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About Aluminum Suppliers and Aluminum Supply
Aluminum suppliers have many options when it comes
to this silvery-white metal that is abundant in the Earth’s crust.
Because of its attractive properties, the applications are numerous.
In its pure form, aluminum is
soft and very easy to mold into a desired shape, but aluminum alloys,
when combined with such elements as copper, iron, zinc, silicon and magnesium,
are very strong and durable. Even in extremely cold environments where
other metals become brittle, aluminum alloys remain strong. Aluminum
is also light, approximately one-third the weight of steel, as well as
non-toxic and non-magnetic. This metal is an excellent corrosion resister
and conductor of heat and electricity. These properties can be changed
as needed through heat
treatment or mechanical working.
As far as aluminum supply, the element is plentiful in the earth’s crust,
but the metal is never found naturally in the pure state. Aluminum is commonly
extracted from bauxite ore. Through the Bayer process, aluminum is separated
from the other elements in bauxite ore to produce alumina, a white powder that
is essentially aluminum oxide. Further processing through smelting can then be
done to purify the aluminum to 99.97%. Aluminum is the most commonly recycled
metal. Anything aluminum can be recycled repeatedly, so even scrap aluminum has
a high value. Aluminum cans, foil and plates can all be recycled, and the process
is so efficient that aluminum cans are able to reappear on shelves after only
6 to 8 weeks. In fact, aluminum is the only packaging material that more than
covers the recycling cost of collection and processing.
Many methods exist to process aluminum. Aluminum suppliers can produce aluminum
foil, sheet and plate, using rolling.
During the rolling process, the aluminum becomes less brittle and more ductile.
Rolling is also capable of creating very thin product, about the size of a human
hair. In the extrusion method,
aluminum billets are heated and pushed through a metal die under great pressure
to create shapes. Further fabrication of the aluminum supply can be done upon
completion, such as cutting to length, drilling and machining. Forgings are
created by hammering, pounding or squeezing the aluminum into parts. Casting
involves two methods, either sand casting, in which a temporary sand mold is
created to make a part, or die
casting, where the mold is permanent, usually cast iron or steel. This is
the most widely used method of aluminum forming, and it involves pouring molten
aluminum directly into the mold. Aluminum supply can also be bent, made into
a powder, joined by welding or milled, depending on the desired product.
Aluminum suppliers offer the metal for a number of uses. Extruded aluminum can
be used in the construction industry as window and door frames, roofing and curtain
walling as well as prefabricated structures. Products for the transportation
and marine industries are also common. Aluminum
plate is used as armor protection for military vehicles, while foil is useful
in containers, wrapping and building insulation. Aluminum
sheet provides siding and roofing for houses as well as body panels for automobiles,
airplanes and boat hulls. Because of their light weight, good appearance and
corrosion resistance, cast aluminum parts are often used for engineering and
architectural components, office and home products and components for vehicles,
spacecrafts and ships. Additionally, aluminum conducts electricity almost as
well as copper, and therefore can be found in overhead power lines and transport
cables. In automobiles, aluminum is advantageous because it absorbs shock well
and does not rust. Plus, its light weight makes the vehicle more fuel efficient
and reduces road wear.
Featured
Articles
http://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/articles/040402.html
http://www.secat.net/answers_view_article.php?article=Developments_in_Aluminum_Heat_Treating.html
Types of Aluminum
- is
a metallic element with the atomic number 13.
- are solid, straight uniform products of aluminum that can
be extruded. These products can have cross-sections in a variety of shapes,
from circular to triangular, square and more.
- are aluminum products with uniform cross-sections,
available in several shapes. Products are most often supplied in coil
form.
- is
formed by rolling, and is generally less than .2 mm thick. Aluminum foil
is generally used in the packaging industry as well as in electrical applications.
- is a tube made out of aluminum.
- consists of rolled aluminum with a thickness greater
than 6 mm. Plate is used as a component in bridges and buildings.
- is
used in paints, explosives and chemical applications.
- are
extruded products of a uniform cross-section that are most often straight
in length but can also be coiled.
- is formed from the rolling process, with a thickness
of between .2 mm and 6 mm. Aluminum sheet is used in the construction
and transport industries.
- is
a long sheet of metal with a length many times its width.
- is a hollow aluminum product.
- is
wire made of aluminum.
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