Aluminum is a nonmagnetic metal, silver in color and formed readily into a variety of shapes. It is much lighter than steel, relatively strong and resistant to corrosion. These qualities make the metal invaluable for use in industrial applications, including the manufacture of transportation and aerospace parts. The attractive surface of the metal makes it useful for framing windows and because the metal is virtually inflammable, it is in demand for cladding building facades.
The extrusion process
These qualities render aluminum suited to the extrusion process, which means forming the metal into the products used in the applications listed above. This involves heating a quantity of aluminum billet to between 800 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and transferring the resulting molten metal into a loader. Here, the molten mass is forced through a die, which has been precast to industrial requirements, so that the extruded metal conforms to its profile. The resulting lengths of extruded aluminum are finished, polished, and made ready for industrial use.
Problems with extrusion
Although it is usually a trouble-free process, problems occur when the molten aluminum reacts with oxygen to form oxides. This reaction can lead to inconsistencies of strength in the extruded lengths. An expert extrusion company will know at what temperature point to add liquid or gaseous nitrogen to the molten metal to prevent the oxidation process.
Finding an expert company
When researching aluminum extrusion companies, be aware that quality products result from expert manufacturing. The above description is a generic extrusion process that varies with the quality of the aluminum and the alloy involved, for example, aluminum 2024, 7050, 7075 and 6061.
These alloys have specific melting and cooling points and require expert handling to produce the finest aluminum plate, bars, and shapes. In addition, an expert extrusion company will be involved in the die casting process to ensure that customers find the most suitable alloy for their purpose and ultimately, get value for money.
