Aluminum 8177-H12
Temper
AA 8177 · UNS A98177 · EN AlFeNi
H12 = strain hardened, quarter hard
Light cold work for slightly stiffer wire while keeping high elongation for stranding.
Values for the H12 condition
Other 8177 tempers and conditions
8177 is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at 8177.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Standard condition for flexible building-wire conductor and stranded cable requiring easy bending and stable connector performance. | 38 | 95 | 28 | 23 HB | 61.8 % IACS |
As fabricated | Mill-supplied 9.5 mm redraw rod for wire drawers; no controlled mechanical properties beyond resistivity. | 55 | 105 | 22 | 25 HB | 61.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, quarter hard | Back-annealed quarter-hard wire — same strength class as H12 but with better ductility and connector creep behaviour. | 85 | 110 | 15 | 27 HB | 61.6 % IACS |
H12This page Strain hardened, quarter hard | Light cold work for slightly stiffer wire while keeping high elongation for stranding. | 90 | 110 | 12 | 28 HB | 61.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, half hard | Most common intermediate temper in ASTM B800 wire: half-hard strength with retained elongation for bending in boxes. | 100 | 128 | 13 | 31 HB | 61.5 % IACS |
Strain hardened, half hard | Half-hard drawn wire for solid building-wire conductors needing more stiffness and pull-out strength. | 105 | 128 | 10 | 32 HB | 61.4 % IACS |
Strain hardened and partially annealed, three-quarter hard | Stabilised three-quarter-hard wire balancing strength with residual ductility for stranding. | 120 | 148 | 9 | 36 HB | 61.3 % IACS |
Strain hardened, three-quarter hard | Higher-strength drawn wire where handling stiffness or tensile capability during pulling matters. | 125 | 148 | 7 | 37 HB | 61.2 % IACS |
Strain hardened, extra hard | Fully cold-drawn hard wire for stranded conductors and where maximum tensile strength is needed before final annealing. | 160 | 180 | 4 | 45 HB | 61 % IACS |
What is 8177-H12?
8177-H12 is 8177 in the H12 temper — light cold work for slightly stiffer wire while keeping high elongation for stranding. 8177-H12 has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi). 8177-H12 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). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H12 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 231 W/m·K (133.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of aluminum grades
- High electrical conductivity — 61.5 % IACS, better than 97% of aluminum grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 91% of aluminum grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 90°C (194 °F), worse than 93% of aluminum grades
- Difficult to machine — 30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades
- Low strength — 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), worse than 87% of aluminum grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 76% of aluminum grades
8177-H12 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 8177-H12; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are 8177 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among aluminum grades.
Physical3
8177-H12 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
8177-H12 has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 87% of aluminum grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 69 GPa (10 Msi).
Thermal6
8177-H12 is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 231 W/m·K (133.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 97% of aluminum grades. Thermal expansion is 23.6 µm/m·K (13.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
8177-H12 conducts electricity at 61.5 % IACS, better than 97% of aluminum grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 51% of aluminum grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 8177-H12 takes about 200 MJ of energy and emits 12 kg of CO₂ — less than 60% of aluminum grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
8177-H12's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with 8177-H12
Is 8177 easy to machine?
Soft and gummy — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high speed and flood coolant; rarely machined since product form is wire.
Can 8177 be welded?
Readily joined by resistance/friction and by GTAW with 1100 or 4043 filler, but electrical joints are normally made by compression or AL-rated mechanical connectors rather than welding.
Can 8177 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold drawability from continuous-cast rod down to fine wire; interanneal to restore ductility, and use O/H2x tempers where tight bending in junction boxes is required.
What surface finishes work on 8177?
Usually left bare under extruded PVC/XLPE insulation; if bare, oxide film gives adequate protection — anodizing is possible but Fe constituents give a grey tone, and copper-to-aluminium terminations need plated connectors plus oxide-inhibiting compound.
8177 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 | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Feprincipal alloying addition (Al-Fe conductor chemistry) | 0.25 – 0.45 | 0.35 |
| Cu | ≤ 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Mgmicro-addition for creep/relaxation resistance | 0.04 – 0.12 | 0.08 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Bboron treatment to remove Ti/V and raise conductivity | ≤ 0.04 | — |
| Others (each)each | ≤ 0.03 | — |
| Others (total)total | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Alremainder; ≥99.4 typical | balance | — |
8177-H12 — frequently asked
What is 8177-H12 used for?
8177-H12 is typically used for insulated electrical wire, connector-terminated cable and building wire. In short: creep-resistant conductor alloy; 61.8% IACS with 232 W/m·K; wire-only product form.
What is the yield strength of 8177-H12?
8177-H12 has a typical yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) — weaker than 87% of aluminum grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is 8177-H12 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 92% of aluminum grades). Soft and gummy — use sharp polished high-rake carbide, high speed and flood coolant; rarely machined since product form is wire.
Can 8177-H12 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Readily joined by resistance/friction and by GTAW with 1100 or 4043 filler, but electrical joints are normally made by compression or AL-rated mechanical connectors rather than welding.
What surface finishes work on 8177-H12?
Usually left bare under extruded PVC/XLPE insulation; if bare, oxide film gives adequate protection — anodizing is possible but Fe constituents give a grey tone, and copper-to-aluminium terminations need plated connectors plus oxide-inhibiting compound.
Can 8177-H12 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold drawability from continuous-cast rod down to fine wire; interanneal to restore ductility, and use O/H2x tempers where tight bending in junction boxes is required.
What is the maximum service temperature of 8177-H12?
8177-H12 is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 8177-O and 8177-H19?
O is the default condition — standard condition for flexible building-wire conductor and stranded cable requiring easy bending and stable connector performance. H19: fully cold-drawn hard wire for stranded conductors and where maximum tensile strength is needed before final annealing. Yield strength is 38 MPa in O versus 160 MPa in H19.
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)
- 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.