If you are sourcing high-conductivity electrical materials for metallurgical plants, you know that the power distribution system is the heart of the operation. In steel plant furnaces, conducting massive amounts of electric current (often at the kilo-ampere level) safely and efficiently is critical.
Today, 1060 and 1070 aluminum busbar plates have become the standard choice for steel plant power distribution. They offer an exceptional balance of high electrical conductivity, excellent heat dissipation, and significant cost savings compared to traditional copper busbars.
In this comprehensive guide, GNEE provides direct technical data, recommended dimensions, engineering applications, and pricing logic for 1060 and 1070 conductive aluminum plates. We focus strictly on the facts you need to make the right purchasing decision.
Why Steel Furnaces Use 1060 1070 Aluminum Plates
An aluminum busbar is a heavy-duty, highly conductive metal strip or plate used to transmit and distribute electrical power. In steel manufacturing, heavy-duty industrial electric furnaces rely on these busbars to connect power sources to the melting electrodes.
Steel plant environments are harsh. They involve extreme heat, high dust levels, and continuous heavy electrical loads. The power distribution materials must be reliable. Here is exactly where and why 1060 and 1070 aluminum plates are used in Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and Ladle Furnaces (LF):
- Transformer to Furnace Connections: Electric arc furnaces require massive bursts of energy to melt scrap steel. Aluminum busbars transfer high current directly from the main transformer to the furnace system. 1060 aluminum provides low electrical resistance, ensuring that energy loss during transmission is kept to an absolute minimum.
- Rectifier Bus Systems: For Direct Current (DC) furnaces, rectifiers convert AC to DC. Rectifier bus systems require materials with highly uniform conductivity. 1070 aluminum, with its 99.7% purity, is often chosen here to maintain strict voltage stability.
- Electrode Arm Conductors: The busbars run along the electrode arms to deliver current directly into the graphite electrodes. Because the area near the furnace roof is extremely hot, the excellent thermal conductivity of aluminum helps dissipate heat faster than many other metals, preventing the busbar from overheating and melting.
Are you upgrading your Electric Arc Furnace power systems and looking for a reliable aluminum busbar supplier? Contact GNEE engineers today with your system's current capacity, and we will recommend the most efficient busbar alloy and size for your project.
1060 vs 1070 vs Copper
Aluminum Busbar Properties Table
| Property / Parameter | 1060 Aluminum Plate | 1070 Aluminum Plate |
| Aluminum Purity | ≥ 99.6% | ≥ 99.7% |
| Electrical Conductivity | ~ 61% IACS | ~ 62% - 63% IACS |
| Electrical Resistivity | ~ 0.028 Ω·mm²/m | ~ 0.027 Ω·mm²/m |
| Tensile Strength | 60 – 95 MPa | 60 – 95 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 25% | ≥ 25% |
| Density | 2.7 g/cm³ | 2.7 g/cm³ |
| Weldability | Excellent | Excellent |
Why Replace Copper with Aluminum?
| Material | Conductivity (% IACS) | Weight (Density) | Cost Level | Best Use Case |
| 1060 Aluminum | 61% | 2.7 g/cm³ (Light) | Low | Standard furnace power lines; Best cost-performance. |
| 1070 Aluminum | 62-63% | 2.7 g/cm³ (Light) | Low-Medium | Rectifier systems requiring maximum conductivity. |
| C1100 Copper | 100% | 8.9 g/cm³ (Heavy) | Very High | Space-restricted areas where volume must be minimized. |
The Engineering Reality:
While copper has higher conductivity, aluminum is roughly three times lighter. To carry the exact same amount of current, an aluminum busbar needs to have a larger cross-sectional area than a copper one. Even with the larger size, the aluminum busbar will still weigh about 50% less than the copper equivalent and cost significantly less. This weight reduction puts less physical stress on your factory's support brackets and furnace electrode arms.
Want to calculate exactly how much money you can save by switching from copper to 1060 aluminum busbars? Send us your current copper busbar dimensions, and GNEE will provide a free material conversion data table and cost comparison.
