Properties of aluminium

After iron, aluminium isnow the second most widely used metal in the world. The properties of aluminiuminclude: low density and therefore low weight, high strength, superiormalleability, easy machining, excellent corrosion resistance and good thermaland electrical conductivity are amongst aluminium’s most important properties.Aluminium is also very easy to recycle.

Properties of aluminium

Weight

One of the best known properties of aluminium is that it islight, with a density one third that of steel, 2.700 kg/m3. The low density ofaluminium accounts for it being lightweight but this does not affect itsstrength.

Strength

Aluminium alloys commonly have tensile strengths of between 70and 700 MPa. The range for alloys used in extrusion is 150 – 300 MPa. Unlikemost steel grades, aluminium does not become brittle at low temperatures.Instead, its strength increases. At high temperatures, aluminium’s strengthdecreases. At temperatures continuously above 100°C, strength is affected tothe extent that the weakening must be taken into account.

Linearexpansion

Compared with other metals, aluminium has a relatively largecoefficient of linear expansion. This has to be taken into account in somedesigns.

Machining

Aluminium is easily worked using most machining methods –milling, drilling, cutting, punching, bending, etc. Furthermore, the energyinput during machining is low.

Formability

Aluminium’s superior malleability is essential for extrusion.With the metal either hot or cold, this property is also exploited in therolling of strips and foils, as well as in bending and other formingoperations.

Conductivity

Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Analuminium conductor weighs approximately half as much as a copper conductorhaving the same conductivity.

Joining

Features facilitating easy jointing are often incorporated intoprofile design. Fusion welding, Friction Stir Welding, bonding and taping arealso used for joining.

Reflectivity

Another of the properties of aluminium is that it is a goodreflector of both visible light and radiated heat.

.Specification of Aluminum scrap 6063
Si: 0.2-0.6%
Fe: 0.35%
Cu: 0.1%
Mn: 0.1%
Mg: 0.45-0.9%
Cr: 0.1%
Zn: 0.1%

Specification