Industrial aluminum foil is a high-value engineered material, distinct from household foil in both performance requirements and manufacturing standards.
With thicknesses typically ranging from 6 μm to 200 μm, industrial aluminum foil plays a critical role in packaging, electronics, energy systems, thermal management, and advanced manufacturing.
Driven by trends such as lightweighting, electrification, high-barrier packaging, and sustainability, global demand for industrial aluminum foil continues to grow steadily.
According to industry data, the global aluminum foil market exceeded USD 30 billion in recent years, with industrial-grade foil accounting for a significant and fast-growing share.

Industrial Aluminum Foil Introduction
To understand industrial aluminum foil, one must first distinguish it from the familiar household foil.
Although both originate from aluminum, they differ vastly in performance, specifications, and application.

End of 1235 aluminum foil jumbo roll
According to the latest market research reports, the global aluminum foil market size reached approximately USD 29 billion to 31 billion in 2024.
Driven by the explosive growth in emerging application fields, the market is projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.1% to 6.5%, potentially exceeding USD 45 billion by 2033.
| Key Market Indicators | Global Aluminum Foil Market (2024) | Forecasted CAGR (2025-2033) | China’s Aluminum Foil Output (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Approx. USD 29-31 Billion | 5.1% – 6.5% | 5.02 Million Tons |
| Main Drivers | New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), Energy Storage, High-end Electronics Manufacturing | Lithium Batteries, Electronic Products, Pharmaceutical Packaging | Packaging and Lithium Battery Sectors |
Insight:
The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, is the core growth engine of the global aluminum foil market.
China’s aluminum foil output grew from 3.83 million tons in 2018 to 5.02 million tons in 2022, achieving a high CAGR of 7.00%.
This rapid growth is primarily attributed to its massive production capacity and technological investment in the lithium battery and high-end flexible packaging sectors.
Different industrial applications place distinct demands on foil performance, which dictates the diversity in alloy selection.

8021 Aluminum Foil Pharmaceutical Packaging
The process begins with primary aluminum ingots or recycled aluminum, which are melted and alloyed according to target specifications (commonly 1xxx, 3xxx, or 8xxx series).
Key process controls include:
Molten aluminum is then cast into slabs, usually 500–600 mm thick, using continuous or semi-continuous casting systems.
Hot rolling reduces the cast slab thickness to approximately 2–6 mm.
Hot rolling establishes the base microstructure that will influence foil flatness and mechanical stability in later stages.
Cold rolling is the most critical step in aluminum foil manufacturing.
For foils thinner than 25 μm, double rolling is applied, where two foil layers are rolled together to prevent tearing.
Modern rolling mills achieve thickness tolerances within ±1–2%, which is critical for applications such as batteries and pharmaceuticals.

Huawei Aluminum Foil Production Workshop
Annealing adjusts mechanical properties and removes residual stresses.
Annealing determines the final temper:
Depending on application requirements, aluminum foil may undergo additional treatments:

Color-coated aluminum foil
The performance of industrial aluminum foil is determined not only by its chemical composition but also by its thickness, temper, rolling history, and surface condition.
Mechanical and physical properties directly influence formability, durability, barrier effectiveness, and functional reliability across different industrial applications.
Because aluminum foil is extremely thin, its mechanical behavior differs from that of thicker aluminum sheets or plates.
As thickness decreases, strength increases while elongation generally decreases, a phenomenon driven by work hardening during rolling.
| Property | Typical Range | Influencing Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 60–160 MPa | Alloy type, temper, thickness |
| Yield strength | 35–120 MPa | Cold reduction level |
| Elongation | 1.5–20% | Annealing state, grain size |
| Tear resistance | Medium to high | Thickness, rolling direction |
Key Insight:
Foils in O temper prioritize ductility and formability, while H18/H19 tempers provide higher strength and stiffness, essential for high-speed packaging lines and capacitor winding.
Thickness is one of the most critical variables in foil behavior.
| Thickness Range | Mechanical Behavior | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 6–9 μm | Very fragile, high precision required | Pharma blister, battery foil |
| 10–30 μm | Balanced strength and flexibility | Food packaging, laminates |
| 40–200 μm | High stiffness and durability | Industrial insulation, forming |

