Aluminum 8021-H16
Temper
AA 8021 · EN AW-8021
H16 = strain hardened, three-quarter hard
Use where higher stiffness and tear resistance are wanted in lidding foil with only shallow forming.
Values for the H16 condition
Other 8021 tempers and conditions
8021 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 8021.
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 |
H16This page 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-H16?
8021-H16 is 8021 in the H16 temper — use where higher stiffness and tear resistance are wanted in lidding foil with only shallow forming. 8021-H16 has a yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 8021-H16 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). H14 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H16 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 54.5 % IACS, better than 93% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 203 W/m·K (117.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 28/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 125 MPa (18.1 ksi), worse than 75% of aluminum grades
8021-H16 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8021-H16; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 8021 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
8021-H16 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-H16 has a yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 75% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8021-H16 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 203 W/m·K (117.3 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-H16 conducts electricity at 54.5 % 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-H16 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-H16's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 94% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (42/100); formability good (55/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8021-H16
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.
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.
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 | — |
8021-H16 — frequently asked
What is 8021-H16 used for?
8021-H16 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-H16?
8021-H16 has a typical yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) — weaker than 75% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8021-H16 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 94% 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-H16 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (42/100). 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-H16?
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-H16 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-H16?
8021-H16 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.