Aluminum 8021
AA 8021 · EN AW-8021
8021 is a high-iron Al-Fe-Si foil alloy (EN AW-8021) that is non-heat-treatable, with properties set by cold rolling and back-annealing across the O and H12–H19/H22–H26 tempers; H14 is the usual pharmaceutical and food packaging temper.
Reference datasheet — 8021 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the H14 condition
8021 tempers and conditions
8021 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. H14 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick for cold-formable Alu/Alu blister base webs and deep-drawn pharmaceutical foil where maximum elongation and drawability are needed. | 35 | 85 | 25 | 23 HV | 56 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, quarter hard | Back-annealed soft-ish foil giving more uniform elongation than H12 at similar strength — good for forming webs that must also unwind flat. | 75 | 105 | 10 | 30 HB | 56 % IACS |
Strain hardened, quarter hard | Light cold work when slightly more stiffness than O is needed but forming is still the priority. | 80 | 105 | 8 | 32 HB | 56 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, half hard | Common alternative to H14 when higher residual ductility and better flatness after back-annealing are required. | 95 | 120 | 6 | 36 HB | 55.5 % IACS |
H14Default Strain hardened, half hard | Default stocked foil temper: best balance of runnability, stiffness and puncture resistance for blister lidding, pharmaceutical and food packaging laminates. | 105 | 125 | 4 | 42 HV | 55 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, three-quarter hard | Stiffer back-annealed foil for lidding and laminate stock needing controlled elongation at higher strength. | 115 | 135 | 4 | 42 HB | 55 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | Use where higher stiffness and tear resistance are wanted in lidding foil with only shallow forming. | 125 | 140 | 3 | 44 HB | 54.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened, full hard | Fully cold-rolled foil for high-speed lidding, capacitor and container stock where stiffness beats ductility. | 145 | 160 | 2 | 48 HB | 54 % IACS |
Strain hardened, extra hard | Maximum-strength as-rolled foil for very thin gauges where web tension and stiffness govern. | 160 | 175 | 1.5 | 51 HB | 53.5 % IACS |
What is 8021?
8021 is a high-iron Al-Fe-Si foil alloy (EN AW-8021) that is non-heat-treatable, with properties set by cold rolling and back-annealing across the O and H12–H19/H22–H26 tempers; H14 is the usual pharmaceutical and food packaging temper. Engineers specify it for pinhole-resistant thin foil and for cold-form (Alu/Alu) blister base webs, laminated to PVC, PA or PET. Default-condition values are 105 MPa yield, 125 MPa tensile, 4% elongation, 205 W/m·K and 55% IACS, with a 120 °C service limit. Strength is low and machinability poor (score 25); 8011A is the nearest alternative for closure and fin stock. 8021 has a density of 2.73 g/cm³ (0.0986 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of aluminum grades. It melts at 650°C (1,202 °F). 8021 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 84% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
What is 8021 used for?
- blister pack foil
- pharmaceutical packaging
- cable wrap foil
- food packaging foil
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 55 % IACS, better than 93% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 205 W/m·K (118.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 83% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 105 MPa (15.2 ksi), worse than 84% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
8021 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8021-H14; bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
8021 has a density of 2.73 g/cm³ (0.0986 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of aluminum grades. It melts at 650°C (1,202 °F).
Mechanical10
8021 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 84% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8021 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 205 W/m·K (118.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8021 conducts electricity at 55 % IACS, better than 93% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 71% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8021 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
8021's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the aluminum family
Yield strength against density for every aluminum grade FabDigit runs. 8021 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 8021
Is 8021 easy to machine?
Rarely machined — soft and gummy; slitting, die-cutting and rotary shearing with sharp, high-rake tooling are the normal 'machining' operations.
Can 8021 be welded?
Not a fusion-welding product; joining is by heat-seal lacquer, adhesive lamination or ultrasonic/heat sealing of the coating rather than metal welding.
Can 8021 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O temper — cold-form (Alu/Alu) blister cavities up to several mm draw depth without pinholes; H-tempers give stiffness but limited draw.
8021 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feprincipal alloying element; forms fine Al-Fe intermetallics | 1.2 – 1.7 | 1.45 |
| Sikept low for drawability | ≤ 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Others (each) | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Alremainder, min ~98.1 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on 8021?
Normally supplied mill-bright/one-side-matte and then degreased, primer/heat-seal lacquered, printed or laminated to PVC/PA/PET; anodizing is technically possible but uncommon and gives a grey film.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on aluminum parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum 8021 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- AW-8021
- Also called
- 8021-H14
How much does 8021 cost?
8021 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
8021 — frequently asked
What is 8021 used for?
8021 is typically used for blister pack foil, pharmaceutical packaging, cable wrap foil and food packaging foil. In short: cold-form blister foil grade; high formability, low strength; standard pharmaceutical foil alloy.
What is the yield strength of 8021?
8021 has a typical yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) — weaker than 84% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8021 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades). Rarely machined — soft and gummy; slitting, die-cutting and rotary shearing with sharp, high-rake tooling are the normal 'machining' operations.
Can 8021 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Not a fusion-welding product; joining is by heat-seal lacquer, adhesive lamination or ultrasonic/heat sealing of the coating rather than metal welding.
What surface finishes work on 8021?
Normally supplied mill-bright/one-side-matte and then degreased, primer/heat-seal lacquered, printed or laminated to PVC/PA/PET; anodizing is technically possible but uncommon and gives a grey film.
Can 8021 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O temper — cold-form (Alu/Alu) blister cavities up to several mm draw depth without pinholes; H-tempers give stiffness but limited draw.
What is the maximum service temperature of 8021?
8021 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 8021-H14 and 8021-O?
H14 is the default condition — default stocked foil temper: best balance of runnability, stiffness and puncture resistance for blister lidding, pharmaceutical and food packaging laminates. O: pick for cold-formable Alu/Alu blister base webs and deep-drawn pharmaceutical foil where maximum elongation and drawability are needed. Yield strength is 105 MPa in H14 versus 35 MPa in O.
How much does 8021 cost?
8021 is a premium-cost aluminum ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- EN 546-2 Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Foil — Mechanical properties — CEN (2007)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Pharmaceutical and flexible packaging foil alloy datasheets (8011/8021/8079) — Foil producers (Amcor/Constellium/Hydro-type) (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.