Why are thin aluminum strips used for transformers

Thin aluminum strips are named in comparison with thick aluminum strips. The aluminium strip can be divided into many types in accordance with varied standards like thickness, temper, grade, usage and so on. Take thickness for example, thin aluminum strips, mainly below 2.0mm thick, are more suitable for domestic uses, while thicker ones (2.0-3.0mm and even more) are used products that have to withstand natural conditions outdoors. Those used for transformers belong to thin strips, the thickest of which is 2.0mm. Regular thicknesses of strips for transformers, however, are all less than 1.0mm, such as 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5mm and so on.

Why are thin aluminum strips used for transformers, then? When we talk about transformers here, we are actually referring to transformer winding, the key part of a transformer. The winding material must be tensile and conductive enough, for it twines around a metal part as an insulation unit. 1000 series of aluminum strips, especially 1060, meets the requirements perfectly. The 1060 o aluminum strip is soft, tensile and strong enough to be twined and stretched. Its electricity conductivity is second only to copper in commonly applied metals. In addition, it’s much lighter and cheaper than copper, makes the whole transformer smaller, lighter, stabler and cheaper.

In a word, thins aluminum strips are used for transformers because they are light, conductive, tensile, hard and cheap.