Aluminum 1N30: Composition, Properties, Temper Guide & Applications

Comprehensive Overview

1N30 is positioned as a near-pure, wrought aluminum alloy falling within the 1xxx family of aluminum grades. It is engineered as a commercially-pure aluminium variant with controlled minor alloying additions to optimize conductivity, corrosion resistance, and formability while providing slightly higher strength than laboratory-grade pure aluminium.

Major alloying elements are intentionally minimal and typically limited to trace silicon, iron and small additions of manganese and titanium to stabilize grain structure and improve cold-forming performance. The strengthening mechanism is primarily strain hardening (work-hardening) rather than precipitation hardening, so 1N30 is classified as non-heat-treatable and relies on cold work and controlled recrystallization for strength adjustments.

Key traits include high electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent atmospheric and chemical corrosion resistance, outstanding formability in soft tempers, and predictable weldability; peak strength is limited compared with heat-treatable alloys. Typical industries for 1N30 are electrical distribution and busbars, chemical processing equipment, architectural components, and applications demanding high conductivity with reasonable strength-to-weight balance.

Designers choose 1N30 when conductivity, corrosion resistance and deep-draw formability are prioritized over maximum mechanical strength. It is selected over higher-strength heat-treatable alloys when joining, conductivity and ease of forming outweigh the need for high yield or tensile values.

Temper Variants

Temper	Strength Level	Elongation	Formability	Weldability	Notes
O	Low	High	Excellent	Excellent	Fully annealed; maximum ductility and formability
H12	Low-Mid	Mid	Very Good	Very Good	Quarter hard; moderate increase in strength with retained formability
H14	Mid	Mid-Low	Good	Very Good	Half hard; common for moderate-strength sheet applications
H16	Mid-High	Low-Mid	Fair	Good	Three-quarter hard; useful where higher stiffness is needed
H18	High	Low	Limited	Good	Full hard; used where maximum cold-worked strength is required

Tempers in 1N30 strongly control trade-offs between formability and strength because the alloy is non-heat-treatable. Moving from O to progressively harder H-tempers increases yield and tensile strength through cold work, but reduces elongation and stretch-forming capability.

Temper history also affects surface condition and subsequent operations: heavily worked tempers will have higher residual stresses and may require intermediate anneals for complex forming operations, while O temper provides best results for deep drawing and spinning.

Chemical Composition

Element	% Range	Notes
Si	≤ 0.40	Controlled to limit eutectic embrittlement; small Si can improve fluidity in cast variants and reduce hot shortness.
Fe	≤ 0.70	Common impurity; elevated Fe slightly reduces ductility and conductivity but stabilizes grain growth.
Mn	≤ 0.10	Trace additions refine grain and improve bake-hardening/temper response marginally.
Mg	≤ 0.05	Kept low to preserve electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Cu	≤ 0.05	Minimized to avoid SCC susceptibility and to maintain conductivity.
Zn	≤ 0.10	Low Zn avoids excessive strength/embrittlement and galvanic interaction in marine environments.
Cr	≤ 0.05	Trace Cr can inhibit grain growth and improve recrystallization behavior.
Ti	≤ 0.05	Acts as a grain refiner, beneficial in rolled products and extrusions.
Others	Balance (Al ≥ 99.0%)	Remainder is aluminum with small allowable impurities consistent with 1xxx series practice.

The chemical approach for 1N30 emphasizes aluminum purity with tightly controlled impurities. Small additions of Mn, Ti and controlled Fe and Si produce beneficial microstructural effects—grain refinement, improved cold-work response and more consistent mechanical properties—without sacrificing the classic high conductivity and corrosion resistance of commercially-pure aluminum.

Mechanical Properties

Tensile behavior of 1N30 is typical of near-pure aluminum: the alloy shows low absolute strength in annealed condition but a broad, predictable strain-hardening response under cold work. In O temper the stress–strain curve is smooth with long uniform elongation; in H-tempers the yield and tensile strength increase while ductility and energy-absorption drop.

