3003 Aluminium Foil

On a heat exchanger line, foil is fed continuously through forming, bending and stacking stations where every metre has to behave the same way. On a container line, the same coil may be drawn, flanged and seamed within seconds of leaving the roll. What both processes ask of the material is consistent ductility, stable gauge and a surface that will not fight the tooling. 3003 aluminium foil is built for that kind of routine: a manganese-bearing alloy that forms readily, resists corrosion in everyday service, and holds its shape through repeated handling without demanding special process conditions.

Why 3003 for formed parts

Manganese is the defining addition in 3003. It raises strength modestly above commercially pure foil while keeping elongation high enough for bending, drawing and pressing. In practice this means thinner sections can survive forming operations that would tear a softer, purer grade, and finished parts keep a more stable shape in service.

• Good ductility for bending, flanging and shallow drawing
• Better corrosion resistance than many higher-strength alloys in ordinary atmospheres
• Moderate strength from manganese, with predictable behaviour across a coil
• Well suited to heat exchanger fins, containers, closures and general sheet-metal work

Temper and thickness

This grade is supplied in the O (annealed) temper, the softest and most formable condition, which suits parts that will be shaped after delivery. The thickness range runs from 0.006 mm to 0.2 mm, covering light fin stock at the thin end through to heavier container and fabrication gauges. Width, inner core diameter and coil weight can be discussed against your line requirements so the coil arrives in a form your equipment can handle directly.

Supply and packing

Coils are wound on standard cores, protected against moisture and edge damage, and packed for road or sea freight. Tell us the temper, thickness, width and quantity you need, and we will confirm the specification before shipment.