IE07 Aluminium Grade Explained: NALCO Ingot Specifications, Chemistry & Industry Use
What is IE07 Aluminium Grade?
IE07 is a primary unalloyed aluminium ingot grade produced by National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), India's largest integrated aluminium producer headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The "IE" prefix denotes Ingot for Electrical and remelting applications, while "07" identifies the specific purity-and-shape variant within NALCO's product catalogue.
IE07 ingots are cast from molten primary aluminium tapped directly from Hall-Héroult reduction pots at NALCO's Angul smelter. Because the material has not been alloyed, it is sold as a commercially pure aluminium conforming to IS 2590:2019 — Aluminium Ingots for Remelting and is broadly equivalent to international designations P1020A (LME standard) and EN AB-Al 99.7 (European norm).
The grade matters commercially because the NALCO IE07 daily price (Serial No. 11 of the official price circular) is the reference rate against which nearly every Indian aluminium contract — from formwork rental escalation clauses to conductor tenders — is indexed.
IE07 Chemical Composition
IE07 chemistry follows IS 2590 limits for grade EC-grade / 99.7 minimum aluminium ingot. Below is the typical specification certified by NALCO on its mill test certificates (MTCs):
| Element | Min (%) | Max (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 99.70 | — | Balance, primary metal |
| Iron (Fe) | — | 0.20 | Principal impurity from bauxite |
| Silicon (Si) | — | 0.10 | Carried over from alumina |
| Copper (Cu) | — | 0.01 | Trace |
| Manganese (Mn) | — | 0.01 | Trace |
| Zinc (Zn) | — | 0.03 | Trace |
| Titanium (Ti) | — | 0.02 | Grain-refiner residue |
| Gallium (Ga) | — | 0.03 | Bauxite-bound |
| Others (each) | — | 0.03 | — |
Buyers running induction or reverberatory remelting furnaces typically request Fe + Si ≤ 0.25% on the MTC; NALCO IE07 routinely meets this even though IS 2590 allows looser limits.
IE07 Physical & Mechanical Properties
Because IE07 is supplied as a cast ingot for remelting, the relevant properties are physical (for melt-shop calculations) rather than wrought-tempered. Indicative values for 99.7% Al at 20 °C:
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.70 | g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 660.3 | °C |
| Boiling point | 2,470 | °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 235 | W/m·K |
| Electrical conductivity | 61.5 | %IACS |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 23.6 × 10⁻⁶ | /K |
| Specific heat capacity | 900 | J/kg·K |
| Latent heat of fusion | 397 | kJ/kg |
| Tensile strength (as-cast) | 70–90 | MPa |
| Elongation (as-cast) | 30–45 | % |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 20–25 | HB |
| Typical ingot mass | 22 ± 2 | kg (T-bar / sow) |
These figures are used by foundries to size launders, calculate furnace dross loss (typically 1.5–3% on IE07), and predict alloying response when adding Mg, Si, or Cu master alloys.
IE07 vs Alloy 6061-T6 (used in Formwork)
Indian construction contractors frequently ask whether IE07 and 6061-T6 are interchangeable. They are not — IE07 is the feedstock; 6061-T6 is the finished structural alloy extruded from billets that themselves are alloyed from IE07-grade base metal.
| Parameter | NALCO IE07 | Alloy 6061-T6 |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Primary cast ingot / sow / T-bar | Wrought, extruded, solution-treated & artificially aged |
| Aluminium content | ≥ 99.7% | ~ 95.8–98.6% (alloyed) |
| Key alloying additions | None (unalloyed) | Mg 0.8–1.2%, Si 0.4–0.8%, Cu 0.15–0.40% |
| IS / international standard | IS 2590, P1020A, EN AB-Al 99.7 | IS 733, ASTM B221, EN AW-6061 |
| Yield strength | ~ 20–30 MPa | ≥ 240 MPa |
| Ultimate tensile strength | ~ 70–90 MPa | ≥ 260 MPa |
| Typical use | Remelting feedstock, conductor rod, billet | Aluminium formwork panels, structural extrusions, marine fittings |
| Price relationship | Sets the LME-linked base | Base + alloying premium + extrusion conversion |
In short: every kilogram of 6061-T6 panel used in a Fommec Global formwork system originates as IE07 (or equivalent P1020A) primary metal, then passes through alloying, DC casting into billets, homogenisation, extrusion, solution heat-treatment, quenching, and artificial ageing at 175 °C for 8 hours to reach the T6 temper.
Where IE07 Sits in the NALCO Price Circular (S.No.11)
NALCO publishes a daily domestic price circular for aluminium ingots, billets, wire rod, and rolled products. The circular is structured as a numbered list, and IE07 occupies Serial No. 11 — the line item that has, by industry convention, become the headline "NALCO price" quoted in trade journals and procurement portals.
- Basis: Ex-works (smelter gate), exclusive of GST, freight, and packing.
- Currency: INR per metric tonne.
- Revision frequency: Whenever the LME 3-month aluminium contract moves materially, typically 4–10 times per month.
- GST: 18% IGST applicable on invoice.
- Other line items in the circular: EC-grade ingot, wire rod, rolled products, billets — each priced at a defined premium or discount to the IE07 base.
Because IE07 anchors the entire schedule, the live NALCO IE07 price on Fommec Live is the single most-watched number in the Indian aluminium value chain.
Industry Applications of IE07
IE07 is not used directly in load-bearing structures; instead, it is the upstream raw material for nearly every downstream aluminium product made in India.
- Aluminium formwork manufacturing — IE07 is alloyed with Mg-Si master alloys to produce 6061 billets that are extruded into formwork wall panels, beams, deck, and props (the core business of Fommec Global).
- Electrical conductor rod — Continuous-cast wire rod for ACSR, AAAC, and AAC overhead transmission conductors per IS 8130.
- Foil and rolled stock — Cold-rolled foil for packaging and battery-cathode current collectors.
- Automotive die-casting — Alloyed with Si to make ADC-12 / LM6 castings for engine blocks and gearbox housings.
- Deoxidising aluminium — Steel mills add IE07 shot to ladles to remove dissolved oxygen during secondary refining.
- Aerospace and defence — Primary feedstock for 2xxx and 7xxx series high-strength alloys.
How to Buy IE07 Ingots in India
IE07 is sold through three channels:
- Direct from NALCO — Tender-based for bulk buyers (≥ 100 MT/month) via NALCO's e-auction portal. Lifting from Angul, Odisha or Visakhapatnam port.
- NALCO-authorised stockists — Regional dealers in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. Useful for orders of 5–50 MT.
- MCX futures + physical delivery — Hedge price exposure on the MCX Aluminium contract, then take or give delivery against the warehouse receipt.
In all cases the invoice price is built as: NALCO IE07 base (S.No.11) + freight + handling + 18% GST. Locking the base price requires monitoring the daily NALCO circular — which is exactly what Fommec Live automates with WhatsApp and email alerts.