Yield and tensile strength are highly temper-dependent and thickness-sensitive; thinner gauges cold-work more efficiently yielding higher strengths in H-tempers for the same nominal deformation. Hardness correlates with temper and cold-work; hardness testing (HB or Vickers) is often used as a convenient QC proxy for temper level and relative strength.

Fatigue performance for 1N30 is governed by surface condition, residual stress and macroscopic defects; the relatively low strength means fatigue life at high cyclic stresses is limited compared with 6xxx or 7xxx series alloys. Thickness effects are pronounced because heat sunk cold-work and grain size vary with cross section, so property tables should reference gauge-specific data when designing critical components.

Property	O/Annealed	Key Temper (H14)	Notes
Tensile Strength	60–100 MPa	110–140 MPa	Tensile values depend on gauge and cold reduction; H14 commonly used as baseline for moderate strength.
Yield Strength	30–45 MPa	80–110 MPa	Yield increases significantly with cold work; O temper yields are low and highly ductile.
Elongation	30–45%	8–20%	Elongation drops with increasing temper; O has best stretch and deep draw capability.
Hardness	20–35 HB	40–60 HB	Hardness scale is a practical check on temper; more cold-worked tempers show proportionally higher hardness.

Physical Properties

Property	Value	Notes
Density	2.70 g/cm³	Typical for aluminium alloys; useful for mass and stiffness calculations.
Melting Range	≈ 660 °C (solidus/liquidus close)	Near-pure aluminium melts close to pure Al; limited melting-range interval relative to heavily-alloyed types.
Thermal Conductivity	~200–230 W/m·K	High thermal conductivity makes 1N30 attractive for heat-sinking and thermal bus applications.
Electrical Conductivity	~55–65 % IACS	High conductivity relative to most structural alloys; exact figure varies with tempers and impurity levels.
Specific Heat	~0.90 J/g·K (900 J/kg·K)	Standard value for design of thermal mass and transient heating scenarios.
Thermal Expansion	~23–25 µm/m·K (20–100 °C)	Typical isotropic thermal expansion for aluminium; design for differential expansion against steels and composites is important.

High thermal and electrical conductivities are signature physical advantages of 1N30 and explain its frequent use in busbars, heat exchangers and electrical hardware. The alloy’s density and specific heat are also favorable when seeking weight reduction while maintaining thermal mass.

Thermal expansion and conductivity must be considered in joined assemblies (e.g., aluminium-to-steel or aluminium-to-copper) to manage differential expansion, fatigue under thermal cycling, and galvanic corrosion potential.

Product Forms

Form	Typical Thickness/Size	Strength Behavior	Common Tempers	Notes
Sheet	0.2–6.0 mm	Strength increases with cold rolling (H-tempers)	O, H12, H14, H16	Most common form; used for deep drawing and architectural panels.
Plate	6–50 mm	Thicker plates tend to be softer unless heavily worked	O, H14, H18	Plate manufacturing requires heavy rolling and may need intermediate anneals.
Extrusion	Profiles up to 300 mm section	Strength depends on alloy feedstock and post-extrusion stretch	O, H112	Extrusions exploit grain control and are often slightly overaged to stabilize dimensions.
Tube	0.5–12 mm wall	Cold drawing and sizing increase strength	O, H14	Seamless and welded tubes available; cold work influences final temper.
Bar/Rod	2–100 mm	Cold drawing increases yield and hardness	O, H12, H14	Used where conductivity and formability are needed in small cross sections.

Processing differences are notable: sheet production relies on controlled rolling and anneal cycles to deliver the desired balance between strength and formability, while extrusions depend on billet chemistry and cooling/aging control for dimensional stability. Thicker product forms generally present lower as-processed strengths unless subjected to additional cold work or stretch processes.

