8000 Series Aluminum
The 8000 series collects the alloys whose main addition is anything other than Cu, Mn, Si, Mg or Zn. In practice it holds two very different groups: iron-bearing foil and packaging alloys (8011, 8079, 8006), and the aluminum-lithium aerospace alloys (8090, 8091) that are about 10 % lighter and stiffer than conventional grades. The two share nothing but the series number.
Popular 8000 series grades
Compare in the explorer| Grade | Yield, MPa | Tensile, MPa | Density, g/cm³ | Machinability | Weldability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8011 | 120 | 145 | 2.71 | Poor | Good | Household and pharmaceutical foil |
| 8079 | 35 | 85 | 2.72 | Poor | Very good | Thin-gauge packaging foil |
| 8006 | 130 | 155 | 2.71 | Fair | Very good | Heat-exchanger fin stock |
| 8090 | 425 | 480 | 2.54 | Good | Poor | Al-Li aerospace plate and extrusions |
| 8281 | 35 | 90 | 2.71 | Poor | Very good | Cast Sn-bearing bearing alloy |
| 8091 | 480 | 540 | 2.55 | Good | Poor | Low-density aerospace Al-Li |
| 8009/SiC | 425 | 500 | 2.95 | Poor | Not recommended | 315 °C aluminum composite |
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8000 series by application
- Foil and packaging
- 8011 and 8079 roll to 6 µm without pinholes — household foil, blister packs, lidding. 1235 is the pure-aluminum alternative for the same work.
- Heat-exchanger fins
- 8006 and 8011 fin stock for brazed and mechanically assembled exchangers; higher strength than 1100 foil at the same gauge.
- Weight-critical aerospace structure
- 8090-T8771 for stiffened panels and extrusions where every kilogram counts; compare with 2195 and 2099, the newer Al-Li grades in the 2000 series.
Working with the 8000 series
- Foil grades
- Not machined or fabricated as parts — they are converted from coil by rolling, laminating and stamping. Anneal (O) for dead-soft wrap, H18 / H19 for stiff lidding.
Other aluminum series
8000 Series Aluminum — frequently asked
What is 8000 series aluminum?
The 8000 series collects the alloys whose main addition is anything other than Cu, Mn, Si, Mg or Zn. In practice it holds two very different groups: iron-bearing foil and packaging alloys (8011, 8079, 8006), and the aluminum-lithium aerospace alloys (8090, 8091) that are about 10 % lighter and stiffer than conventional grades. The two share nothing but the series number.
Which grade of 8000 series aluminum should I use?
8011 and 8079 are foil and fin-stock grades — household and pharmaceutical foil, heat-exchanger fins — and are not machined parts. 8090-T8771 is the heat-treatable Al-Li grade for weight-critical aerospace structure; most newer Al-Li alloys (2195, 2099, 2060) are registered in the 2000 series instead, so check there too. For anything else, the mainstream series (5000, 6000, 7000) will be cheaper and better stocked.
Which grade of 8000 series aluminum is the strongest?
8091 has the highest yield strength in the series at 480 MPa; 8009/SiC follows at 425 MPa. Values are for each grade's default condition.
Which grade of 8000 series aluminum is easiest to machine?
8091 (machinability good, 65/100), then 8090 (55/100).
Is 8000 series aluminum heat-treatable?
Some grades are. Check the conditions listed on each grade page.
Why are 8011 and 8090 in the same series?
Because the Aluminum Association assigns the 8000 series to any alloy whose main addition is something other than Cu, Mn, Si, Mg or Zn. 8011 is alloyed with iron and silicon for foil; 8090 with lithium for aerospace. They share nothing but the first digit.
Is aluminum-lithium worth it?
Only when weight is worth more than money: Al-Li grades are 3–10 % lighter and 5–10 % stiffer than 2024 or 7075, cost several times more and need aerospace-grade process control. For a machined prototype or a structural part on the ground, 7075-T6 or 6061-T6 will be the better answer.