The Strength of Aluminum

The Strength of Aluminum

The Strength of Aluminum


If you’re like many people, when you hear the word “aluminum”, you think of everyday convenience items that, while incredibly useful, don’t exactly convey a high-strength image. And it’s true – aluminum is a highly versatile metal – meaning it can be processed to be thin, lightweight, bendable and even crushable by human hands.


What’s less well-understood is that aluminum can also be some of the toughest stuff on earth. Often, the metal is used in applications where high-strength and durability are the most important considerations – from cars and trucks to building material to military vehicles. You likely trust aluminum to keep you safe and secure dozens of times a day without even knowing it.


Take-Away Facts


The Key to Auto Safety: Automakers are increasingly turning to aluminum as part of the multi-material mix to increase vehicle fuel efficiency while maintaining strength and safety. Every aluminum-intensive vehicle ever crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has earned a 5-star safety rating.


High-Strength Aluminum is Everywhere: High-strength aluminum alloys are used in hundreds of everyday applications where strength and durability are essential – from planes to trains, buses to trucks – even some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.


Extreme Applications: Aluminum is also used by the U.S. military, NASA and others to build vehicles and structures capable of thriving in some of the harshest conditions imaginable.


The Chemistry of Strength: By adding elements like silicon, magnesium and lithium to pure aluminum and through special processing techniques, aluminum can be engineered to be as strong if not stronger than some steel.


Aluminum is about one-third the weight of steel, meaning parts can be made thicker and stronger while still reducing weight in vehicles and other applications. Depending on the alloy and processing technique used, pound for pound aluminum can be forged to be just as strong if not stronger than some steel.
Aluminum is already the second-most-used material by automakers, so your car or truck likely has a lot of aluminum in it right now, protecting you from hazards on the road. Engineers know how to work with aluminum to make parts that perform as well or better than steel parts – all while reducing vehicle weight. Aluminum is highly effective at absorbing crash energy, protecting passengers in the event of an accident. And lighter aluminum vehicles improve performance.  Better handling and shorter stopping distances help drivers avoid accidents to begin with.


Aluminum is used for window frames and curtain wall in some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers – maybe even the office building you’re sitting in right now. This versatile metal is used to make planes, trains, buses, trucks – even ocean liners!


In short, every day, people around the world trust the strength of aluminum – whether they know it or not.


In addition to “everyday” applications, aluminum’s strength and durability is also trusted for some of the most extreme uses imaginable. Designers know that high-strength aluminum alloys can handle some of the harshest conditions on earth – and beyond.


U.S. Army: The U.S. Army has trusted aluminum for decades to help protect our troops. The high-strength, crash-absorbent metal is used in the Humvee (HMMWV), HEMTT and Bradley Fighting Vehicle to reduce weight, resist rust and be reliable under tough conditions. Aluminum armor plate is even used to resist explosives and other attacks. 


NASA: It’s no exaggeration to say that modern space travel would not be possible without aluminum. The metal was widely used in the space shuttle program and NASA chose a high-strength aluminum-lithium alloy to make the new Orion spacecraft, which will someday take humans to Mars.


U.S. Air Force: After replacing older wood, steel, wire and fiber aircraft during WWII, high-strength aluminum alloys have become among the most commonly used materials to make military aircraft. Indeed, the airframe for the famed fighter jet – the F-16 – is 80% aluminum. 


Shark Cages: Even when facing one of nature’s fiercest predators – the strength of aluminum is trusted. Aluminum is the popular choice for shark cages because the metal is more buoyant than alternatives and won’t corrode in salt water. Aluminum bar is more than strong enough to protect divers from direct attacks from Great White and other sharks. 


T Slot Aluminum Extrusion


Aluminum extrusion t- slot is extremely useful for a wide range of framing applications. T-slots can be used for any number of structural applications, and require no welding or special tools for assembly. Frames built from aluminum instead of steel also benefit from the aesthetics of the metal, which needs no finishing and is attractive in its natural state.