Applications drive temper selection: sheet and tube for deep draw operations are supplied in O temper, whereas structural or stiffening elements may be supplied in H14–H18 to achieve higher yield and stiffness without heat treatment.

Equivalent Grades

Standard	Grade	Region	Notes
AA	1N30	USA	Designation used for this near-pure aluminum variant; follows 1xxx family practice.
EN AW	≈ EN AW-1050 / EN AW-1100	Europe	Closest industrial equivalents are EN AW-1050A and EN AW-1100 for similar purity and properties; minor composition control differs.
JIS	A1050 / A1100	Japan	JIS grades A1050/A1100 are the nearest analogues; surface finish and impurity limits vary.
GB/T	1060 / 1100	China	GB/T 1060/1100 are commonly referenced equivalents for commercially-pure aluminium with similar performance envelopes.

Equivalency is approximate because 1N30 may carry proprietary impurity limits or trace additions (e.g., Ti grain-refiners) not identically mirrored in other standards. Differences manifest mainly in allowable Fe/Si maxima, trace additive presence and surface or impurity control used to meet conductivity or forming performance targets.

When substituting cross-standard grades, review supplier mill certificates and test data for conductivity, tensile properties at the intended gauge, and surface finish to ensure interchangeability for critical electrical or formed components.

Corrosion Resistance

Atmospheric corrosion resistance of 1N30 is excellent due to the formation of a stable, adherent aluminium oxide film that protects the bulk metal under a wide range of urban and rural environments. In moderate industrial atmospheres where chlorides are not severe, the alloy performs as well as other 1xxx-series alloys and often better than more highly alloyed structural grades that suffer from galvanic or pitting sensitivity.

In marine or chloride-rich environments the alloy shows good general corrosion resistance but, as with all aluminium alloys, localized pitting may occur on stagnant wet surfaces or under deposits. Use of protective coatings, anodizing or design to avoid crevices and stagnant pools is standard practice for extended service life in marine applications.

Stress corrosion cracking susceptibility is low compared with high-strength, heat-treatable alloys; because 1N30 is non-heat-treatable and essentially free of strengthening precipitates, it lacks the microstructural features that promote SCC in 2xxx and 7xxx series alloys. Galvanic interaction risk exists against more noble metals (copper, stainless steel) and design needs to manage contact areas, insulating layers, and relative surface areas to avoid accelerated corrosion.

Compared with 3xxx/5xxx families, 1N30 trades some sacrificial behavior (that comes from higher Mg in 5xxx) for higher conductivity and sometimes superior formability, making it preferable for electrical and some chemical process uses rather than load-bearing marine structural applications.

Fabrication Properties

Weldability

1N30 welds readily by common fusion processes (TIG, MIG/GMAW, and resistance welding) and produces clean, ductile welds when good practice is applied. Recommended fillers for general joining are 1100 or Al-Si filler alloys such as 4043 depending on joint design and required ductility; Al-Mg fillers (5xxx family) are typically avoided where conductivity and corrosion behavior must be preserved. Hot-cracking susceptibility is low for 1N30 due to its simple chemistry, and HAZ softening is minimal because the alloy is non-heat-treatable; however, welded joints in cold-worked H-tempers will locally anneal and reduce strength adjacent to the weld, so design for local reinforcement or follow-up cold working if necessary.

Machinability

Machining of 1N30 is categorized as moderate: it is softer than many structural alloys which reduces cutting forces but tends to produce long, continuous chips that require effective chip control. Carbide tools with positive rake geometry and adequate coolant give the best balance of tool life and surface finish; high cutting speeds are acceptable provided chip evacuation and tool cooling are managed. Machinability indexes relative to free-machining aluminum are lower than heavily leaded alloys; designers should account for burr formation on thin sections and potential work hardening at tool interfaces during interrupted cuts.