Huawei Aluminum foil thickness measurement
Aluminum foil retains the intrinsic physical advantages of aluminum, even at very low thickness.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ~2.70 g/cm³ |
| Thermal conductivity | 130–235 W/m·K |
| Electrical conductivity | ~35–60% IACS |
| Reflectivity (radiant heat) | Up to 95% |
| Magnetic behavior | Non-magnetic |
Practical Implication:
High thermal reflectivity makes aluminum foil highly effective in thermal insulation and radiant heat barriers, particularly in HVAC and building applications.
One of the most valuable attributes of industrial aluminum foil is its near-perfect barrier capability.
Even at thicknesses as low as 6–7 μm, intact aluminum foil provides superior barrier performance compared to polymer films many times thicker.
In electronics and energy applications, aluminum foil serves functional roles beyond containment.
Small deviations in surface quality or thickness can significantly impact electrical performance, highlighting the importance of manufacturing precision.

Industrial Aluminum Foil for HVAC

Industrial Aluminum Foil for Heat Exchangers
The performance of Industrial Aluminum Foil directly affects the quality and reliability of the final product. Therefore, its quality control must be extremely stringent.
For manufacturers worldwide, choosing an aluminum foil supplier with strong technical capabilities and strict quality control is essential.
Henan Huawei Aluminum Co., Ltd, a well-known aluminum product manufacturer in the industry, is such a partner.
It is important to clarify that this “Huawei” refers to Henan Huawei Aluminum, a company specializing in the R&D and production of aluminum, and is a different, independent entity from the renowned consumer electronics and communication technology giant, Huawei Technologies.
Industrial aluminum foil is governed by multiple national and international standards that define chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, and surface quality.
| Standard Organization | Standard | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM (USA) | ASTM B479 | Aluminum foil for general industrial use |
| ISO | ISO 6361 | Wrought aluminum and aluminum alloys |
| EN (EU) | EN 546 | Tolerances for aluminum foil |
| GB (China) | GB/T 3198 | Aluminum and aluminum alloy foil |
| JIS (Japan) | JIS H4160 | Aluminum and aluminum alloy foils |
Beyond general material standards, many applications impose sector-specific regulations:
Testing is essential to confirm that aluminum foil meets both standard and customer-specific requirements.
| Test Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Tensile test | Verify mechanical strength |
| Pinhole test | Ensure barrier integrity |
| Thickness gauge | Confirm dimensional accuracy |
| Surface inspection | Detect defects and contamination |
Industrial Aluminum Foil, with its lightweight, high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, excellent barrier properties, and superior corrosion resistance, plays a crucial role in modern industry.
From supporting the electronic components of the digital economy and ensuring the comfort of cities through HVAC systems to safeguarding the safety of food and drugs with packaging solutions, every application of industrial aluminum foil reflects the ingenuity of material science.
Through the precise application of different alloys like the 1xxx, 3xxx, and 8xxx series, manufacturers can provide customized solutions for a variety of extreme and precision conditions.
As a producer committed to providing high-quality metal products, Henan Huawei Aluminum Co., Ltd will continue to leverage its professional knowledge and advanced technology to provide excellent Industrial Aluminum Foil products to global customers, jointly promoting technological progress and sustainable development.
Q1: Can industrial and household aluminum foil be used interchangeably?
A1: No. Industrial aluminum foil is designed for specific properties (like conductivity or specific strength), may not be certified for food-grade use, and its mechanical properties (like hardness) are not suitable for kitchen use. Conversely, household foil cannot meet the strict requirements of industrial applications for strength, temperature resistance, or electrical properties.
Q2: Does the “shiny” vs. “dull” side of industrial aluminum foil matter in use?
A2: In terms of industrial aluminum foil performance, especially for thermal conductivity and barrier properties, the difference between the shiny and dull sides is negligible. This difference is a natural result of the “pack rolling” process. However, in applications requiring high reflectivity (like insulation boards), the shiny side is usually oriented towards the heat source.
