Aluminium and it´s properties
The main commercial activities of the company are the purchase and sale of aluminium and aluminium products. Our exclusive suppliers are producers from Turkey, which are exclusively represented by our company in the central Europe. In addition to these major suppliers, HP Steel completes its range of aluminum profiles also from other major European suppliers. All products on offer are supplied according to the ISO9001 norm.
Aluminium materials are mainly applied in fields where good welding qualities, surface finish options (Anodizing and Powder painted – powder baked paint), resistance to corrosion and low weight are desired. HP Steel’s products are produced in the state-of-the-art production lines.
The Properties of Aluminium:
- The density of aluminium is 2.7 g/cm3, which is equal to one third density of steel.
- Aluminium alloys are strong when pulled in the range from 70 to 700 MPa and they do not become fragile in low temperatures as opposed to the majority of steel types. Conversely, the strength of aluminium increases. The strength of aluminium decreases with higher temperature.
- Aluminium is easy to form as well as to roll, to bend at both high and low temperatures.
- Aluminium is easy to machine using almost all types of technologies (cutting, chopping, milling, drilling, bending, etc.)
- Suitable for very simple connecting by the welding methods of MIG, TIG or the method of frictional welding
- Aluminium is excellent conductor of heat and electrical charge while the weight of the aluminium conductor is lower by approximately half of what a copper conductor weights.
- Aluminium is 100% recyclable without the loss in quality – such a process requires only 5% of electrical energy which needs to expended into the production of primary aluminium.
The Categories of 8 Alloys according to their Alloying Elements:
Series | Characteristics |
|---|---|
Series 1xxx | It does not contain an alloying element. It contains 99.3-99.9% of aluminium and the rest is minor impurities. It is characteristic for its excellent conductivity and therefore it is often used in power engineering. The material of series No. 1xxx cannot be hardened and it can be strong up to 40-60 MPa. |
Series 2xxx | The alloying element is copper. This series of alloys is characteristic for their high strength which can be achieved by the process of heat hardening. Hardened aluminium can be strong as 400 MPa. Alloys of this series are not suitable for surface finishing and are hard to weld together. |
Series 3xxx | The alloying element is manganese. These alloys are less strong but they are easy to form, suitable for elox finishing and welding. |
Series 4xxx | The alloying element is silicon. |
Series 5xxx | The alloying element is magnesium. These alloys are medium strong (200-350 MPa), which can be achieved by heat machining or forming. They are very resistant to corrosion in aggressive environment and in salt water. |
Series 6xxx | The alloying element is magnesium and silicon. These alloys are medium strong (200-350 MPa), which can be achieved by heat machining or forming. Alloys of series 6xxx are suitable for the application of anodic oxidation as a surface finish technology. |
Series 7xxx | The alloying element is zinc. These alloys are the strongest of all the categories of alloys reaching the strength of 450-500MPa and in some cases even 600 MPa. These alloys are prone to intergranul corrosion mainly after welding. |
Series 8xxx | These alloys contain other alloying elements (including lithium). |
