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Aluminium Alloys

Introduction

Aluminium is the most widely used metal in engineering apart from iron. The reason the aluminium is widely used is because the combination of properties makes it one of the most versatile of engineering and construction materials. Aluminium is light in weight, yet some of its alloys have strengths greater than that of structural steel. It has good electrical and thermal conductivities and high reflectivity to both heat and light. It is highly corrosion resistant under a great many service conditions and is nontoxic. Aluminium can be cast,extruded forged, drawn, hot rolled and cold rolled.

Pure Aluminium

Commercially pure aluminium varies from about 99.3% to 99.7% Al. The higher purity Aluminium is selected for use as electrical conductors and reflector sheets. Lower-purity alloys with iron an copper added as necessary is relatively soft and ductile with excellent workability and weldability

Aluminium is an important material in a large cross section of industries. It is suitable for forming, welding and machining and provides the following advantages;
  • Non - Magnetic
  • Good electrical conductivity; about 60% that of Copper but reduced by the presence of alloying elements
  • Highly economic to recycle
  • High specific strength
  • High corrosion fatigue resistance
  • Low specific gravity approximately 1/3 of steel

Although available in a number of grades, Aluminium can be divided into two major categories of wrought alloys

Work Hardening Alloys

These alloys ie., Non heat treatable, include commercially pure aluminium and the alloys including manganese or magnesium.  These alloys can be fully or partly softened by annealing at 350 - 400 deg Celcius.

Heat Treatable Alloys

Heat treatable alloys or precipitation hardening alloys include copper, magnesium, zinc and silicon as important constituents.

Specifications

BS EN 2070-1 to 7:1991
Specification for aluminium and aluminium alloy wrought products.  Various parts

    Links Providing information on Aluminium

  1. Angelfire
  2. Aluminium Extrusions Physical Properties
  3. ALFED About Aluminium
  4. Links to Sites on Metals
  5. Key-To-Metal An excellent reference site for non-ferrous metal classifications and properties.- registration required for full access
  6. Severn Metals A Supplier with useful information on material designations

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Last Updated 05/11/2001