1/4 and 1/8 Aluminum Sheet Thickness in mm
Jan 28 26
In the aluminum sheet industry's search rankings, 1/4 and 1/8 aluminum sheets consistently rank high. Whether for industry professionals purchasing or DIY enthusiasts looking for materials, these two sizes of aluminum sheets are frequently searched.
Millimeter Conversion
- 1/8 Aluminum Sheet: Thickness is 1/8 inch, which translates to 1 ÷ 8 × 25.4 = 3.175 mm. It's often simply referred to as "3.175mm aluminum sheet" in the industry. In some cases, it may be expressed as 3.18mm to two decimal places for precision requirements, but the core thickness standard remains 3.175mm.
- 1 4 Aluminum Plate: Thickness is 1/4 inch, which translates to 1 ÷ 4 × 25.4 = 6.35 mm. This value is an industry-standard, unambiguous expression and one of the most commonly used thickness specifications in structural applications.
It's important to note that many people confuse the correspondence between fractional and millimeter markings. For example, they might mistakenly consider 1/8 aluminum sheet as 3mm or 1/4 aluminum sheet as 6mm. Although the values are close, in high-precision applications (such as aerospace and electronic equipment), errors of 0.175mm and 0.35mm can affect product performance. Therefore, accurate conversion is crucial.
Why are they so popular?
1. Balanced Performance
The thickness of an aluminum sheet directly determines its strength, flexibility, processing difficulty, and cost. 1/4 and 1/8 aluminum sheets strike a perfect balance between performance and cost, catering to different core needs:
1/8 aluminum sheet (3.175mm) is hailed as an "all-rounder," possessing both good flexibility and basic strength. It can be easily cut, bent, welded, and stamped, while its elongation can reach 25%, meeting the requirements for complex curved surface forming (such as electronic device housings and automotive trim parts).
Whether for interior ceilings and wall panels, aerospace interior components, or small marine parts, it's suitable for all applications, and its unit cost is 20%-30% lower than 1/4 aluminum sheet, offering extremely high cost-effectiveness.
1/4 aluminum sheet (6.35mm) is the "mainstay of structural applications," with significantly superior strength and rigidity compared to 1/8 aluminum sheet. It can withstand a single-point static load of up to 120MPa and can withstand temperatures above 300℃ without loss of strength, making it suitable for high-pressure and heavy-load scenarios.
It's indispensable for curtain wall supports in the building industry, automotive chassis reinforcement beams, pressure vessel heads, structural components in industrial machinery, and protective panels in marine environments, making it a "must-have" choice for heavy-load scenarios.
2. Dual Driving Force from New Energy and Traditional Industries
In recent years, the explosive growth of the global new energy industry (new energy vehicles, photovoltaics), coupled with the steady expansion of traditional industries (construction, industrial manufacturing), has directly driven a surge in demand for 1/4 and 1/8 aluminum sheets.
In the new energy vehicle sector, lightweight is a core trend. 1/8 aluminum sheets are used for battery casings and interior components, achieving a weight reduction of over 35% for the entire vehicle; 1/4 aluminum sheets are used for body structure reinforcement and chassis components.
In the photovoltaic sector, the demand for aluminum sheets for photovoltaic brackets and frames is robust. Global aluminum consumption for photovoltaics is projected to reach 5 million tons by 2025, with 1/4 aluminum sheets used for bracket structures and 1/8 aluminum sheets for frame decoration, becoming the core engine of demand growth.
In traditional sectors, the promotion of green building in the construction industry and the widespread adoption of 5G equipment in the electronics industry have further expanded the application scenarios for both types of aluminum sheets. For example, 1/ 8 aluminum sheets are used in 5G base station heat sinks and electronic device casings, while 1/4 aluminum sheets are used for curtain wall support in large buildings.
3. Industry Standardization
The production standards for these two specifications of aluminum plates have been unified. Whether it is the alloy type (mainstream alloys such as 6061, 5052, and 3003 all have corresponding specifications), thickness accuracy (±0.01mm), or processing technology (rolling, annealing, welding, etc.), there are clear industry specifications. Enterprises and individuals do not need to customize them, which lowers the selection threshold.
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