How Aluminium Extrusions Are Constructed

The fact that aluminium is very malleable and ductile makes it an important material in construction today. It can be crafted into various shapes and sizes very easily which is why it is widely used in the engineering of aircraft and construction of its domestic parts and materials. The process through which aluminium can be crafted into different shapes is called aluminum extrusion. It is the practice used to make objects of fixed cross-sectional profiles. In this method, the aluminium is forced through a section known as a die that has the shape of a desired cross-section. This process is able to produce aluminium sections that have complex cross-sections and can be used for various purposes. Some extruded aluminiums come with hollow cavities that cannot be produced by using simple flat die. These are manufactured by a special sort of die that is able to create structures with complex cross-sections. The extrusion process can not only be carried out on aluminium metals but also on other metals, ceramics and even food.

To create aluminium extrusions, the aluminium is heated and forced through a die with the aid of a hydraulic ram under high pressure. These extrusions have a lot of advantages that make them ideal to be used for various purposes. Despite being ductile and flexible, aluminium extrusions are very light in weight. The fact that aluminium only weighs 1/3 of that of copper makes it an ideal choice in construction of vehicles.

Some other advantages of using aluminium include:

Resistant to corrosion allows it to be used in buildings and construction that experiences frequent corrosion.

Good electric conductor makes it suitable to use in building power transmission cables.

Great strength makes it ideal for applications where light weight and strength is required.

Cost effective

The process that aluminium extrusions go through can either be hot or cold. In the hot process, the aluminium has to be between 350 to 500 degrees Celsius. The cold process can be done at room temperature. The best quality aluminium extrusions are manufactured at accurate temperature. As when the metal is heated, it becomes softer and easily malleable, and the finishing provides the metal with more durability and strength. Also, manufacturers are able to make extrusions according to the preference of the customers and the applications that they would be used for.

Some products where aluminium extrusions are applied include production of frames, heat sinks and profiles for tracks along with several other applications.