose 1100
Need anodized architectural surfaces with uniform color: choose 5005
Need strong, corrosion-resistant, weldable panels for tanks, vehicles, general marine: choose 5052
Need high-load marine structure or cryogenic containment in coil/plate systems: choose 5083
Need structural, machinable, heat-treatable coil for mechanical parts: choose 6061
Need the highest strength for critical aerospace or performance applications, typically after slitting and further processing: choose 7075

This “function-first” approach prevents over-specifying (and overspending) on alloys that exceed the project’s real needs.

Representative Chemical Composition (Mass %)

Values below are typical ranges according to international standards; exact limits depend on specific standard and product form.

Alloy	Si	Fe	Cu	Mn	Mg	Cr	Zn	Ti	Al
1050	≤0.25	≤0.40	≤0.05	≤0.05	≤0.05	–	≤0.05	≤0.03	≥99.50
1060	≤0.25	≤0.35	≤0.05	≤0.03	≤0.03	–	≤0.05	≤0.03	≥99.60
1070	≤0.20	≤0.25	≤0.04	≤0.03	≤0.03	–	≤0.04	≤0.03	≥99.70
1100	≤0.95*	–	0.05–0.20	≤0.05	–	–	≤0.10	≤0.05	Remainder Al
5005	0.30	0.70	0.05	0.20	0.50–1.1	0.10	0.25	0.05	Remainder Al
5052	0.25	0.40	0.10	0.10	2.2–2.8	0.15–0.35	0.10	0.15	Remainder Al
5083	0.40	0.40	0.10	0.40–1.0	4.0–4.9	0.05–0.25	0.25	0.15	Remainder Al
6061	0.40–0.80	0.70	0.15–0.40	0.15	0.80–1.2	0.04–0.35	0.25	0.15	Remainder Al
7075	0.40	0.50	1.2–2.0	0.30	2.1–2.9	0.18–0.28	5.1–6.1	0.20	Remainder Al

*For 1100, Si + Fe combined typically ≤0.95.

These controlled additions of magnesium, manganese, copper, silicon, and zinc are what transform soft, pure aluminum into tailored engineering materials.

Mechanical Parameters and Coil Supply Conditions

While exact mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation) vary by thickness and temper, typical ranges are:

1050/1060 in H14: tensile about 60–95 MPa, elongation 10–20%
5052 in H32: tensile about 215–265 MPa, good elongation for forming
5083 in H111: tensile about 270–350 MPa, excellent toughness
6061 in T6 (sheet/plate reference): tensile around 290–340 MPa
7075 in T6: tensile often 510–570 MPa

Common coil parameters supplied by manufacturers

Thickness: about 0.2–8.0 mm depending on alloy and line capability
Width: typically up to 2000 mm for wide coil, narrower for specialized lines
Inner diameter: usually 508 mm or 610 mm
Surface: mill finish, brushed, anodized-quality, or pre-painted (especially for 5005/5052 cladding)

From Code to Solution

For fast project decisions, it helps to translate alloy designations into a simple rule:

1xxx: conductivity and deep formability
5xxx: corrosion resistance and non-heat-treatable strength
6xxx: structural, heat-treatable, multipurpose
7xxx: maximum strength with controlled corrosion strategies

Once the function is clear—whether building façade, ship deck, refrigeration panel, precision machined part, or high-load structural member—the correct coil alloy, temper, and standard usually reveal themselves quickly.

1050 1060 1070 1100 5005 5052 5083 6061 7075

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