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ALUMINIUM LEXICON
Glossary on aluminum
Aluminium
A silver, light, corrosion-resistant, very workable metal. The third most common element after oxygen and silicon.
First discovered at the end of the 19th century, aluminium is today, along with steel, the most important utility metal in almost all areas of application in technology.
In nature, aluminium only occurs as a compound. The basis for aluminium extraction is bauxite, a weathering product of limestone and silicate rock, whose high Al2O3 (aluminium oxide) content is often over 50%.
Worldwide, more than 25 million tonnes of aluminium are processed annually - of this, more than 20 million tonnes are processed in the western world. The steadily growing demand in the western industrialised countries, especially in Europe, is higher than their own production - the difference has to be covered by global imports.
By nature, aluminium is characterised by low strength. By adding appropriate alloying components, considerably higher strengths - with relatively high elongation and elasticity limits - are achieved. A distinction is made between naturally hard and age-hardening alloyed materials.
The low specific weight of aluminium offers a high potential for cost savings in the area of all movement processes, transport, manufacturing, assembly and maintenance.
EN AW 6060 / AlMgSi0,5 – 130 – 245 N/mm2
is the most commonly-used material and belongs to the easily pressable alloys.
This alloy stands out due to
- particularly good anodising quality,
- seawater and thus corrosion resistance,
- good weldability,
- very good bending capacity - with corresponding strength.
DIN 17615 - AlMgSi0,5 precision sections - is relevant for this material. It takes into account the quite good formability and the narrow tolerances and thin wall thicknesses possible as a result compared to other materials.
Applications: Architecture, mechanical engineering, furniture, vehicle construction, electrical engineering
AlMgSi0,7 / EN AW 6005A – 270 N/mm2
Similar properties to AlMgSi 0,5, but higher strengths - up to 270 N/mm2 - for appropriate applications.
Applications: Mechanically stressed components
AlMgSi1 / EN AW 6082 – 205 up to 310 N/mm2
Construction material
- with high strength values
- good weldability
- seawater and therefore corrosion resistant
- technically anodisable - not used for decorative purposes
Applications: Components subject to high mechanical stress
AlCuMgPb / EN AW 2007 - 340 to 370 N/mm2
Naturally hard material - especially suitable for machining (short chip due to Pb content).
Applications: Drilling and turning material
AlZn4,5Mg1 / EN AW 7020 – up to 350 N/mm2
Difficult to press construction material with excellent weldability.
Applications: highly stressed welded structures, especially in construction and mechanical engineering.
AlZnMgCu1,5 / EN AW 7075 – 500 to 530 N/mm2
The material for highest loads and stresses (very low corrosion resistance).
Applications: Structures with very high stress in aircraft, vehicle and mechanical engineering.
Al99,5 / EN AW 1050 – H0 to H28
Naturally hard material, mainly for rolled products
Applications: Metal processing
AlMg1 / EN AW 5005 – H0 to H38
Naturally hard material, resistant to seawater, good weldability, good anodising properties, for decorative surfaces.
Applications: Facade, metal and vehicle construction, packaging
AlMg3 / EN AW 5754 - up to 180 N/mm2
Naturally hard material for rolled products and simple profile cross-sections
- with very good corrosion resistance,
- good weldability,
- good anodising quality.
Applications: Architecture, mechanical engineering and furniture industry
AlMg4,5Mn / EN AW 5083 - H0 to H36H36
Naturally hard material, resistant to seawater, good weldability, excellently suitable for statically stressed constructions.
Applications: Important alloy for shipbuilding, furthermore in mechanical engineering, vehicle and apparatus construction, civil engineering
According to all the knowledge available today, aluminium is completely harmless to the health.
Aluminium has a relatively high resistance to deformation. However, by using the appropriate technical equipment, aluminium, and its alloys in a wide range, can be cold or hot formed well to very well:
- Rolling
- Extrusion
- Forging
- Casting
- Drawing extruded round material to tight tolerances
Good conductivity for electricity and heat
Aluminium has a high electrical conductivity (38 to approx. 34 m/Ohm mm² for pure aluminium). In practice, pure aluminium and E-AlMgSi materials are mainly used for electrical conductors. At approx. 80 to 230 W/m o K, the thermal conductivity is about four times that of iron.
