Aluminum 1090 · temper
Aluminum 1090-H16
Properties of the H16 condition, compared with the other 1090 tempers.
Choose for flat parts needing more springiness and dent resistance with only mild forming.
What is 1090-H16?
1090-H16 is 1090 in the H16 temper — choose for flat parts needing more springiness and dent resistance with only mild forming. 1090-H16 has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 86% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 1090-H16 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 657°C (1,215 °F).
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 61.3 % IACS, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 229 W/m·K (132.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 78/100, better than 94% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 110°C (230 °F), worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 88% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 95 MPa (13.8 ksi), worse than 86% of aluminum grades
1090-H16 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1090-H16 — 10 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1090 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1090-H16 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 657°C (1,215 °F).
Mechanical10
1090-H16 has a yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 86% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 7% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
1090-H16 is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 229 W/m·K (132.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1090-H16 conducts electricity at 61.3 % IACS, better than 97% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), better than 94% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1090-H16 takes about 215 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 92% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
1090-H16's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 88% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability good (60/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1090 tempers and conditions
1090 is also supplied in 10 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1090 overview.
- H19Highest cold-work level, typical of thin technical foil and drawn wire; essentially no formability left.125 MPa yield · 35 HB
- H18Fully cold-worked strip and household/technical foil where flatness and stiffness matter more than bending.110 MPa yield · 33 HB
- H16Choose for flat parts needing more springiness and dent resistance with only mild forming.95 MPa yield · 30 HB
- H14Best general-purpose sheet balance: usable stiffness with acceptable bending for enclosures, trim and conductor strip.80 MPa yield · 27 HB
- H12Light cold work for slightly stiffer sheet/strip that still bends and forms readily.65 MPa yield · 24 HB
- ODefault stock condition: maximum ductility and conductivity for deep drawing, spinning, foil, capacitor and conductor applications.22 MPa yield · 19 HB
Working with 1090-H16
Is 1090 easy to machine?
Very gummy — use polished high-rake carbide, high speed, sharp tools and generous lubrication to avoid built-up edge and torn surfaces; not suited to fine threads or tight tolerances.
Can 1090 be welded?
Excellent with TIG/MIG using ER1100 or high-purity ER1188 filler; resistance and ultrasonic welding also fine, but the weld and HAZ are annealed so H-temper strength is lost.
Can 1090 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/H2x tempers — deep drawing, spinning, embossing and rolling down to thin foil; expect strong springback-free but low-strength results and possible orange-peel from coarse grain.
What surface finishes work on 1090?
Ideal base for bright/clear anodising, chemical brightening and mirror polishing (reflectors, trim); films are thin and soft, so hard anodising or plating is preferred where wear matters.
1090 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Simax per EN 573-3 / AA registration | ≤ 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.01 | 0 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| V | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Ga | ≤ 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Others (each)others total 0.03 max | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| AlAl99.90 — verify exact impurity limits against the governing edition of EN 573-3 / GB/T 3190 | ≥ 99.9 (balance) | — |
1090-H16 — frequently asked
What is 1090-H16 used for?
1090-H16 is typically used for capacitor foil, vacuum-chamber components, reflector sheet, conductor and busbar stock, bright-anodized trim and thin-gauge rolled foil. In short: near-pure aluminum; ultra-clean.
What is the yield strength of 1090-H16?
1090-H16 has a typical yield strength of 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 86% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is 1090-H16 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 88% of aluminum grades). Very gummy — use polished high-rake carbide, high speed, sharp tools and generous lubrication to avoid built-up edge and torn surfaces; not suited to fine threads or tight tolerances.
Can 1090-H16 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent with TIG/MIG using ER1100 or high-purity ER1188 filler; resistance and ultrasonic welding also fine, but the weld and HAZ are annealed so H-temper strength is lost.
What surface finishes work on 1090-H16?
Ideal base for bright/clear anodising, chemical brightening and mirror polishing (reflectors, trim); films are thin and soft, so hard anodising or plating is preferred where wear matters.
Can 1090-H16 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/H2x tempers — deep drawing, spinning, embossing and rolling down to thin foil; expect strong springback-free but low-strength results and possible orange-peel from coarse grain.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1090-H16?
1090-H16 is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1090-H16?
Yes — 1090-H16 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- EN 573-3 — Aluminium and aluminium alloys, chemical composition of wrought products — CEN (2019)
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- EN 485-2 — Aluminium sheet, strip and plate: mechanical properties — CEN (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.