Structural Aluminum
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Structural Aluminum
Structural Aluminum is an extruded aluminum alloy that goes through post-forming treatments in order to become light weight, durable and corrosion resistant metal used in many different high-strength applications. Because pure aluminum is too soft to be used in structural applications, it is alloyed with magnesium, silicon, zinc, copper, zirconium, chromium and manganese. It is more costly than other metals, but has a much quicker manufacturing process and low cost of labor. Structural aluminum is commonly used in the marine, automotive, engineering and construction industries to produce machine bases, building structural framing, cryogenic vessels, piping, bridges and industrial machinery. It can be formed into many shapes, including castings, forgings, wire, rod, bar and flat rolled sheets (thinner than .25 inches) or plates (thicker than .25 inches).
Extruded aluminum is stronger and more durable than other kinds of aluminum. Structural aluminum is also put through cold working and heat treatments after forming to increase these properties. Aluminum may be cold rolled, drawn, straightened or flattened, all of which are done at or around room temperature. This changes the internal grain characteristics and increases tensile strength, yield strength and hardness. To obtain the desired strength, structural aluminum is heated at a high temperature for a certain amount of time, then quickly cooled by quenching, which is immersing the metal in cool water. Age hardening also increases aluminum's properties. In this process, the metal is slowly heated and kept at that temperature for a long period of time, strengthening the aluminum's grain.
