Aluminum 8011: Composition, Properties, Temper Guide & Applications

Comprehensive Overview

8011 is an 8xxx-series aluminum alloy primarily used in packaging and foil applications. The 8xxx series groups aluminum alloys containing "other" elements — typically higher levels of iron and silicon plus controlled manganese — that are chosen to enhance strength and processing characteristics for thin-gauge products.

Major alloying constituents in 8011 are iron and silicon, with modest manganese additions and trace levels of other elements such as chromium and titanium to control grain structure. The strengthening mechanism is principally solid-solution effects combined with work-hardening; 8011 is treated as a non-heat-treatable alloy where mechanical properties are adjusted by cold work and tempering rather than precipitation hardening.

Key traits of 8011 include good formability in soft tempers, acceptable corrosion resistance for atmospheric and packaging environments, and comparatively high strength for thin gauge stock. Weldability on thicker sections is limited by the alloy chemistry and thin-gauge nature of common products, while surface finish, dimensional stability and runnability during rolling/annealing are standout attributes for industry.

Typical industries that rely on 8011 are packaging (household foil, closure stock), food and beverage canning, some heat-exchange and thermal management components, and building products where thin-gauge sheet or foil is required. Engineers choose 8011 over more common commercial-purity alloys when higher strength in thin gauges, dimensional stability during rolling, or compatibility with foil-processing lines is required.

Temper Variants

Temper	Strength Level	Elongation	Formability	Weldability	Notes
O	Low	High	Excellent	Excellent	Fully annealed; best for deep drawing and forming
H12	Low-Medium	Moderate	Very Good	Good	Light work-hardening; maintains good formability
H14	Medium	Moderate-Low	Good	Fair	Typical temper for moderate strength in foil and sheet
H18	Medium-High	Low	Limited	Poor	Full hard; used for stiff foil/closure stock
H19	High	Very Low	Poor	Poor	Maximum cold work for gauge-critical applications
T4 (if applied)	Medium	Moderate	Good	Fair	Some natural aging after solutionizing; uncommon for 8011
T6-like (rare)	Higher	Lower	Poor	Poor	Proprietary treatments may produce increased hardness; not standard

Tempering strongly controls the trade-off between strength and formability in 8011. Soft (O, H12) tempers maximize ductility and allow deep drawing and high elongation, which is why they are used for household foil and complex-shaped closures.

Hard tempers (H18, H19) are used where stiffness and dimensional control in very thin gauges are paramount, but these tempers dramatically reduce bending and forming capability and make welding or post-forming operations difficult.

Chemical Composition

Element	% Range	Notes
Si	0.2–1.3	Silicon helps with fluidity and controls strength in thin gauge; limits vary by producer.
Fe	0.4–1.6	Iron is a primary strength contributor and improves rolling/runnability; excess promotes brittleness.
Mn	0.2–0.8	Manganese refines grain size and improves strength and corrosion resistance.
Mg	0.00–0.2	Magnesium typically low; not a primary strengthening agent in 8011.
Cu	≤0.10	Copper is intentionally limited to avoid excessive susceptibility to corrosion and to maintain formability.
Zn	≤0.25	Zinc kept low; high Zn would make the alloy heat-treatable and change properties.
Cr	≤0.05	Chromium present in trace amounts to control recrystallization and grain growth.
Ti	≤0.10	Titanium used only in trace amounts for grain refinement in cast/ingot metallurgy.
Others (including Al remainder)	Balance	Small additions and residuals controlled by mill practice; final chemistry tuned for product form.

The chemical mix in 8011 intentionally emphasizes Fe and Si to give rolling stability and strength in very thin gauges while minimizing elements that drive precipitation hardening. Manganese improves strength and corrosion performance without moving the alloy into the heat-treatable class. Trace elements and tight control over impurities are critical for foil applications where surface quality and elongation are essential.

Mechanical Properties

Tensile behavior for 8011 is highly dependent on temper and gauge. In annealed and lightly worked tempers the alloy exhibits a low yield and high elongation suited to deep drawing and forming; in heavier cold-worked tempers tensile and yield strengths increase substantially at the expense of ductility. Thin-gauge behavior is affected by rolling history and grain size; extremely thin foil will show different engineering stress–strain curves than thicker sheet because of texture and work-hardening.

Yield and tensile values span a wide range. Annealed sheet may exhibit yield strengths in the low tens of MPa with tensile strengths under 150 MPa, whereas H14–H19 tempers can show yield strengths approaching or exceeding 150–220 MPa with tensile values up to 250 MPa in optimized cold-worked stock. Hardness increases correlate with cold work; thin foil in full-hard conditions can reach appreciably higher hardness than thicker annealed sheet.

Fatigue performance depends on surface condition, residual stress from rolling, and temper; thin-gauge fatigue life is commonly governed by surface defects and notches. Thickness strongly affects measured elongation and apparent ductility; as thickness decreases the material tends to show lower engineering elongation and more anisotropic behavior due to rolling texture.

