A: As a metal material, aluminum plays an essential role in different industries. It's flexibility, durability and light weightiness have made it a go-to option for many engineers, designers and manufacturers. However, not all aluminum types are the same. In particular, 1350 and 8000 aluminum alloys have distinctive properties that make them suitable for various functions.
What is 1350 Aluminum?
This alloy has a purity of 99.5% and is often used in electrical applications. One significant advantage of 1350 aluminum is its high electrical conductivity rating, making it an excellent choice for electrical wiring, transformers, and other electrical components. Additionally, its malleability makes it easily formed and shaped, making it an ideal material for intricate components.
What is 8000 Series Alloy Aluminum?
8000 aluminum alloy is made by mixing aluminum with copper, manganese, and other metals. Unlike 1350 aluminum, it is not primarily used for electrical applications. Instead, it's commonly used in aerospace and manufacturing due to its strength and durability. Parts made with 8000 aluminum often withstand high-stress environments and are used in constructing aircraft, trucks, and other vehicles.
Another significant difference between these two aluminum alloys is their corrosion resistance. 1350 aluminum is quite susceptible to corrosion, so corrosion resistance is crucial in applications that are not recommended. In contrast, 8000 series aluminum alloy is highly corrosion-resistant and can withstand harsh environments. One particular area where the two aluminum alloys are similar, however, is in terms of their weldability. Both 1350 and 8000 series aluminum are relatively easy to weld, making them a preferred choice.
Per the National Electrical Code (NEC), low voltage (2kV or less) aluminum conductors must be made of 8000 series aluminum alloy. The reasoning behind this is that 8000 series aluminum has better creep resistance compared to 1350. This makes them better for terminations, where the heating and cooling of the conductors can cause terminations to loosen over time. 8000 series aluminum behaves more like copper in this regard and results in more stable terminations. For medium voltage cable, both 1350 and 8000 series can be used. The logic here is that medium voltage terminations are more robust than low voltage, and the termination technicians are more highly skilled, mitigating the risk posed by 1350. However, 8000 series still results in a more stable connection which is why some customers require it even for MV cable. Although 8000 series aluminum is still required by the NEC for low voltage, 1350 remains the preferred choice for medium voltage due to its lower cost and better process capability.
There were issues with 1350 aluminum conductor terminations when aluminum conductors were first deployed as building wire (low voltage, 600V) in the 1960's. This problem was solved by transitioning the aluminum used in building wire from 1350 to 8000 series alloy which has lower creep values than 1350, an improving the termination design. This was not an issue for medium voltage (MV).
All U.S. national standards, as well as the NEC, allow 1350 for MV cables.
