ALUMINIUM LEXICON

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:

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.

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:

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.

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.