Aluminium forms a natural oxide protective layer on contact with air. After each removal, this layer renews itself, resulting in excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion exposure. Pure and ultra-pure aluminium, including the copper-free alloys, are resistant to very many media. They are therefore used extensively in construction, the chemical industry, the food and luxury food industry and in vehicle construction.
However, the materials with the highest strengths - over 500 N/mm² - show very limited resistance. This is taken into account by constructive measures.
Based on this philosophy, the mechanical processing of profiles and sheet metal is also part of our range of services.In our own plants as well as in cooperation with our long-standing partners, we can offer the following processing stages:
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Almost all common connection techniques can be used with aluminium and its alloys.
Aluminium is non-magnetic, which is important in electrical engineering, electronics and mechanical engineering.
Other alloys - especially from the hot and cold rolling range on request,
including: 1100, 1200, 1230, 1235, 3003, 3005, 3103, 3105, 5049, 8006, 8009, 8011, 8079
In technology, recycling means the reuse of scrap and used finished products as secondary raw materials for the manufacture of new products. More than 50% of the aluminium raw materials used are obtained in this way - without any loss of quality - due to appropriate processes.
Only 5% of the energy required to extract primary aluminium is needed for the recycling process. Among the many possible materials, aluminium is often the most ecologically and economically optimal solution.
Aluminium surfaces naturally have a high reflectivity for light and heat. By means of various surface treatments, the degrees of reflection and absorption can be influenced within wide limits.
At 2,7 to 2,9 g/cm3 – depending on the alloy components - the specific weight is only 1/3 of that of steel.
Appropriate standardisation is the instrument of order for all technical -scientific and personal life. It is an integral part of the economic, social and legal order.
In the course of the common European market, the national standards are gradually being replaced by the new EN standards.
In future, the national identity will only be maintained by national cover sheets - e.g. with the title DIN-EN for Germany.
For the most important semi-finished products in all business areas, alphametall has already completed this conversion. We will change offers and order confirmations accordingly after release of the corresponding standards.
We practically only see nominal changes compared to the German DIN standards. Only minor adjustments have been necessary and possible.
In the following overview, we have compared the new DIN EN standards with the previous DIN standards for your convenience:
Standards overview aluminium and aluminium alloys
DIN | DIN EN | TITLE & DESCRIPTION |
17007 | 515 | Designation of material conditions Hot work tool steels for extrusion dies |
1700 | 573-1 | Chemical composition and shape of wrought products. Part 1: Numerical designation system |
1712, 1713, 1725 | EN 573-2 | Chemical composition and shape of wrought products. Part 2: Designation system with chemical symbols |
1712, 1713, 1725 | EN 573-3 | Chemical composition and shape of wrought products. Part 3: Designation system with chemical symbols |
NN | EN 573-4 | Chemical composition and shape of wrought products. Part 4: Designation system with chemical symbols |
NN | EN 603-2 | Forgings and wrought and cast forging stock Part 1: Technical conditions for inspection and delivery |
NN | EN 603-3 | Forgings and wrought and cast forging stock Part 3: Tolerances on dimensions and form |
1746-2, 1747-2 | EN 754-1 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 1: Technical conditions for inspection and delivery |
1746-2, 1747-1 | EN 754-2 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 2: Mechanical properties |
1798 | EN 754-3 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 3: Round bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
1796 | EN 754-4 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 3: Square bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
1769 | EN 754-5 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 3: Rectangular bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
1797 | EN 754-6 | Drawn rods and tubes Part 3: Hexagonal bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
EN 755-1 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 1: Technical conditions for inspection and delivery |
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1746, 1747, 1748 | EN 755-2 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 2: Mechanical properties |
EN 755-3 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 3: Round bars, tolerances on dimensions and form |
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59700 | EN 755-4 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 4: Square bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