Hydro Extrusion is the world’s premier soft alloy aluminum extruder, offering the industry’s most comprehensive product line. Our aluminum products are available in standard and custom shapes (solid, semi-hollow and hollows), in a complete range of structural angles, channels, tees, zees, H-beams and I-beams, and seamless and structural aluminum pipe and tube, and are preferred by premium machinists throughout North America.


T-slots allow for modular construction and can be used to construct any imaginable project. Long, narrow T-shaped slots travel along the length of all four sides of the extrusion, making it possible to design an unlimited number of framing configurations and position fasteners, panels and other components or accessories.


Some profiles have one slot per side, while wider profiles can accommodate two, three or four slots on each side. Still other profiles feature slots on only one or two sides, leaving the other sides smooth for exceptionally clean installations. T-slots are also available in smooth and grooved profiles and a variety of colors.


Aluminum Extrusion 15 Series T-slot are ideal for framing in many different industries and can accommodate nearly any load. Common applications include workstations, machine bases and enclosures, medical manufacturing, material handling carts, stairs and platforms, to name a few. T-slots help create safe, comfortable and attractive workplace environments, and can be used to attach panels, wire mesh, screens, etc. They can also be used to hold wiring (similar to conduit), or to hang containers or tools.


We offer complete solutions for aluminum extrusions required by the automotive, mass transit, bridge decking, and solar/renewable energy industries, as well as green applications for the building & construction market. T-slots, specifically, provide a simple, fast and cost-effective way to build structures of any kind. They are also easy to take apart and reassemble for another purpose.


Hydro Extrusion offers an unparalleled variety of product choices to meet the needs of our customers’ challenging project requirements. We have 20+ locations and more than 60 extrusion presses across North America, and offer the industry’s broadest product capabilities in press sizes and tonnages (direct and indirect extrusion), alloy selection, circle sizes, profile types and “green” billet. Whether you need aluminum extrusion 20 series t-slot or any other extruded shape or stock, our talented team will work with you to provide effective solutions.


Overview of Pipes and Tubes


A Pipe is a round tubular for the flow of fluids and gasses, defined by a nominal pipe size providing a rough representation of the pipe conveyance capacity; a Tube is a round, rectangular, square or oval hollow segment determined by outside diameter and wall thickness, represented in inches or millimeters.


The options may seem overwhelming when selecting a tubing type; both aluminum and stainless steel come in a variety of alloys and tempers, each with their own physical and mechanical properties. That metal has specific general properties to all of its alloys.


Why Aluminum?


Aluminum is noteworthy for its low density and its property to resist corrosion through the passivation process. Aluminum and its alloys are essential to the aerospace industry and are significant in the automotive and building sectors, such as fa?ade design and window frames. The most important components in aluminum are the oxides and sulfates.


Aluminum tubing extends from consumer items, recreational merchandise and machine parts and automotive and manufacturing across a wide range of industrial applications. Suppliers respect aluminum for its strength, because it is only one percent of the steel weight. Because of this versatile blend of strength and flexibility several structures profit from the effective use of aluminum tubing. Aluminum tubing, given its lightweight, provides a greater volume of tubing per weight than steel. Many products benefit from the use of a lighter tubing material, particularly those needing a mobility degree such as wheelchairs and outdoor furnishings.


For the tubing and pipe the most common aluminum alloys are 2024, 3003, 5052, 6061, 7075. Aluminum exceptionally well absorbs aluminum heat making tubing which is a great candidate for temperature control applications such as refrigerators, solar power and air conditioning systems. The lightweight and strength of the aluminum tubing often results from items such as hydraulic systems, fuel lines, braces, and frames. Aluminum is a component of many different alloys. Aluminum forms solid alloys, with several differences of magnesium and silicon. Because of its increased weldability and outstanding tolerance to corrosion, manufacturers use the aluminum square tube alloy 6061 for many medium-to high-strength applications. It is also the aluminum tube type which is least expensive to use.


