Aluminum 8176-O (Annealed)
Temper
AA 8176 · EN AW-8176, AlFeSi
Pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible stranded conductor, deep-formed shielding tape, terminations that must be crimped or bent tightly.
Values for the O 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OThis page 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 |
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-O?
8176-O is 8176 in the O temper — pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible stranded conductor, deep-formed shielding tape, terminations that must be crimped or bent tightly. 8176-O has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — weaker than 97% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 8176-O 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; O is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 234 W/m·K (135.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 62 % IACS, better than 99% of aluminum grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 30%, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 96/100, better than 96% of aluminum grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 90% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), worse than 97% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades
- Limited service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), worse than 79% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
8176-O properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8176-O; 12 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-O 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-O has a yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — weaker than 97% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8176-O is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 234 W/m·K (135.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 99% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8176-O conducts electricity at 62 % IACS, better than 99% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 75% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8176-O 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-O's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 96% of aluminum grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (96/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8176-O
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-O — frequently asked
What is 8176-O used for?
8176-O 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-O?
8176-O has a typical yield strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — weaker than 97% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8176-O easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 96% 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-O be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). 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-O?
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-O 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-O?
8176-O 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 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.