Aluminum 8176-H18
Temper
AA 8176 · EN AW-8176, AlFeSi
H18 = strain hardened, full hard
Fully cold-worked strip/foil for armour and shielding tape where tensile stiffness and thin gauge matter and no further forming is needed.
Values for the H18 condition
Other 8176 tempers and conditions
8176 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 8176.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible stranded conductor, deep-formed shielding tape, terminations that must be crimped or bent tightly. | 30 | 72 | 30 | 20 HB | 62 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, quarter hard | Back-annealed quarter hard: same strength class as H12 but more uniform elongation, favoured where the strip is later bent or crimped. | 62 | 90 | 20 | 25 HB | 61.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened, quarter hard | Light cold work for slightly stiffer strip/wire that still bends freely; used when O temper is too limp for automatic handling. | 70 | 90 | 16 | 26 HB | 61.5 % IACS |
H24Default Strain hardened and partially annealed, half hard | The standard commercial condition: the AA-8000-series building-wire and cable-sheathing temper balancing ~110 MPa strength, ≥15 % elongation and 61 % IACS with good compression-set resistance in lugs. | 85 | 110 | 20 | 30 HB | 61 % IACS |
Strain hardened, half hard | Half-hard as-rolled strip/wire for stiffer sheathing tape where formability demands are modest. | 92 | 105 | 12 | 30 HB | 61 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, three-quarter hard | Three-quarter-hard strength with recovered ductility; chosen for coiled conductor that must still take a forming radius. | 100 | 122 | 12 | 34 HB | 61 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | Use when handling stiffness or tape tension control matters more than bendability. | 108 | 122 | 8 | 35 HB | 61 % IACS |
H18This page Strain hardened, full hard | Fully cold-worked strip/foil for armour and shielding tape where tensile stiffness and thin gauge matter and no further forming is needed. | 125 | 140 | 4 | 40 HB | 60.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened, extra hard | Maximum-strength hard-drawn wire condition for self-supporting or highly tensioned conductor runs; minimal remaining ductility. | 140 | 155 | 3 | 43 HB | 60.5 % IACS |
What is 8176-H18?
8176-H18 is 8176 in the H18 temper — fully cold-worked strip/foil for armour and shielding tape where tensile stiffness and thin gauge matter and no further forming is needed. 8176-H18 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 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 8176-H18 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 645°C (1,193 °F). H24 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H18 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 60.5 % IACS, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Conducts heat well — 228 W/m·K (131.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 86/100, better than 82% of aluminum grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 68/100, better than 75% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 85°C (185 °F), worse than 93% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 38/100, worse than 84% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 125 MPa (18.1 ksi), worse than 75% of aluminum grades
8176-H18 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8176-H18; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 8176 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
8176-H18 has a density of 2.71 g/cm³ (0.0979 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of aluminum grades. It melts at 645°C (1,193 °F).
Mechanical10
8176-H18 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 4% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8176-H18 is rated for continuous service to 85°C (185 °F). It conducts heat at 228 W/m·K (131.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8176-H18 conducts electricity at 60.5 % IACS, better than 96% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8176-H18 takes about 205 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 20%.
Manufacturability7
8176-H18's machinability is fair (38/100, worse than 84% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (86/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8176-H18
Is 8176 easy to machine?
Very soft and gummy — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high surface speed and generous lubricant to stop built-up edge; thin gauges are usually blanked or slit rather than cut.
Can 8176 be welded?
Readily joined by GTAW/GMAW with 1100 or 4043 filler and by resistance/ultrasonic welding; non-heat-treatable so only the cold-worked strength is lost in the HAZ, and mechanical crimp/compression connectors are the normal field practice.
Can 8176 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H2x tempers — rolls, folds, slits and crimps without cracking; use back-annealed H2x tempers for tight bends and expect springback to be negligible.
What surface finishes work on 8176?
Anodizes protectively but grey and mottled (Fe-Si particles); chromate/no-chrome conversion coating, tin or nickel plating of contact areas, and lacquer or PE laminate on cable tape are the usual finishes.
8176 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.03 – 0.15 | 0.09 |
| FeFe-rich intermetallics give the creep/compression-set resistance | 0.4 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Ga | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Others (each)includes Cu, Mn, Mg, Ti unless separately limited | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Others (total) | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Alremainder, ≈99.0 % min | balance | — |
8176-H18 — frequently asked
What is 8176-H18 used for?
8176-H18 is typically used for electrical cable sheathing, wire wrap foil, conductor applications and closure liners. In short: highest-conductivity 8000-series foil; very formable cable tape alloy; non-heat-treatable Al-Fe-Si.
What is the yield strength of 8176-H18?
8176-H18 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 8176-H18 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (38/100, worse than 84% of aluminum grades). Very soft and gummy — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high surface speed and generous lubricant to stop built-up edge; thin gauges are usually blanked or slit rather than cut.
Can 8176-H18 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (86/100). Readily joined by GTAW/GMAW with 1100 or 4043 filler and by resistance/ultrasonic welding; non-heat-treatable so only the cold-worked strength is lost in the HAZ, and mechanical crimp/compression connectors are the normal field practice.
What surface finishes work on 8176-H18?
Anodizes protectively but grey and mottled (Fe-Si particles); chromate/no-chrome conversion coating, tin or nickel plating of contact areas, and lacquer or PE laminate on cable tape are the usual finishes.
Can 8176-H18 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O/H2x tempers — rolls, folds, slits and crimps without cracking; use back-annealed H2x tempers for tight bends and expect springback to be negligible.
What is the maximum service temperature of 8176-H18?
8176-H18 is rated for continuous use to about 85°C (185 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 8176-H24 and 8176-O?
H24 is the default condition — the standard commercial condition: the AA-8000-series building-wire and cable-sheathing temper balancing ~110 MPa strength, ≥15 % elongation and 61 % IACS with good compression-set resistance in lugs. O: pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible stranded conductor, deep-formed shielding tape, terminations that must be crimped or bent tightly. Yield strength is 85 MPa in H24 versus 30 MPa in O.
Sources
- International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum (Teal Sheets) — The Aluminum Association (2018)
- ASTM B800 — 8000 Series Aluminum Alloy Wire for Electrical Purposes, Annealed and Intermediate Tempers — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B801 — Concentric-Lay-Stranded Conductors of 8000 Series Aluminum Alloy Wire — ASTM International (2020)
- EN 573-3 / EN 546 (EN AW-8176 designation and foil/strip) — CEN (2019)
- 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.