Where are Aluminum Tubes and Pipes used?


Aluminum tube and pipe are mostly used for various industrial or building uses, but the use of aluminum pipe and the aluminum tube is also easily embraced by homeowners and auto manufacturers and has been modified for common household use.


In the demand to interior furnishings aluminum pipes are also used. Things are generally constructed of wrought iron from canopy beds and bedside tables. Aluminum tubes are a lightweight choice which gives a futuristic feel to the room. To threaded forms of tubing a variety of fasteners are given. Aluminum Pipe is a machined part widely used for all types of industrial projects where lightweight and corrosion resistance are the primary concern. Printed in both 6061-T6 and 6063-T6, 6063 has a smoother texture than 6061 and is more bendable.


1. What is aluminium tube?


Usually, the aluminium tube refers to a hollow pipe made of pure aluminium or aluminium alloy. And the aluminium tube shape is determined by its outer diameter and wall thickness. There is circular, rectangular, square or elliptical, in inches or millimetres distinguish. Aluminium pipes have extensive in the field of aerospace and commercial manufacturing, including healthcare products, entertainment products, and machine parts. The weight of aluminium is one-third of steel, and the manufacturer welcomes aluminium due to its durability. The aluminium tube can be effectively applied to multiple fields due to various features, such as intensity and flexibility.


2. What are the characteristics of the aluminium tube?


Lightweight


Due to the lightweight of the aluminium tube, the aluminium tube per unit of weight is more than the steel pipe. Many products benefit from products that use lighter pipes, especially those that require a certain degree of activity, such as wheelchairs and outdoor furniture.


Heavy Corrosion Resistance


The aluminium tube is more difficult to lose gloss than other metal tubes. It is easier to apply to the decoration of paints and other decorations, thereby enhancing its aesthetic attraction.


High thermal conductivity


Aluminium has excellent thermal conductivity, making the aluminium tube an ideal choice for relying on temperature control product(including refrigerators, solar and air conditioning systems). And the lightweight and durability of aluminium pipes benefits the hydraulic system, fuel line, framework and rack.


Workability


The toughness of the aluminium tube is very strong, which can be processed into any available shape. So it is often used as a connecting tool.


3. Type of aluminium tube


Aluminium has several different alloys. Aluminium mix with magnesium and silicon have a solid alloy. It also means that different alloy combinations can form different aluminium tube types. Their functions are different. For example, manufacturers often use aluminium squares alloys 6061 for many medium and high-intensity applications because it increases weldability and excellent corrosion resistance. 6061 Aluminium tube is also easy to anode oxidation, which makes it very suitable for heat treatment. It is also the cheapest aluminium tube alloy.


The manufacturer also uses aluminium alloy tube 6063 to achieve an extremely smooth surface finish. Since the aluminium alloy 6063 has only half of the aluminium alloy 6061, it often appears in valued rather than intensity applications. This material still has many anodized capacities as the aluminium alloy 6061.


When using metal parts in manufacturing and construction, heating strength is often a key factor. A metal tube is no exception. In most cases, the two manufacturing tasks required for aluminium tubes are bending and joining.


For the bending tube, consider three main factors:


Moldable


Certain aluminium alloys, such as 3xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx series, have higher formability than other aluminium alloys, making it a good material that is curved. Typically, a higher intensive alloy also has a lower strength.


Thickness and bending radius


Aluminium is like other metals, "processing harden" during the bending process, which means aluminium will become more and more robust when formed. However, if the radius is too small in the thickness of the tube, the material is excessively machined, more likely to fail.



Extendability


The elongation percentage is a way to describe the difference between metal yield strength and its limit tensile strength. Yield strength is a point that aluminium alloy can be bent and no longer restore its original shape. On the other hand, the tensile strength is the maximum stress that can be applied to aluminium before aluminium cracking. The larger the difference between these strengths, the higher the formability of the alloy.