1770 | EN 755-5 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 5: Rectangular bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
59701 | EN 755-6 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 4: Hexagonal bars - Tolerances on dimensions and form |
EN 755-8 | Extruded rod/bar, tube and profiles Part 8: Porthole tubes, tolerances on dimensions and form |
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1790-2 | EN 1301-1 | Drawn wires Part 1: Technical conditions for inspection and delivery |
1790-1 | EN 1301-2 | Drawn wires Part 1: Mechanical properties |
EN 1301-3 | Drawn wires Part 1: Tolerances on dimensions |
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DIN 1748 1-4 | EN 755-2 EN 755-1 EN 755-9 |
Extruded aluminium profiles Part 1: Properties Part 2: Technical delivery conditions Part 3: Design Part 4: Permissible deviations |
DIN 1771 | Aluminium and wrought aluminium alloy extruded, angles; Dimensions, Static values | |
ISO 2768-1 DIN 6784 | General tolerances Tolerances for length and angle dimensions without individual tolerance entry Workpiece edges | |
DIN 9713 | U-profiles made of aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys, pressed, dimensions, static values | |
DIN 9714 | T-profiles made of aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys, pressed, dimensions, static values | |
DIN 17611 | Anodically oxidised semi-finished products made of aluminium and wrought aluminium alloys with layer thicknesses of at least 10 µm | |
DIN 176151-3 | EN 12020-1 EN 12020-2 |
Precision profiles made of AlMgSi 0,5 Part 1: Technical delivery conditions Part 2: Design basics Part 3: Tolerances |
Date: July 2001
All standards can be obtained from Beuth Verlag Berlin at www.beuth.de.
Of course, we are also happy to help you with any open questions in this regard.
Please direct your specific question to info@alpha-aluminium.de.
Aluminium offers the optimum surface finishing option for almost every application.
- Eloxal decorative surfaces - also coloured technical surfaces - abrasion resistance
- Powder coating in numerous RAL colours
- Wet paint finish in numerous RAL colours
- Laminating decorative foils
- Polishing - mechanical and chemical
- Grinding and brushing etc.
Our strength is particularly evident in the surface-finished version:
We offer anodising according to DIN 17611 for interior and exterior applications in the common anodising shades. Our standard coating thickness for interior applications is 10 - 12 µm. Please select the pre-treatment required for your application from Table 1. In table 2 you can find the standard anodised colours. Of course, we're also happy to supply you with special colours.
Table 1 - Surface finish according to DIN 17611 / possible pre-treatments
DESCRIPTION | SURFACE APPEARANCE | USE | |
E0 | Without pre-treatment, anodised and compacted | Die marks, scratches, grinding grooves or other surface defects remain visible | Subordinate surfaces that are not in the field of vision |
E1 | Ground, anodised and compacted | Even, matt-looking surface, small drawing marks or scratches are eliminated | Decorative surfaces with clearly aligned structure |
E2 | Brushed, anodised and compacted | Even, bright surface, drawing grooves, scratches, filing marks only partially removed | Matt shiny surfaces with delicate structure |
E3 | Polished, anodised and compacted | Glossy surface, drawing grooves, scratches, filing marks are only partially removed | Application preferably indoors, easy to clean, suitable for all colours |
E6 | Chemically pre-treated, anodised and compacted | Matt, rough surface. Drawing grooves, scratches, file marks partially levelled. Material-related changes in surface appearance are not always avoidable. |
Inexpensive, suitable especially for dark |
Tabelle 2 – Oberflächenbeschaffenheit nach DIN 17611 / mögliche Vorbehandlungen
STANDARD PROCEDURE | COLOURING | LAYER THICKNESS | STANDARD |
E6/C- 0 (EV1) | colourless, natural | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
E6/C-31 | light bronze | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
E6/C-32 (EV3) | light bronze | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
E6/C-33 | medium bronze | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
E6/C-34 | dark bronze | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
E6/C-35 (EV6) | black | 5 - 20 µm | EURAS standard |
Lamination is the process of applying a foil to the aluminium surface. Wood decors, even real wood decors, are possible.
Surface finishing in powder coating process according to GSB - guidelines:
in all standard RAL colours
In the powder coating process, the colour powder is applied electrostatically and then baked in at temperatures of approx. 180º C. The colour is then applied to the surface. The coloured plastic coating results in a very resistant and durable surface finish that retains its decorative appearance even under adverse environmental influences.