Metal is one of the most widely used material in the world today. From simple applications like cooking to complex one in the automobile and construction industry, metals continue to be a part of numerous human activities. Particularly, aluminium is popularly used in household and commercial applications for window frames, doorframes and roofing among others. It comes in various grades and shapes, all of which affect the manner in which you can use the aluminium material. An understanding of the various grades of aluminium will assist you in matching the right metal fabric to the application in question. Therefore, here is a thorough look at the various grades of aluminium to help you gain insight:
Aluminium 1100
Aluminium 1100 is classified as a commercially pure grade with an approximate aluminium content of ninety-nine percent. The other insignificant percentage comprises impurities and other metal resides that find their way into the aluminium during extraction. Basically, the 1100 grade is a heavily alloyed aluminium grade, making it the strongest grade mechanically. It has excellent conductivity for electric current, good workability and ability to stand up to corrosion. Cold working adds strength to the metal, unlike heat treatment. Due to its strength, aluminium 1100 is ideal for high tensile applications such as the construction of doorframes. Besides that, you can also go for aluminium 1100 when choosing bonding units such as rivets because of its tensile strength.
Aluminium 2011
The aluminium 2011 is another widely used grade in the metal fabrication industry. Just as its predecessor (aluminium 1100), 2011 also exhibits excellent tensile strength. In fact, some fabricators refer to it as ultimate tensile aluminium. This grade is best suited for machining processes such as screwing. On that note, you should always ask for grade 2011 when buying replacement fasteners for machine parts, screws and bolts.
Aluminium 2024
In some cases, the applicability of a metal is dependent on the pressure it will be subjected to after installation. The focus, therefore, goes beyond the tensile strength of the metal to the weight of the material lying on it. Aluminium 2024 comes in handy for such applications where you are in need of excellent strength to weight ratio. Regardless of the years that pass by, this grade of aluminium doesn't lose strength. In fact, the tensile strength increases as the years go by. This is the go-to grade for concrete and construction applications as it guarantees optimal support for the structure throughout its lifetime.
Contact an aluminium fabrications company for more information and assistance.
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