Why Isn't "Pure" Aluminum Utilized for High-Strength Components?

  You might assume greater purity equals superior quality, so you opt for the purest aluminum available for a critical component. However, this misjudgment results in using a malleable and low-strength material prone to failure under stress.
  Pure aluminum isn’t employed in high-strength parts due to its extreme softness, which leaves it lacking the mechanical strength required for structural uses. Strength is achieved by incorporating other elements—such as magnesium or zinc—to create far stronger aluminum alloys.
  We regard pure aluminum as a raw element rather than an engineering solution. Its inherent flexibility renders it entirely unsuitable for the structural applications or precision machining that our clients require. I once had a new trader request a quotation for "five-nines" pure aluminum (99.999%) for a set of machinery base plates. He believed higher purity translated to greater strength. I had to explain that these plates would distort under the machinery's inherent weight. Our true value lies not in supplying a base metal, but in transforming that metal into precisely engineered forged alloys. We deliver the specific strength, hardness, and performance your project demands, converting a soft element into a reliable industrial part.

Is 100% Pure Aluminum Attainable?
  You’re sourcing materials for a highly sensitive application and need the absolute highest-purity aluminum on the market. You’re searching for "100% pure," but this pursuit is leading to confusion and dead ends.
  In commercial settings, 100% pure aluminum does not exist. The highest-grade aluminum available reaches approximately 99.999% purity. In the industry, "pure aluminum" refers to the 1000 series alloys, which contain a minimum of 99.0% aluminum.
  This is a crucial technical detail. Even in the most controlled laboratory environments, eliminating every single foreign atom is practically unachievable. In commercial production, we classify aluminum purity using the 1xxx series designation. For example, the widely used 1100 alloy is guaranteed to have a minimum aluminum content of 99.0%. The remaining 1% consists of trace elements, primarily iron and silicon. While this may seem like a small proportion, it’s still far from 100% purity. Ultra-high-purity aluminum (exceeding 99.99%) does exist, but it’s a specialty product for the electronics and semiconductor industries—not for mechanical components. For our clients in machining and industrial trade, when they require a "pure" and formable grade, they are almost always referring to the 1100 alloy. Understanding this distinction is critical to sourcing the correct material.

Understanding the 1000 "Pure" Aluminum Series

Why Are Alloys Preferable to Pure Aluminum?
  It’s natural to trust "pure" materials more than "mixtures" or "alloys." This mindset causes you to overlook engineered alloys that are intentionally designed for enhanced performance and strength.
  Alloys are preferred because they are specifically engineered for high performance. Pure aluminum is soft, weak, and challenging to machine. Alloying transforms it into a strong, hard, and versatile material capable of meeting almost any engineering requirement.
  The preference for alloys boils down to one key factor: properties. Pure aluminum has only one set of characteristics—it’s soft, ductile, and corrosion-resistant. That’s all. This makes it useless for components that need to bear loads, resist wear, or be machined to tight tolerances. In contrast, an alloy is an entirely new material. Adding just a small percentage of copper can drastically increase hardness. Incorporating magnesium significantly boosts strength and resistance to saltwater corrosion. Adding zinc creates alloys as strong as some types of steel. Alloying isn’t about contaminating aluminum; it’s a precise science—similar to transforming basic iron into high-performance tool steel. At ExceedMetal, we don’t just melt metal; we create custom formulations to solve our clients’ engineering challenges. When strength is required, an alloy is always the solution.

Conclusion
  Pure aluminum is a raw element, not an engineering solution. We convert this soft metal into high-performance forged alloys, delivering the specific strength and reliability your project demands.