Aluminum 1230 · temper
Aluminum 1230-H18
Properties of the H18 condition, compared with the other 1230 tempers.
Standard hard foil/strip temper — maximum strain-hardened strength with minimal formability.
What is 1230-H18?
1230-H18 is 1230 in the H18 temper — standard hard foil/strip temper — maximum strain-hardened strength with minimal formability. 1230-H18 has a yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) — weaker than 71% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 1230-H18 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 646°C (1,195 °F).
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 82/100, better than 99% of aluminum grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 226 W/m·K (130.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 59 % IACS, better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 92/100, better than 95% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 100°C (212 °F), worse than 91% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 34/100, worse than 87% of aluminum grades
1230-H18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1230-H18 — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every 1230 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the aluminum grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
1230-H18 has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), lighter than 60% of aluminum grades. It melts at 646°C (1,195 °F).
Mechanical10
1230-H18 has a yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) — weaker than 71% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
1230-H18 is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 226 W/m·K (130.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1230-H18 conducts electricity at 59 % IACS, better than 95% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 99% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1230-H18 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 75% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability8
1230-H18's machinability is poor (34/100, worse than 87% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other 1230 tempers and conditions
1230 is also supplied in 9 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the 1230 overview.
- H19Extra-hard thin foil/fin stock where tensile strength and gauge control matter more than ductility.155 MPa yield · 40 HB
- H18Standard hard foil/strip temper — maximum strain-hardened strength with minimal formability.140 MPa yield · 38 HB
- H16Higher stiffness strip for shallow forming and roll-formed profiles.120 MPa yield · 33 HB
- H14General-purpose semi-rigid sheet/strip with moderate bending ability.100 MPa yield · 30 HB
- H12Light cold work when slightly stiffer sheet is needed but forming must stay easy.75 MPa yield · 25 HB
- ODefault choice for deep drawing, forming, fin/foil stock and cladding — maximum ductility and conductivity.28 MPa yield · 20 HB
Working with 1230-H18
Is 1230 easy to machine?
Very gummy — use sharp high-rake polished carbide tools, high speed, low feed pressure and flood lubricant; expect burrs and built-up edge.
Can 1230 be welded?
Excellent with GTAW/GMAW using 1100 or 1188 filler; autogenous welds are sound but weld zone anneals to O-temper strength.
Can 1230 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/H2x tempers — deep drawing, roll forming and foil rolling to <10 µm; H18/H19 needs generous bend radii.
What surface finishes work on 1230?
Takes bright clear anodising, chemical brightening and conversion coatings well; also readily painted or laminated as foil stock.
1230 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.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) |
|---|---|
| Si+Fecombined silicon plus iron limit | ≤ 0.7 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.1 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.05 |
| Mg | ≤ 0.05 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 |
| Ti | ≤ 0.03 |
| Others (each)others total 0.10 max | ≤ 0.03 |
| Alminimum 99.30 % aluminium | ≥ 99.3 (balance) |
1230-H18 — frequently asked
What is 1230-H18 used for?
1230-H18 is typically used for alclad cladding layer on plate and sheet, household foil, packaging foil, heat-exchanger fin stock, container and lid foil and laminated insulation foil. In short: thin-gauge foil; workable.
What is the yield strength of 1230-H18?
1230-H18 has a typical yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) — weaker than 71% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is 1230-H18 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (34/100, worse than 87% of aluminum grades). Very gummy — use sharp high-rake polished carbide tools, high speed, low feed pressure and flood lubricant; expect burrs and built-up edge.
Can 1230-H18 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent with GTAW/GMAW using 1100 or 1188 filler; autogenous welds are sound but weld zone anneals to O-temper strength.
What surface finishes work on 1230-H18?
Takes bright clear anodising, chemical brightening and conversion coatings well; also readily painted or laminated as foil stock.
Can 1230-H18 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/H2x tempers — deep drawing, roll forming and foil rolling to <10 µm; H18/H19 needs generous bend radii.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1230-H18?
1230-H18 is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in 1230-H18?
Yes — 1230-H18 is available for sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- EN 573-3 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Chemical composition — CEN (2019)
- ASTM B209 / B479 Aluminum Sheet, Plate and Foil — ASTM (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.