Aluminum 8021-H18
Temper
AA 8021 · EN AW-8021
H18 = strain hardened, full hard
Fully cold-rolled foil for high-speed lidding, capacitor and container stock where stiffness beats ductility.
Values for the H18 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 |
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 |
H18This page 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-H18?
8021-H18 is 8021 in the H18 temper — fully cold-rolled foil for high-speed lidding, capacitor and container stock where stiffness beats ductility. 8021-H18 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 8021-H18 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; H18 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 54 % IACS, better than 92% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 200 W/m·K (115.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 110°C (230 °F), worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 32/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 87% of aluminum grades
8021-H18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8021-H18; 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-H18 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-H18 has a yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8021-H18 is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 200 W/m·K (115.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8021-H18 conducts electricity at 54 % IACS, better than 92% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 71% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8021-H18 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-H18's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 89% of aluminum grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability fair (40/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8021-H18
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-H18 — frequently asked
What is 8021-H18 used for?
8021-H18 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-H18?
8021-H18 has a typical yield strength of 145 MPa (21 ksi) and a tensile strength of 160 MPa (23.2 ksi) — weaker than 68% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8021-H18 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 89% 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-H18 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). 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-H18?
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-H18 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-H18?
8021-H18 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.
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.