Property	O/Annealed	Key Temper (e.g., H14/H18)	Notes
Tensile Strength	~70–150 MPa	~120–250 MPa	Wide ranges reflect cold work and gauge; foil reaches higher strengths after tempering.
Yield Strength	~30–90 MPa	~90–220 MPa	Yield increases rapidly with cold work; H18/H19 are substantially higher.
Elongation	20–35%	1–10%	Annealed tempers offer high ductility; full-hard has very low elongation.
Hardness	25–45 HV	40–95 HV	Hardness tracks temper; small-gauge hard tempers are notably harder than thick annealed stock.

Physical Properties

Property	Value	Notes
Density	2.70 g/cm³	Typical for aluminum alloys; slight variation with alloying additions.
Melting Range	~600–660 °C	Solidus near pure Al; melting interval depends on alloying and impurities.
Thermal Conductivity	120–180 W/m·K	Alloying reduces conductivity compared with pure Al; thin gauge improves heat transfer per unit thickness.
Electrical Conductivity	~20–40 %IACS	Lower than pure Al and some wrought alloys due to Fe/Si; depends on temper and specific chemistry.
Specific Heat	~880–920 J/kg·K	Comparable to other Al alloys; useful for transient thermal calculations.
Thermal Expansion	23–24 ×10⁻⁶ /K	Linear thermal expansion similar to other Al alloys; design for differential expansion with dissimilar metals.

The physical properties reflect typical aluminum behavior modified by alloying. Thermal and electrical conductivities are reduced relative to commercially pure aluminum, but remain sufficiently high for many heat-spreading and EMI applications.

Thermal expansion and specific heat are close to other common wrought aluminum alloys, simplifying substitution for non-critical thermal mismatch applications while attention is needed for galvanic pairing and joint design.

Product Forms

Form	Typical Thickness/Size	Strength Behavior	Common Tempers	Notes
Sheet	0.2–6.0 mm	Strength varies with temper; thicker sheet used for structural panels	O, H12, H14	Widely used for closure stock and thin structural elements
Foil	0.006–0.2 mm	Very high apparent strength in hard tempers due to cold work	H14, H18, H19	Primary application for 8011; extremely tight thickness control required
Plate	>6 mm (rare)	Not common; mechanical properties differ due to rolling routes	O, H12 (limited)	Plate-grade production is uncommon for 8011 chemistry
Extrusion	Profiles up to moderate cross-sections (limited)	Extrusion behavior possible but not typical for foil-focused alloys	O, H12	Extrusion feeders tend to use other aluminum families; 8011 extrusions are niche
Tube	Thin-wall tubes for thermal/packaging uses	Thin-wall properties track sheet/foil tempers	O, H14	Used where thin, continuous-walled components are needed
Bar/Rod	Small diameters only (rare)	Mechanical behavior depends on drawing/cold work	H12, H14	Not a primary product form for 8011 compared with other wrought alloys

8011 is optimized for sheet and foil production; rolling schedules, annealing cycles, and skin pass treatments are tailored to reach target gauge and surface finish. Processing differences between foil and thicker sheet largely govern final microstructure and anisotropy, so product selection should consider manufacturing route as well as end-use.

Extruded or plated 8011 is relatively uncommon because alternative alloys (6xxx/5xxx families) provide better properties and economy for structural extrusions, plates and bars.

Equivalent Grades

Standard	Grade	Region	Notes
AA	8011	USA	Aluminum Association designation commonly used in North America for foil/closure stock.
EN AW	No single direct equivalent	Europe	8xxx-series alloys are produced, but a direct EN AW number for 8011 is not universal; check supplier specs.
JIS	No single direct equivalent	Japan	Japanese standards may use proprietary designations for similar chemistries; cross-reference required.
GB/T	No single direct equivalent	China	Chinese producers supply similar 8xxx chemistries; verify composition and temper against AA 8011.

There is no universally adopted, one-to-one counterpart for 8011 across every regional standard because 8xxx alloys are often proprietary and tailored to mill processes. Manufacturers and buyers should always confirm by chemical and mechanical specification rather than relying solely on designation names when moving between standards or sourcing globally. Minor variations in Fe/Si/Mn levels across regions will change formability and runnability in thin gauges.

Corrosion Resistance

8011 typically provides good atmospheric corrosion resistance in non-chloride environments due to the protective aluminum oxide film and controlled alloy chemistry. In packaging and household foil applications it performs well because the thin gauge and oxide film limit attack; however, surface cleanliness and residual processing salts strongly influence real-world performance.

In marine or chloride-rich environments 8011 is more susceptible to pitting than high-magnesium 5xxx alloys and lacks the sacrificial behavior of zinc-rich systems. For long-term marine structural use 5xxx or specially treated alloys are usually preferred; 8011 can be used in non-structural or coated applications with proper corrosion allowances.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is generally less of a concern for 8011 than for some high-strength heat-treatable alloys, but SCC susceptibility increases with cold work and residual tensile stresses from forming. Galvanic interactions must be considered when joining 8011 to dissimilar metals; it will act anodically to steels and copper alloys, accelerating localized corrosion unless electrically insulated or coated.

