Aluminum Plate Makes the World a Better Place

Aluminum is a versatile metal that can be used for a wide variety of purposes. It can be combined into a number of different alloys that expand its usefulness even more. In plate form, aluminum is especially useful in the aircraft industry, but it’s also used for automobiles, storage, construction and other areas that strive to improve our daily life.

Aluminum Alloys

On its own, aluminum has a number of useful properties. It’s reflective, ductile, malleable, non-magnetic and completely recyclable. It is also strong and light in comparison to steel and resistant to corrosion. To build on those properties, aluminum is sometimes mixed into an alloy with other metals. Aluminum is generally combined with magnesium, silicon, manganese, tin, copper and zinc to form alloys. The advantages of these alloys can include lowering the melting point and increasing the strength, ductility, and resistance to temperature extremes.

Aluminum in the Aircraft Industry

The strong and lightweight nature of most aluminum alloys makes them perfect for aircraft use. Aluminum plate is often used to make the aircraft skin as well as other elements like fuel tanks, internal compartments and storage areas. Structural elements can be made from 6061 T6 aluminum plate. Aluminum is also used in making smaller parts like control panels and instruments, bolts, and fixtures. Generally, higher-strength alloys such as 7050, 7075, 7175 and 7475 are most popular in the aircraft industry.

Other Products that Use Aluminum Plates

For the same reasons the aircraft industry uses aluminum, aluminum plate suppliers also tend to sell a lot to the automotive industry. Everything from structural elements to engine crank cases may be made with aluminum, while fuel tanks may be made from 6061 aluminum plate. You might also find aluminum plate for sale to be used for equipment such as road signs, storage lockers, or manufacturing applications.

Using aluminum alloys instead of other materials to make these products allows them to be lighter, resist corrosion, and be strong enough to have an extensive longevity. Moreover, aluminum is recyclable, which is an immense benefit to using such a material, in an economy that is becoming increasingly more environmentally conscientious.