1060 H24 aluminum sheet is a material highly suitable for aluminum bottle cap production, especially in stamping processes. Its excellent ductility and formability allow it to achieve ideal shapes and dimensions during stamping, ensuring the sealing and durability of the bottle caps. The high purity of 1060 aluminum alloy gives it good corrosion resistance, making it suitable for food and beverage packaging.
1060 aluminum alloy has excellent plasticity, high corrosion resistance, and outstanding processing performance, making it ideal for bottle cap production. The H24 condition indicates that the aluminum sheet has undergone cold working hardening, making it suitable for die forming, ensuring that the aluminum cap does not develop cracks or other quality issues during the forming process.
1060 aluminum alloy is a high-purity commercial-grade aluminum with an aluminum content of at least 99.6%. This composition imparts a range of key properties, making it suitable for applications such as aluminum bottle caps.
1060 aluminum is an industrial pure aluminum that is widely used in the production of aluminum bottle caps due to its excellent plasticity, corrosion resistance, and electrical conductivity. With its unparalleled formability, corrosion resistance, and sustainability, 1060 aluminum remains the gold standard for cost-sensitive, high-volume cap production. Although higher-strength alloys (such as 3105) dominate the premium market, 1060 aluminum maintains its leadership in the pharmaceutical, beverage, and cosmetic cap sectors due to its balanced performance and cost-efficiency.
1060 is suitable for mass production and can meet high-strength usage requirements.
What is H24 in Aluminum?
Cold Working Hardening: The H24 condition indicates that the aluminum sheet has undergone cold working hardening, which means the sheet has undergone moderate cold rolling, increasing its hardness and strength while maintaining good machinability. This condition is ideal for die forming, especially for aluminum bottle caps with specific shape requirements.
Ideal for Die Forming Performance: Aluminum sheets in the H24 condition can withstand significant deformation during stamping without easily cracking, which is crucial for bottle cap production. During stamping, 1060 aluminum sheet ensures precise dimensions and shapes for the bottle caps, while maintaining the sealing and structural integrity of the caps.
Advantages of 1060 Aluminum for Bottle Caps
The characteristics of 1060 aluminum alloy offer numerous advantages for aluminum bottle caps:
- Corrosion Resistance: High corrosion resistance ensures the integrity of the cap in various environments.
- Formability: High ductility allows for complex stamping and deep drawing without cracking, which is crucial for high-speed cap production.
- Surface Finish: Capable of achieving high-gloss surface finishes that enhance product aesthetics.
- Cost Efficiency: The alloy’s properties and availability support economical, high-efficiency production.
- Thermal Stability: Maintains integrity from -20°C to +250°C, making it suitable for sterilization processes.
- Electrical/Thermal Conductivity: Second only to copper, aiding in efficient heat sealing.
- Recyclability: Fully recyclable with minimal performance loss, supporting the circular economy.
These advantages make 1060 aluminum alloy the preferred choice for manufacturing aluminum bottle caps.
Bottle Cap Aluminum 1060 Mechanical Properties
In its annealed (O) temper, 1060 aluminum exhibits:
- Tensile Strength: Approximately 69 MPa (10, 000 psi)
- Yield Strength: Approximately 28 MPa (4, 000 psi)
- Elongation: Up to 43%
- Hardness: Approximately 19 HB (Brinell)
These properties indicate good formability and moderate strength, suitable for applications where high strength is not critical .
Performance varies significantly with temper:
| Temper | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength (MPa) | Elongation (%) | Typical Use Cases |
| O (Annealed) | 55–95 | 20–30 | ≥20 | Vial seals, deep-drawn caps |
| H24 (Partially Hardened) | 110–125 | 100–110 | 6–8 | Anti-theft bottle caps |
| H16 | 110 | 103 | 8 | General closures |
Bottle Cap Aluminum 1060 Thermal and Electrical Properties
- Thermal Conductivity: Approximately 231 W/m·K
- Specific Heat Capacity: Approximately 900 J/kg·K
- Electrical Resistivity: Approximately 2.81 × 10⁻⁸ Ω·m
These properties contribute to the alloy's suitability for applications requiring efficient heat dissipation and electrical conductivity .
Advantages of Stamping 1060 Aluminum
- Die Forming: In the H24 condition, 1060 aluminum sheet has sufficient hardness and strength, making it suitable for maintaining stable shapes during stamping, without unnecessary deformation or cracking, ensuring the quality of the aluminum bottle caps.
- Crack-Free Forming: The plasticity and good processing performance of the aluminum sheet make it unlikely to crack, even during complex die forming processes, maintaining the structural integrity of the bottle caps.
