News dynamics
CNC machining, you must be familiar with the aluminum alloy material
2022-07-28
Aluminum is one of the most abundant metallic elements found in the earth's crust, and it is also the most widely used non-ferrous metal. Aluminum can be used in common objects, such as aluminum foil or aluminum cans, as well as in extreme special applications, such as parts for spaceships and submarines.
Properties of Aluminum
Aluminum is very ductile and malleable, which makes it widely used. Its malleability allows it to be made into aluminum foil, while its ductility allows aluminum to be drawn into rods and wires.
Aluminum is also highly resistant to corrosion. When exposed to air, aluminum naturally forms an oxide film that prevents the metal from corroding. This oxidation can also be induced synthetically to provide even stronger elemental protection. Aluminum's natural protective layer makes it more resistant to corrosion than carbon steel, but cannot compete with the chromium content of stainless steel. In addition, aluminum is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and is superior to carbon and stainless steel in both respects.
It is faster and easier to machine than steel, and its strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for many applications that require a strong, hard material. Aluminum is also very recyclable, and recycling aluminum can save up to 95% of the energy needed to produce virgin aluminum compared to the energy required to produce it.
Aluminum has some disadvantages compared to steel. It is not as hard as steel and is not suitable for parts that are subjected to high impact or extremely high load-bearing forces. Aluminum also has a much lower melting point (660°C compared to steel's lower melting point of about 1,400°C), so it cannot be used in high-temperature environments. It also has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, so if it becomes too hot during machining, it will struggle to maintain tight tolerances due to deformation.
Aluminum Alloys
Aluminum used for CNC machining is not pure aluminum; it always contains small amounts of alloying elements. Standard aluminum still contains 99% to 99.6% aluminum (elemental) by weight, with the remaining percentage made up of common materials such as silicon, manganese, magnesium, copper and zinc.
Numerous aluminum alloys can be manufactured by making minor adjustments to the content of the alloying elements. These common aluminum alloys are classified into nine series by major alloying elements, each of which has some common properties. For example, aluminum alloys in the 3000, 4000, and 5000 series cannot be heat-treated, but are instead cold-worked, also known as work-hardened.
Related News
Contact Us