Q3: Why is aluminum foil used for the cathode of lithium batteries, while copper foil is used for the anode?
A3: At high potentials, aluminum reacts with the electrolyte to form a dense AlF₃ passivation film, protecting the current collector from corrosion, whereas copper would oxidize. At low potentials (anode), aluminum would alloy with lithium, destroying the structure, while copper does not. Therefore, aluminum foil is the ideal cathode current collector, and copper foil is the ideal anode current collector.
Q4: Is industrial aluminum foil a sustainable material?
A4: Yes. Aluminum is a 100% infinitely recyclable material, and the recycling process requires only about 5% of the energy needed for primary aluminum production. Scrap from industrial production and end-of-life aluminum foil products have high recycling value, making it a model for a circular economy.
The purpose of melting and casting is to produce alloys with satisfactory composition and high purity of melt, so as to create favorable conditions for casting alloys of various shapes.
Melting and casting process steps: batching --- feeding --- melting --- stirring after melting, slag removal --- pre-analysis sampling --- adding alloy to adjust the composition, stirring --- refining --- static Setting——Guide furnace casting.
Casting and rolling process: liquid metal, front box (liquid level control), casting and rolling machine (lubrication system, cooling water), shearing machine, coiling machine.
Aluminum alloy has the characteristics of low density, good mechanical properties, good processing performance, non-toxic, easy to recycle, excellent electrical conductivity, heat transfer and corrosion resistance, so it has a wide range of applications.
Aerospace: used to make aircraft skins, fuselage frames, girders, rotors, propellers, fuel tanks, wall panels and landing gear struts, as well as rocket forging rings, spacecraft wall panels, etc.
Aluminum alloy used for aerospace
Transportation: used for car body structure materials of automobiles, subway vehicles, railway passenger cars, high-speed passenger cars, doors and windows, shelves, automotive engine parts, air conditioners, radiators, body panels, wheels and ship materials.
Traffic application
Packaging: All-aluminum pop cans are mainly used as metal packaging materials in the form of thin plates and foils, and are made into cans, lids, bottles, barrels, and packaging foils. Widely used in the packaging of beverages, food, cosmetics, medicines, cigarettes, industrial products, medicines, etc.
Packaging application
Printing: Mainly used to make PS plates, aluminum-based PS plates are a new type of material in the printing industry, used for automatic plate making and printing.
PS printing
Architectural decoration: aluminum alloy is widely used in building structures, doors and windows, suspended ceilings, decorative surfaces, etc. due to its good corrosion resistance, sufficient strength, excellent process performance and welding performance.
Aluminum alloy construction application
Electronic products: computers, mobile phones, refrigerator shells, radiators, etc.
Electronic product application
Kitchen supplies: aluminum pots, aluminum basins, rice cooker liners, household aluminum foil, etc.
Kitchen application
Every detail of packaging is where we pursue perfect service. Our packaging process as a whole is as follows:
Lamination: clear film, blue film, micro-mucosal, high-mucosal, laser cutting film (2 brands, Novacell and Polyphem);
Protection: paper corner protectors, anti-pressure pads;
drying: desiccant;
Tray: fumigated harmless wooden tray, reusable iron tray;
Packing: Tic-tac-toe steel belt, or PVC packing belt;
Material Quality: Completely free from defects such as white rust, oil spots, rolling marks, edge damage, bends, dents, holes, break lines, scratches, etc., no coil set.
Port: Qingdao or other ports in China.
Lead time: 15-45 days.
Aluminum sheet/plate packaging process
Aluminum coil packaging process
F: Are you a manufacturer or a trader?
Q: We are a manufacturer, our factory is at No.3 Weier Road, Industrial Zone, Gongyi, Henan, China.
F: What is the MOQ for ordering the product?
Q: Our MOQ is 5 tons, and some special products will have a minimum order quantity of 1 or 2 tons.
F: How long is your lead time?
Q: Generally our lead time is about 30 days.
F: Do your products have quality assurance?
Q: Yes, if there is a quality problem with our products, we will compensate the customer until they are satisfied.
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