Compared to 1xxx-series (commercially pure) alloys, 8011 trades slightly reduced absolute corrosion resistance for higher strength and better processing ability. Versus 5xxx-series, 8011 offers better runnability in thin gauges but typically lower pitting resistance in chloride environments.

Fabrication Properties

Weldability
Welding of 8011 is limited by the alloy’s use in thin gauges and by its iron/silicon content which can promote brittle intermetallics in the fusion zone. TIG and MIG welding are possible on thicker sheet with proper preheat, joint design and low-heat input techniques, but weldability is worse than 5xxx or 6xxx alloys. Recommended filler metals are general-purpose Al-Si (4xxx) or Al-Mg fillers depending on required corrosion resistance; welding will produce a HAZ softening and may necessitate post-weld cold work or mechanical reinforcement.

Machinability
Machinability is not a primary attribute of 8011 because most components are produced by rolling, forming, and cutting operations rather than heavy machining. When machining is required, the alloy cuts reasonably but can produce built-up edge on tools due to ductility; tooling for aluminum (HSS or carbide with appropriate coatings) and moderate to high surface speeds with positive rake geometry are typical. Residual iron-containing intermetallics may cause abrasive wear on tooling relative to purer alloys.

Formability
Formability is one of 8011’s strengths in annealed and lightly worked tempers, allowing deep drawing, complex forming and good springback control for foil and closure applications. Bending radii should be selected with respect to temper and thickness; soft tempers permit tight radii while full-hard tempers require much larger radii or stepwise forming. Cold working increases strength but reduces formability rapidly, so production sequences commonly include intermediate anneals to restore ductility for multi-stage forming.

Heat Treatment Behavior

8011 is a non-heat-treatable alloy family; bulk strengthening is obtained via controlled cold work and tempering, not by solution heat treatment and precipitation age hardening. Annealing (O temper) is performed to recrystallize and maximize ductility, which is essential for subsequent deep drawing or foil rolling.

Artificial aging or T-type treatments are not standard routes for property enhancement in 8011; any thermal exposure above typical annealing temperatures will primarily cause softening and microstructural coarsening rather than beneficial precipitation. Temper transitions are therefore managed through mechanical cold work schedules and controlled anneal cycles to hit target mechanical/physical attributes.

High-Temperature Performance

8011 experiences strength loss at elevated temperatures, with measurable softening occurring well below the melting range; structural performance degrades above roughly 150–200 °C depending on temper and loading. Oxidation at service temperatures is limited by the natural protective oxide film, but prolonged high-temperature exposure can coarsen microstructural features and reduce fatigue life.

Heat-affected zone (HAZ) behavior from welding shows localized softening and potential changes in fatigue and corrosion resistance; post-process mechanical reinforcement or surface treatments may be required for critical applications. For sustained elevated-temperature service, alloys specifically engineered for creep or high-temperature stability are preferred over 8011.

Applications

Industry	Example Component	Why 8011 Is Used
Packaging	Household foil, food wrap, closure stock	Excellent formability in thin gauges, surface finish and runnability
Food & Beverage	Can ends and lids	Dimensional stability and compatibility with forming/ironing operations
Building	Facade or insulation foil layers	Thin-gauge corrosion protection and thermal reflectivity
Thermal Management	Thin heat-spreader foils	High thermal conductivity in a thin, lightweight format
Consumer Goods	Flexible housings, laminates	Conformability, barrier properties and lightweight nature

8011’s product niche — thin, high-quality foil and sheet — makes it indispensable for packaging and closure industries where combination of formability, surface quality and acceptable strength is required. Its continued use is driven by established supply-chains and process equipment calibrated to the alloy’s rolling and annealing behavior.

Selection Insights

When selecting 8011, prioritize applications requiring high-quality thin-gauge sheet or foil where formability and dimensional control are critical. Choose softer tempers for deep drawing and closures, and hard tempers for stiff, very thin gauges where rigidity is needed.

Compared with commercially pure aluminum (1100), 8011 offers higher strength and better runnability in thin gauges at the expense of some electrical and thermal conductivity. Compared with work-hardened alloys like 3003 or 5052, 8011 typically provides better runnability and is optimized for foil production; however, 5xxx alloys will outperform 8011 in chloride corrosion resistance and weldability. Compared with heat-treatable alloys such as 6061/6063, 8011 has lower peak achievable strength but is preferred where thin-gauge formability and foil-quality surface finish are decisive.

Keep cost, availability, processing equipment compatibility, and end-use environment (especially exposure to chlorides and required weldability) in mind when choosing 8011 over neighboring families.

Closing Summary

8011 remains a relevant engineering alloy primarily because it is optimized for thin-gauge sheet and foil production where a tailored balance of strength, formability and surface quality is required. Its chemistry and temper options support high-volume manufacturing processes for packaging and closures, making it a practical choice when foil-grade performance and dimensional control are essential.