1060-H22 Aluminum and 1070-H22 Aluminum Alloy Composition
| Element | 1060-H22 Aluminum | 1070-H22 Aluminum |
| Aluminum (Al), % | 99.6 to 100 | 99.7 to 100 |
| Copper (Cu), % | 0 to 0.050 | 0 to 0.040 |
| Iron (Fe), % | 0 to 0.35 | 0 to 0.25 |
| Magnesium (Mg), % | 0 to 0.030 | 0 to 0.030 |
| Manganese (Mn), % | 0 to 0.030 | 0 to 0.030 |
| Silicon (Si), % | 0 to 0.25 | 0 to 0.2 |
| Titanium (Ti), % | 0 to 0.030 | 0 to 0.030 |
| Vanadium (V), % | 0 to 0.050 | 0 to 0.050 |
| Zinc (Zn), % | 0 to 0.050 | 0 to 0.040 |
| Residuals, % | 0 | 0 to 0.030 |
Specifications of conductive aluminum busbar 1060 1070
| Alloys | Tempers | Thickness (mm) | Width (mm) | Length (mm) | Uses |
| 1060 Aluminum plate | F,O, H111, H112 | 10-400 | 100-2500 | 400-15000 | Aluminum busbar,battery soft connector,radiator,charging pile, positive and negative horizontal aluminum busbar,negative upper aluminum busbar, etc. |
| 1070 Aluminum plate | |||||
| Standards | National standard, American standard, European standard, Russian standard, Japanese standard, etc. | ||||
Recommended Busbar Sizes for Furnaces
Typical Size Recommendations
| Furnace System Level | Thickness (mm) | Width (mm) | Length (mm) |
| Small Current Distribution | 5 – 10 mm | 50 – 150 mm | ≤ 6000 mm |
| Medium EAF / LF Systems | 10 – 30 mm | 100 – 300 mm | ≤ 8000 mm |
| High-Current EAF Systems | 30 – 80 mm | 200 – 500 mm | ≤ 12000 mm |
Tolerance and Surface Control
GNEE Manufacturing Tolerances
| Parameter | Standard Tolerance Limit |
| Thickness Tolerance | ± 0.05 mm to ± 0.2 mm |
| Width Tolerance | ± 0.5 mm to ± 1.0 mm |
| Flatness | ≤ 3 mm per meter |
| Length Tolerance | ± 2 mm |
Surface Treatment Options
To ensure perfect electrical contact, the surface of the busbar must be clean.
- Mill Finish: The standard factory rolled finish. It is smooth, oil-free, and highly conductive. Most steel plants buy mill finish directly.
- Brushed Finish: Creates a very slight texture that some engineers prefer for gripping when bolting heavy joint plates together.
- Oxidation Cleaning: A chemical wash to remove the natural microscopic oxide layer right before shipping, ensuring the absolute lowest contact resistance upon installation.
Quality Testing and Export Packaging
GNEE follows international production standards, including ASTM B209, EN 485, and GB/T 3880.
Mandatory Inspection Process
Before any 1060 or 1070 aluminum busbar leaves our factory, it undergoes a rigorous testing protocol:
- Chemical Composition Analysis: Ensures the aluminum purity is exactly ≥99.6% (1060) or ≥99.7% (1070).
- Electrical Conductivity Testing: We test the IACS percentage to guarantee it meets power distribution requirements.
- Ultrasonic Testing (UT): For thick plates (e.g., over 30mm), we use ultrasonic sound waves to scan the inside of the metal. This ensures there are no internal air pockets, cracks, or defects that could block the flow of electricity.
- Mechanical Testing: We verify tensile strength and elongation so the metal will not crack when you drill or bend it during installation.
Heavy-Duty Export Packaging
- Moisture Protection: GNEE wraps all aluminum plates tightly in waterproof plastic film and moisture-absorbing kraft paper.
- Physical Protection: We place anti-scratch paper between every single plate. For heavy, thick busbars, we install rigid metal edge protectors.
- Palletizing: Everything is strapped tightly to heavy-duty, fumigated wooden pallets designed to support tons of weight without breaking inside the shipping container.
SMM Pricing Logic
GNEE Pricing Formula:
Final Price = SMM Aluminum Ingot Price + Processing Fee
- SMM Aluminum Price: This is the daily market price of raw aluminum ingots on the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). This base price goes up and down every day.
- Processing Fee: This covers the cost of melting, casting, rolling the aluminum into thick plates, cutting it to your exact size, testing, and packaging. For 1060 and 1070 busbars, the processing fee usually ranges from USD 300 to USD 800 per ton, depending heavily on how thick or wide the plates are.
Because the SMM price fluctuates daily, the most accurate way to get a price is to send us your exact list of sizes and request a quote valid for the current week.
GNEE will provide an official quotation based on today's live SMM aluminum ingot price.
Why Choose GNEE as Your Busbar Supplier?
- Multi-Size and Mixed-Specification Orders: Building a furnace power system requires many different sizes of busbars. You need thick plates for the transformer and smaller strips for the control panels. GNEE accepts mixed orders. You do not need to buy 10 tons of just one single size. We will cut and supply all the different sizes you need in one single container.
- Data-Driven Decisions: We don't just sell metal; we provide engineering support. If you need to compare 1060 against 6101 aluminum (which is stronger but less conductive), we will send you clear, accurate data tables so your engineering team can make the right choice instantly.
- Global Export Experience: We have years of experience supplying heavy metallurgy plants and power distribution projects across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South America. We understand your technical standards and your import customs requirements.
When designing or maintaining a steel plant furnace, the efficiency of your power distribution system directly impacts your operational costs. 1060 and 1070 conductive aluminum plates offer the perfect combination of ultra-low electrical resistance, superior heat dissipation, and lightweight installation.
By partnering with an experienced supplier that understands strict tolerances and international testing standards, you guarantee a safe, uninterrupted power supply for your smelting operations.
Email GNEE today with your size requirements. Our technical team will reply within 24 hours with a comprehensive data comparison table and our most competitive SMM-based price.
