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.