Aluminum is a vital material used in various types of construction, manufacturing, architectural design applications. Because of aluminum’s unique qualities, it is the optimum choice for everything from the most basic shapes to the most complex structural and design components. At Howard Precision Metals, we are an experienced and trusted distributor of aluminum extrusions and shapes for various industries. Our industry experience spans more than nine decades. As a 100% aluminum distributor, supplying our customers with the perfect aluminum product for their application is our forte.
What makes aluminum so versatile? Aluminum offers a wide range of properties that can be engineered precisely to the demands of specific applications through the choice of alloy, temper, and fabrication processes. Characteristics such as strength, corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity, and recyclability are key reasons that aluminum is used in such a wide array of applications.
Strength
The strength-to-weight ratio of aluminum is one of its most desirable characteristics. In the aerospace and automotive industries where maintaining strength and keeping weight to a minimum are vital, aluminum alloys are often the material of choice for parts such as wing skins, engines, fuel cells, space vehicles, and satellite components. Aluminum also retains its strength at low temperatures, therefore cryogenic applications often utilize aluminum. Because pure aluminum is very low strength, the addition of alloying elements such as copper, magnesium, and silicone, is necessary to improve the strength-to-weight ratio of the metal. Aluminum and aluminum alloys are available in a wide range of strength values, from low strength, pure aluminum to very high-strength alloys with ultimate tensile strengths approaching 100 ksi. At one third the weight of steel, aluminum alloys can meet, or in some instances exceed, the strength of steel. Today, aluminum is surpassed only by steel in structural applications.
Corrosion Resistance
When aluminum surfaces are exposed to the atmosphere, a thin visible oxide skin forms immediately, which protects the element from further oxidation (corrosion). Aluminum is highly resistant to weathering and corrosions resistant to many acids, which allows for aluminum elements to have a fairly long service life. In industrial applications where other elements may corrode, aluminum is often the solution. Because of this corrosion resistance, aluminum can be used in adverse environments, such as in marine applications, pipelines, power lines, chemical tanks, and beverage containers.
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
Both thermal and electrical conductivity are desirable attributes of aluminum. First, thermal conductivity is important when the transfer of energy (either heating or cooling) from one object to another is involved. With aluminum having approximately 60% of the thermal conductivity as copper, it has proven to be a cost effective option in applications such as heat exchangers and cooking utensils. Secondly, aluminum’s electrical conductivity is quite unique. The only metal other than aluminum with a high enough electrical conductivity to be used as an electric conductor is, again, copper. Because aluminum is significantly less dense than copper, a pound of aluminum will go twice as far as a pound of copper in electrical applications. These characteristics make aluminum a suitable and cost effective option for a myriad of applications.
Recyclability
With nearly two-thirds of all the aluminum produced in the U.S. is still in use today, aluminum is one of the most recycled materials on earth. Unlike other recyclable materials, aluminum can be recycled back into itself over and over again in a true closed loop. In addition, aluminum more than pays for its own recycling because recycling aluminum, instead of producing new metal, saves 90% on energy costs. For these reasons, aluminum has become one of the most recycled metals in the United States
For your next aluminum requirement, call us today at 800.444.0311 or complete the quote request form on our website.
