Polished 1060 1050 H18 Mirror Aluminum

06/05 2025

When it comes to premium reflective materials, polished 1060 and 1050 H18 mirror aluminum sheets hold a distinctive position. Known for their exceptional surface finish, corrosion resistance, and excellent workability, these alloys outperform many in diverse industrial applications.

Polished 1060 and 1050 H18 Mirror Aluminum

Grades & Alloy Composition

Working with 1060 and 1050 H18 mirror aluminum sheets daily, I've come to appreciate their unique challenges and rewards. The H18 temper, while offering excellent formability, is surprisingly delicate during the polishing process. Achieving that flawless, mirror-like finish requires painstaking attention to detail – from the initial surface preparation to the final buffing. Even minor imperfections in the rolling process or handling can be magnified dramatically, resulting in unsightly blemishes that necessitate extensive rework, sometimes even scrapping the entire sheet. We constantly refine our techniques, experimenting with different polishing compounds and pressures to optimize the process and minimize waste, balancing production speed with the need for pristine quality.

Beyond the technical aspects, there's a certain artistry to working with this material. Holding a perfectly polished sheet, reflecting your own image with unparalleled clarity, is a genuinely satisfying experience. It's a testament to the combined skill of our rolling mill operators, the precision of our polishing equipment, and the dedication of our quality control team. But it's also a constant reminder of the inherent fragility of this material. A single scratch, a smudge of grease, can instantly diminish the beautiful reflection, highlighting the delicate balance between achieving perfection and preserving it. It's this constant striving for flawless execution that makes working with 1060/1050 H18 mirror aluminum so engaging and rewarding.

Both 1060 and 1050 are commercially pure aluminum alloys within the 1xxx series offered by the Aluminum Association. Their purity exceeds 99.5%, ensuring excellent material qualities such as corrosion resistance and conductivity. Here’s an insightful look at the chemical makeup:

The minimal presence of alloying elements contributes to their outstanding reflective surfaces after polishing.

Temper & Mechanical Properties: The H18 Advantage

The H18 temper implies that the aluminium is fully hard (cold worked) with no annealing. This temper enhances the tensile strength and hardness compared to annealed (O temper) or half-hard (H14 temper) conditions.

The enhanced hardness ensures that polished mirror aluminum sheets retain their flatness and reflective quality even in degrees branches subjected to mechanical stresses.

Surface Treatment: Achieving the Mirror Finish

The hallmark of polished 1060 and 1050 H18 sheets is their flawless mirror finish. The polishing involves:

• Mechanical polishing with progressively finer abrasives — removes surface irregularities.
• Chemical treatments and etching — improve molecular-level reflectivity.
• Electrolytic polishing (optional) — achieves ultra-high gloss akin to a mirror-like surface.

The polished surface exhibits reflectivity upwards of 80-90%, surpassing many metallic finishes, setting a higher benchmark ideal for both aesthetic and functional applications.

Application Spectrum of Polished 1060 and 1050 H18 Mirror Aluminum Sheets

1. Architectural Features & FacadesHighly reflective aluminum is employed to create shimmering decorative surfaces, cladding, and solar-reflecting panels that improve energy efficiency in buildings.

2. Automotive Trim ComponentsThe lightweight, corrosion-resistant polished aluminum serves in trims, molding, logos, and decorative parts requiring durable and shiny finishes.

3. Consumer Electronics and AppliancesSilver mirror aluminum sheets impart an upscale appearance to cases, front panels, and appliance trims without sacrificing corrosion resistance.

4. Reflectors & Lighting FixturesDue to its superior reflectivity and heat resistance, polished 1060/1050 H18 sheets serve in manufacturing reflectors and light diffusers for automotive and industrial lighting.

5. Decorative Art and SignageArtists and advertisers leverage the material’s brilliance and formability to produce eye-catching installations and signs.

6. Aerospace & MarineThough primarily decorative, the material’s corrosion resistance and non-magnetic properties find selective use in aerospace and sea-faring applications where weight and finish matter.

Implementation Standards and Quality Assurance

The manufacturing follows stringent industry and ISO standards:

• ASTM B209 – Standard specification for aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet and plate.
• EN 573-3 – Provides chemical composition data.
• JG/T 544 – Chinese standard for the production of mirror aluminum sheets.
• AAMA 608-96 – Guide for architectural metals including aluminum treatment.

Critical quality factors include: dimensional accuracy (thickness, flatness), surface reflectivity (>85%), and consistent alloy composition, verified with spectrometric analysis.

Technical Parameters at a Glance

1050    1060   

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