Formability

Formability in soft (O) temper is excellent—1N30 supports deep drawing, spinning and complex stretch forming with tight radius bends and limited springback. Recommended minimum inside bend radii range from 0.5–1.0× thickness for O temper depending on punch and die geometry; H-tempers require larger radii and more force. Cold working raises strength predictably, so for multi-stage forming sequences use intermediate anneals to restore ductility when needed; for parts that will be welded or anodized, temper choice should balance formability with subsequent processing constraints.

Heat Treatment Behavior

1N30 is a non-heat-treatable alloy where strength cannot be raised by solution/aging cycles. Instead, mechanical properties are controlled by cold work and by controlled annealing/recrystallization. Typical annealing (full softening to O) is conducted at temperatures around 300–415 °C depending on product form and prior cold work, with soak times sized for thickness and production throughput to avoid grain coarsening.

Work-hardening curves are stable and reproducible: tensile and yield increase with % cold reduction following classic strain-hardening laws, enabling designers to predict final strength from forming schedules. Because there is no beneficial precipitation hardening, there are no T-tempers analogous to 6xxx or 2xxx series; post-fabrication temper stabilization is achieved via controlled stretching or low-temperature stabilization anneals to minimize residual stresses.

High-Temperature Performance

At elevated temperatures 1N30 exhibits progressive strength loss and softening above roughly 100–150 °C, with substantial reduction in yield strength approaching one-third of room-temperature values near 200–300 °C. Continuous service temperatures are typically limited to low to mid-hundreds of degrees Celsius, and design should use high-temperature alloys for sustained structural loading above 150 °C.

Oxidation is limited to formation of a protective aluminium oxide and is not generally a limiting factor for corrosion at high temperatures in air; however, in aggressive oxidizing or corrosive atmospheres protective coatings or alloy substitution may be needed. HAZ or locally heated zones from welding or brazing will experience local recrystallization and softening, but because the alloy is non-heat-treatable there is no risk of overaging—yet dimensional stability and temper must be considered for parts that see intermittent high temperatures.

Applications

Industry	Example Component	Why 1N30 Is Used
Automotive	Shielding and thermal reflectors	High thermal conductivity and formability for stamped reflective parts
Marine	Non-structural housings and fittings	Good atmospheric corrosion resistance and ease of fabrication
Aerospace	Non-critical fittings, thermal shims	High conductivity, low density and good formability in O temper
Electrical	Busbars, current collectors	Excellent conductivity and weldability; easy to form into profiles
Electronics	Heat sinks and enclosures	High thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance for long-term service

1N30 finds its niche in applications that value conductivity and formability over peak structural strength. It is widely used where complex forming, joining, and surface finishing are required alongside good corrosion resistance and thermal/electrical performance.

Selection Insights

When choosing materials, prefer 1N30 over commercially pure grades such as 1100 when you need marginally higher strength from controlled impurity and grain-control measures while retaining high conductivity and excellent formability. Expect a small trade of reduced conductivity and slightly lower ductility for better yield and stiffness.

Compared with common work-hardened alloys like 3003 or 5052, 1N30 sits toward the lower-strength end but often offers superior electrical/thermal conductivity and equal or better corrosion resistance in many atmospheres. Choose 1N30 when conductivity and joinability are more important than the elevated strength and magnesium-driven corrosion performance of 5xxx alloys.

Compared with heat-treatable alloys such as 6061 or 6063, 1N30 will have significantly lower peak strength but better conductivity, simpler fabrication (no heat-treatment requirements) and typically better formability for deep drawing. Use 1N30 when joining, electrical/thermal performance and forming requirements outweigh the need for maximum structural strength.

Closing Summary

1N30 remains relevant because it combines the defining advantages of the 1xxx family—high conductivity, excellent corrosion resistance and outstanding formability—with controlled impurity and grain management to yield modest strength improvements and consistent fabrication behavior, making it a practical choice for electrical, thermal and chemically exposed applications where peak strength is not the primary driver.