AA1100 H18 is a commercially pure, strain-hardened aluminum grade used as the metal base for standard PCB drilling entry sheets. For engineering evaluation, the key entities are alloy chemistry, H18 temper, tensile strength, elongation, thickness tolerance, flatness and a clean oil-free surface — not simply the words “aluminum entry board.”
Material Profile — Not a Product Listing
This page explains the AA1100 H18 material entity and the properties engineers compare when it is used for PCB drill entry. For YUESHAN commercial sizes, qualification samples, TDS/SDS and quotations, use the PCB Aluminum Entry Sheets product page.
What Is AA1100 H18 Aluminum?
AA1100 belongs to the Aluminum Association 1xxx series of commercially pure aluminum. The Aluminum Association describes 1xxx alloys as aluminum of 99% or higher purity and identifies 1100 as a common designation in the series. H18 is a work-hardened, full-hard temper rather than a heat-treated temper.
For PCB drilling, that material identity matters because the entry layer must combine a predictable surface with sufficient rigidity, dimensional stability and thermal conductivity. The material page therefore focuses on the underlying aluminum grade; the commercial entry-board page focuses on what YUESHAN supplies.
AA1100 Chemical Composition
AA1100 is defined primarily by its high aluminum content. Published Aluminum Association-derived references and PCB-entry suppliers commonly show a minimum aluminum content of 99.0%, with silicon/iron and copper as the principal controlled residual or minor elements.
| Element / group | AA1100 reference limit | Why engineers care |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (Al) | ≥99.0% | Base metal; high thermal and electrical conductivity |
| Si + Fe | ≤0.95% | Main residual elements in commercial-purity aluminum |
| Copper (Cu) | 0.05–0.20% | Minor strengthening contribution |
| Manganese (Mn) | ≤0.05% | Controlled residual |
| Zinc (Zn) | ≤0.10% | Controlled residual |
| Other elements | Controlled individually / in total | Lot chemistry consistency |
Reference values are material-standard data, not a substitute for the batch certificate or YUESHAN current TDS.
What H18 Temper Means
The H temper family identifies strain-hardened aluminum. In the H18 designation, the material has been cold-worked to a full-hard condition. For a PCB entry layer, this matters because the sheet must stay flat, resist local denting and give the drill a repeatable first-contact surface.
Search terms such as 1100 H18 aluminum foil, full hard aluminum entry sheet, AA1100 H18 hardness and 1100 H18 PCB aluminum all refer to this same material entity, but performance still depends on gauge, flatness, surface finish and the drilling stack.
Mechanical Properties: UTS and Elongation
Competitive PCB-entry pages rank partly because they publish material properties rather than only sales copy. Signi, for example, publishes 1100 H18 tensile strength and elongation alongside chemistry and tolerances. Aluminum Association-derived references likewise treat tensile-property limits as part of the alloy-temper definition.
| Property | Reference value / interpretation | PCB drilling relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Ultimate tensile strength | About 150 MPa minimum in Aluminum Association-derived H18 sheet references; some PCB-entry supplier specs publish 170–190 MPa for their product range | Indicates rigidity / work-hardened condition |
| Elongation | Low in H18; depends strongly on gauge and test basis | Confirms full-hard rather than soft temper behavior |
| Density | Typical aluminum density class | Useful for material identity, not a direct drilling-quality predictor |
| Thermal conductivity | High relative to FR-4 | Helps conduct heat away from the initial drill-entry interface |
Important: use the actual YUESHAN batch/TDS values for procurement acceptance. Generic alloy values are useful for material identification, not lot release.
Thickness Tolerance, Flatness and Surface Condition
For PCB entry material, dimensional control is often more important than adding more alloy keywords. High-ranking industry pages repeatedly emphasize tight thickness tolerance, flatness, dimensional accuracy, grease-free / oil-free surface and hardness. Signi publishes ±0.005 mm thickness tolerance for its 1100 H18 PCB entry sheet range. That is a useful benchmark category, but YUESHAN acceptance should follow its own current TDS and inspection data.
- Thickness / gauge: determines entry rigidity and the amount of material the drill crosses before reaching the PCB.
- Thickness tolerance: supports consistent Z geometry across the panel and lot.
- Flatness: helps the sheet seat evenly under vacuum hold-down and reduces local drill-entry variation.
- Surface cleanliness: a grease-free or oil-free surface reduces handling contamination and keeps the entry interface consistent.
- Edge and dimensional accuracy: matter for registration, tooling and automated handling.
How AA1100 H18 Behaves as PCB Drill-Entry Material
Placed above the PCB stack, an aluminum entry sheet provides a controlled first-contact surface for the drill. The material can help stabilize initial drill engagement, protect the copper surface and support top-side burr control. Its high-purity aluminum base also conducts heat more effectively than the laminate beneath it.
However, AA1100 H18 alone is not a complete process specification. Hole-position accuracy also depends on drill diameter, spindle speed, feed, stack height, tool condition, backup material and machine control. For process selection, use the PCB Entry Board Selector and Entry Board Thickness Calculator.
AA1100 H18 vs 1050, 1060, 3003 and 3105
Search results for PCB aluminum entry material frequently include 1050, 1060, 1100, 3003 and 3105. Those terms are useful for material comparison but should not be treated as interchangeable product names. Compare:
- aluminum purity and alloying level;
- temper / hardness condition;
- gauge and thickness tolerance;
- flatness and surface condition;
- actual drilling results under the same stack and drill parameters.
YUESHAN's standard uncoated product is based on AA1100 H18. For commercial availability, see PCB Aluminum Entry Sheets. For an engineering comparison, use the PCB Aluminum Entry Alloy Calculator.
Standards & External Technical References
- The Aluminum Association — alloy and temper standards
- Aluminum Standards & Data 2024
- IPC design standards
External references support terminology and material context. They do not certify or endorse YUESHAN products.
AA1100 H18 Material FAQ
What does AA1100 mean?
AA1100 is a 1xxx-series commercially pure aluminum designation with at least 99.0% aluminum. It is widely available as sheet and foil and is used as a PCB drill-entry base material.
What does H18 temper mean?
H18 is a strain-hardened full-hard temper. In PCB drilling, the harder condition helps the entry sheet remain flat and provide a repeatable first-contact surface.
Which properties matter most for PCB drilling?
Alloy chemistry and temper establish material identity, but thickness tolerance, flatness, surface cleanliness and actual drill-stack performance are equally important.
Is this the YUESHAN product page?
No. This is a technical material profile. For sizes, supply, samples and quotation, go to YUESHAN PCB Aluminum Entry Sheets.