1100 Aluminum Coil (AA 1100) is a commercially pure aluminum alloy (99.0% minimum Al per Aluminum Association designation). Its top value in purchasing is high ductility for deep drawing, spinning, and tight forming, with predictable behavior in soft tempers. The tradeoff is lower mechanical strength versus Mn containing alloys such as 3003.
When specifications are unclear, disputes typically come from mixing "alloy name" with the wrong standard scope. For flat rolled products, most industrial transactions anchor on ASTM B209 (Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Sheet and Plate) and related ASTM documents for tolerances.
Use this checklist to lock down the correct language:
Alloy and temper: AA 1100 in O, H14, H24, H18, etc.
Product form: coil (continuous), with slit width requirements if needed.
Thickness and width: nominal and tolerance class.
Surface/finish: mill finish, one side protected film, cleanliness level.
Edges: mill edge or slit edge, burr limit.
Mechanical properties: only when a temper requires them (avoid "high strength" wording).
Inspection and test frequency: by heat lot or coil lot.
If your application is painted or laminated, do not rely on bare metal standards alone. Specify the coating system and performance tests, and reference the coated product family (for example, Color Coated Aluminum Coil with PE Coating) when paint durability is part of the acceptance criteria.
AA 1100 is chosen for corrosion resistance, high conductivity, and forming. Procurement issues usually come from temper mismatches.
The Aluminum Association limit for AA 1100 requires Al ≥ 99.00%; other elements are controlled as impurities. Ask for a mill test certificate listing chemistry to the AA designation.
Use temper to control formability. Common choices:
O (annealed): best deep draw, spinning, embossing.
H14 / H24: moderate work hardening, better dent resistance than O.
H18: higher hardness, reduced bendability.
If your part cracks at radii or in draw beads, the fix is often temper and grain direction, not thickness.
Include these on your incoming inspection plan:
Bend test: 90°/180° around a specified inside radius and direction (L/T). Record any edge cracking.
Earing tendency (deep draw parts): request grain direction control and check cup draw if critical.
Surface cleanliness: wipe test or dyne pen if adhesive bonding or coating follows.
Choose based on the job's failure mode: cracking during forming (needs ductility) versus oil canning or denting (needs strength).
| Decision point | AA 1100 | AA 3003 | What to specify in the order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep drawing, spinning | Excellent in O temper | Good, often less forgiving | Alloy, temper, and bend/draw criteria |
| Strength and dent resistance | Lower | Higher (Mn strengthened) | Minimum temper and yield/UTS if required |
| Corrosion resistance | Very good | Very good | Environment, cleaning, passivation needs |
| Thermal/electrical conductivity | Higher | Lower than 1100 | Conductivity requirement only when relevant |
| Cost sensitivity | Often favorable | Often slightly higher | Allow equivalent if performance allows |
If the part is purely decorative and will be coated, evaluate whether the metal grade can be relaxed while tightening coating performance.
Thickness: mm (or inch), tolerance:
Width: mm, tolerance:
ID: mm, OD max: mm
Coil weight: ___ kg max
Camber, flatness limits (if blanking/laser cutting)
Slitting: number of strands, edge burr max ___ mm
Finish: mill finish or bright finish; one side film: yes/no
Surface quality: free of scratches, roll marks within ___ criteria
Interleaving paper or plastic: required for cosmetic surfaces
Packaging: moisture barrier, desiccant for ocean shipment, pallet type
Mill test certificate: chemistry to AA 1100, mechanical properties per temper
Heat number and coil number traceability
Compliance statement to ASTM B209 (or agreed equivalent)
To keep sourcing consistent across suppliers, reference your general Aluminum Coil specification template and then add 1100 specific tempers and tests.
Prioritize tests that correlate to your top risk (forming cracks). A practical incoming plan:
Identify: alloy, temper, thickness, coil ID/OD versus packing list.
Measure: thickness across width and along length; record tolerance.
Formability screen: bend test in both directions; edge crack rating.
Surface: visual under consistent lighting; check oil level and stains.
Edge condition: burr, wave, telescoping; verify slit quality.
If coating or lamination follows, add adhesion related checks (surface tension, cleanliness) before the coil enters production.
Avoid AA 1100 when the part needs:
Structural strength or fatigue resistance.
High wear resistance.
Tight flatness for precision stamping without corrective leveling.
In those cases, consider a stronger alloy or a coated system where the surface performance is validated by standardized paint tests (gloss retention, flexibility, impact, and salt spray requirements defined in your purchase specification).