Aluminum foil 5086 H111 8mm 9mm
Aluminum "Foil" 5086 H111 in 8mm & 9mm: Why This Thickness Range Is a Different Product (and Who Should Use It)
When customers search "aluminum foil 5086 H111 8mm 9mm", they often mean "thin aluminum." But 8mm and 9mm are not foil in the industrial sense-they're heavy-gauge sheet/plate. That matters, because performance, fabrication methods, and cost drivers change dramatically at these thicknesses.
A useful way to view 5086-H111 in 8–9mm is: it's the "marine-grade workhorse plate" that behaves like a structural component, not packaging foil.
1) What 5086 H111 really delivers at 8mm–9mm
5086 is an Al-Mg alloy valued for corrosion resistance, especially in saltwater and industrial atmospheres. In 8mm and 9mm, the alloy's strengths show up in practical ways:
- Excellent seawater corrosion resistance (common choice for boat structures and coastal equipment)
- Good strength without needing heat treatment
- Reliable weldability compared with many higher-strength aluminum grades
- Better dent and impact tolerance than thin sheet applications because thickness does the "work"
H111 temper means the material is slightly strain-hardened (less than H32/H34), typically chosen when you want:
- stable mechanical behavior
- good forming tolerance
- less residual stress than harder tempers (helpful for distortion-sensitive fabrication)
2) The "hidden advantage" of 8mm vs 9mm: fabrication economics
From a buyer's viewpoint, 8mm and 9mm can look almost identical-but fabricators often choose one over the other for practical reasons:
8mm
- Often easier to form/bend (still heavy, but slightly more compliant)
- Can reduce overall weight and cost in large structures
- Suitable where stiffness is adequate by design (ribs, frames, smarter geometry)
9mm
- Adds noticeable stiffness and margin with a modest thickness increase
- Used when welding heat input, impact risk, or deflection control is a concern
- Helpful in panels that must stay flatter or carry higher loads
In short: 8mm helps you manage weight and cost; 9mm helps you manage stiffness and robustness.
3) Why calling it "foil" can cause ordering mistakes
If a purchase order says "foil" but the requirement is 8mm or 9mm, suppliers may need to clarify:
- Product form: this is typically plate/sheet, not foil
- Flatness expectations: plate flatness standards differ from foil/sheet coil standards
- Surface condition: plate can be mill finish, brushed, or protected film, but it's not "food-grade foil"
- Supply method: usually cut-to-size plates rather than coils
A better purchasing description is:
"5086 aluminum plate, H111 temper, thickness 8mm (or 9mm), cut-to-size."
4) Where 5086-H111 8mm/9mm is used (practical, real-world applications)
This thickness range is commonly selected for parts that need to survive corrosion and fabrication:
- Marine hull plating, decks, bulkheads, and structural panels
- Coastal walkways, ladders, platforms, and brackets
- Truck bodies, containers, and heavy-duty covers
- Chemical/industrial enclosures where corrosion resistance matters
- Welded structures where reliability and repairability are important
5) buying checks customers should confirm (fast checklist)
To buy confidently, ask for these details upfront:
- Standard: EN / ASTM / JIS requirement (your project spec)
- Thickness tolerance: important for CNC pockets, mating parts, or welded fit-up
- Cutting method: saw-cut, waterjet, plasma, laser (affects edge quality and distortion)
- Protective film: needed if surface appearance matters
- Test certificates: request MTC/COC if the job is regulated or marine-related
- Temper confirmation: H111 (not H32) if you need more forming tolerance / less hardness
Bottom line
Think of 5086-H111 in 8mm and 9mm as marine-grade structural aluminum plate-chosen not because it's "thin," but because it offers a high-confidence combination of corrosion resistance, weldability, and real-world durability.
Choose 8mm when weight and cost are more sensitive; choose 9mm when stiffness and robustness are the priority.