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ALUMINIUM LEXICON
Glossary on aluminum
A - G
A - G
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM
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.
AlMgSi0,5 / EN AW 6060
AlMgSi0,5 / EN AW 6060 – 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
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
AlMgSi1 / EN AW 6082 – 205 bis 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
AlCuMgPb / EN AW 2007 – 340 bis 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
AlZn4,5Mg1 / EN AW 7020 – bis 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
AlZnMgCu1,5 / EN AW 7075 – 500 bis 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
Al99,5 / EN AW 1050 – H0 bis H28
Naturally hard material, mainly for rolled products
Applications: Metal processing
AlMg1 / EN AW 5005
AlMg1 / EN AW 5005 – H0 bis 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
AlMg3 / EN AW 5754 – bis 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
AlMg4,5Mn / EN AW 5083 – H0 bis H36
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
Other alloys
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
No risk for health
No risk for health
According to all the knowledge available today, aluminium is completely harmless to the health.