- Improved Production Efficiency: Due to the excellent processing performance of 1060 aluminum alloy, it can achieve precise forming in a short period, improving production efficiency and reducing costs.
1060 H24 aluminum sheet, with its excellent ductility, corrosion resistance, good processing performance, and cold-working hardened state, makes it an ideal material for stamping production. Its high purity and ideal hardness enhance the sealing and durability of the aluminum caps, making it widely used in the food and beverage packaging industry, ensuring the high quality and long-term reliability of the bottle caps.
Bottle Cap Aluminum 1060 Alloy Composition
High Purity Aluminum Alloy: The main component of 1060 aluminum alloy is over 99.6% aluminum, which provides excellent physical properties and chemical stability due to its low alloy content.
| Elements | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Cr | Zn | Ti | Others | Al |
| Content (max) | 0.25 | 0.35 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.03 | - | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.15 | Remain |
1060 Aluminum Bottle Cap Applications
| Application Type | Product Used | Temper | Thickness Range (mm) | Description |
| Anti-theft Cap | Tamper-evident Beverage Bottle Cap | H24 | Typically 0.20–0.25 | The anti-theft cap uses 1060 aluminum alloy, typically in H24 temper, which offers medium strength and good ductility. This temper ensures that the material does not crack during stamping and maintains sufficient hardness to effectively support the tamper-evident function of sealed bottles. With excellent corrosion resistance and compatibility with surface treatments, 1060 aluminum is commonly used in caps for carbonated drinks, mineral water, and juices, ensuring reliable sealing during transportation and storage. |
| Pharmaceutical Seal Cap | Sterile Injection Vial Aluminum Seal | O (Annealed) | 0.15–0.23 | The pharmaceutical seal cap uses 1060 aluminum in the O (annealed) temper, offering extremely high ductility that is ideal for deep drawing processes. It can be formed in a single step into sterile aluminum caps for injection vials and ampoules. With a typical thickness range of 0.15–0.23 mm, it ensures a tight fit over the bottle mouth while being easy to open. Its high purity (Al content ≥ 99.6%) provides excellent chemical stability and biocompatibility, making it a widely adopted material in pharmaceutical packaging. |
| Cosmetic/Liquor Bottle Cap | Perfume Caps, Wine Bottle Caps, etc. | O/H14/H24, etc. | 0.20–0.25 | Cosmetic and liquor bottle caps commonly use 1060 aluminum alloy due to its excellent surface coating compatibility and formability. It can undergo various surface treatment processes including painting, anodizing, chrome plating, and color printing. After forming, it retains high-quality printed patterns and flatness, making it suitable for personalized branding of products such as perfume bottles, wine bottles, and premium skincare packaging. Its attractive appearance, light weight, and corrosion resistance enhance product appeal and customer experience. |
Advantages of 1060 Aluminum in Bottle Cap Manufacturing
- Stamping Efficiency: With a low earing rate (<2%), over 1, 000 caps can be produced per minute.
- Surface Versatility: Supports coatings (DOS oil, lacquer) to enhance barrier properties.
- Thin Gauge Precision: Rolling precision up to ±0.01 mm enables stable, large-scale production.
- Processing Adaptability: 1060 aluminum sheets in H24/H26 temper (0.2–0.5 mm thick) have excellent formability, allowing high-speed stamping without cracking.
- Sealing Performance: Excellent ductility ensures a tight fit with bottle mouths, meeting the sealing requirements for food and pharmaceuticals.
- Eco-friendly and Economical: Fully recyclable and less costly than other alloys, ideal for mass production.
Bottle Cap Aluminum 1060 Comparison with Competing Alloys
| Alloy | Advantages over 1060 | Limitations vs. 1060 |
| 3105 (Al-Mn) | Higher strength (UTS 150–200MPa) | Higher cost, lower formability |
| 8011 (Al-Fe-Si) | Better deep-drawing for pilfer-proof caps | Requires hardening treatments |
| 5052 (Al-Mg) | Superior strength for pressure caps | 30% higher cost, unsuitable for simple closures |
Quality Control Standards
- Surface Integrity: No scratches, dents, or oxidation discoloration are allowed.
- Performance Testing: Includes mercury chloride resistance test, high-pressure sterilization stability test, and torque release test.
- Certifications: Complies with ASTM B209, ISO 6361, and pharmaceutical GMP standards.
The use of this aluminum alloy sheet not only improves the quality of the bottle caps but also reduces the risk of quality issues during production, effectively ensuring the safety and functionality of the final product.