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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-09-12 Origin: Site
The ubiquity of extruded aluminum, a common material in our modern world from sleek skyscrapers to airplane wings, belies its strength beneath the surface of lightness. Many of us thought aluminum is just a reserve for electric applications and food packaging solution, but there is more to that than it seems. It begs the questions, how strong is it exactly?
Like many things in engineering, there is no simple answer. As we take a deeper look, there is an intriguing relationship among the composition of the material, manufacturing methods and design that can unleash the true potential of extruded aluminum.
At its heart, pure aluminum is a soft metal. To get around this problem, alloys are created by combining aluminum with other metals such as copper, magnesium, manganese or silicon. These alloying agents act as tiny reinforcements strengthening the atomic structure of the metal. The final properties and strength of an alloy are determined by the precise combination of these elements.
For instance, let’s consider the 6000 series alloys which are still very popular due to their great combination of strength and corrosion resistance. The secret here is that a significant amount of silicon and magnesium is added which increases the general strength of aluminum extrusion. In this case yield strengths are about 30,000 psi (pounds per square inch), thus they can be used for purposes like constructing frames and making transportation components.
Let us take another example: the 2000 series has high strength attributes. These alloys can have up to yield strengths of 45,000 psi by adding large quantities of copper and magnesium among other metals in them. This makes them ideal for aircraft structures as well as high-performance bicycles.
The power press itself plays an important role in determining the strength characteristic of a final product. Imagine pushing soft dough-like aluminum through a mold. As the grains elongate while traveling through the die, they get aligned in the direction where it is traveling on. Aluminum strengthens itself this way by strain hardening.
Significant role is played by the form of an extruded profile. Take hollow sections for example, they can be surprisingly strong because of how effectively they use material. This creates a high strength-to-weight ratio as it means that the material is concentrated around the outer edges. I-beams, T-sections, and other complex shapes make use of this concept to achieve high structural strength with minimum weight.
After the extrusion process, aluminum undergoes another process known as tempering. This involves heating and cooling of the metal under controlled condition thus changing internal grain structure of metal further. The different temper designations (written in letter-number codes) imply particular methods used in tempering which result into different levels of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance.
For example, common temper designation like T6 implies solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging. In comparison to the solution-treated only (T4) temper it involves very great strength enhancement however somewhat lower ductility may be associated with it.
In order to comprehend what makes an extruded aluminum strong one must take into account its application. Different examples are window frames which have different materials thus strengths from those needed for load carrying beams used in buildings. Anyhow, it seems that strength dictates material selection for specific settings. Check below
● Building a Skyscraper: One way the architects can achieve this is by using 7000 series alloys combined with hollow extrusions, which makes the facades of these buildings to be light and strong at the same time.
● Taking Flight: Manufacturers of airplanes are often balancing on the fine line between strength and weight. These ranges are usually made from alloys in 2000 and 7000 series for their unique strength-to-weight ratio, hence strong yet economical frame designs.
● Everyday use: The use of extruded aluminum adds strength to common items such as ladders or furniture. Correct alloy choice, temper designation alongside good profile design allows for such everyday objects to withstand expected loads without compromising safety.
Extruded aluminum’s strength is not an inherent property of it. It is a mix that results from the right selection of materials, manufacturing techniques as well as designing principles. This understanding helps engineers and designers finally realize the potential in this material, thereby shaping a strong world that is lightweight too.
