Aluminum extrusions outperform stainless steel: the best choice for industrial applications
1. Introduction
In industrial applications, material selection is crucial. Aluminum extruded profiles and stainless steel are both common industrial materials, but aluminum extruded profiles show advantages over stainless steel in many aspects, making them the best choice for many industrial application scenarios.
2. Weight advantage
Portability
Aluminum has a density of approximately 2.7g/cm³, while stainless steel typically has a density between 7.9 – 8.0g/cm³. This means that aluminum extrusions are significantly lighter than stainless steel. For example, when manufacturing a large industrial frame, if aluminum extrusions are used, its weight may be only about one-third of that of stainless steel.
This lightness is critical in weight-sensitive industrial applications. In the aerospace industry, for example, every gram of weight saved can significantly reduce fuel consumption and operating costs. Aluminum extruded profiles are used to manufacture some internal structural parts of aircraft, such as luggage racks, seat frames, etc., which not only meet the structural strength requirements, but also greatly reduce the overall weight of the aircraft.
Easy to transport and install
Due to the light weight of aluminum extruded profiles, transportation costs can be reduced during transportation. Taking trucking as an example, aluminum extruded profiles of the same volume can load more quantities than stainless steel profiles because they do not overload the vehicle.
During installation, lighter aluminum extrusions are easier to handle and handle. Workers can move it to the installation location more easily and do not need to use large lifting equipment, which is especially important in some installation scenarios where space is limited or there is no assistance from large equipment.
3. Cost-effectiveness
Raw material cost
Aluminum is one of the most abundant metallic elements in the earth’s crust, and its raw materials come from a wide range of sources. This makes the basic raw material cost of aluminum extruded profiles relatively low. In contrast, stainless steel contains a large amount of alloying elements such as chromium and nickel. The acquisition and processing costs of these elements are high, resulting in the price of stainless steel materials being generally higher than that of aluminum extruded profiles.
For example, in the construction industry, for the manufacture of some large door and window frames, if you choose aluminum extruded profiles, you can save a lot of money in raw material procurement.
Processing cost
Aluminum extrusions are relatively easy to process. Aluminum has a low melting point (approximately 660°C) and requires relatively low energy and equipment requirements during the extrusion process. Stainless steel has a higher melting point (generally between 1370 and 1400°C), requiring higher temperatures and more complex equipment during processing, which undoubtedly increases processing costs.
From the perspective of cutting processing, the hardness of aluminum is low. When cutting, drilling and other processing operations on aluminum extruded profiles, the tool wear is smaller and the processing speed is faster. This not only reduces tool replacement costs, but also improves production efficiency and further reduces processing costs.
4. Good plasticity and processability
Molding diversity
Aluminum extruded profiles have excellent plasticity. Through the extrusion process, aluminum can be processed into various complex shapes, such as industrial profiles of various cross-sectional shapes, including I-shaped, trough-shaped, square, etc. This diverse shape can meet the special needs of different industrial applications.
For example, in the automobile manufacturing industry, aluminum extruded profiles can be processed into various parts of the automobile body frame. Their complex shapes can better adapt to the design and functional requirements of the automobile, while also reducing the weight of the car body and improving fuel efficiency. Economy.
Easy surface treatment
The surface of aluminum extruded profiles can be easily subjected to various treatments, such as anodizing, spraying, etc. Anodizing treatment can form a dense oxide film on the surface of aluminum profiles. This oxide film can not only improve the corrosion resistance of aluminum profiles, but also enhance its surface hardness, and can give aluminum profiles various colors through dyeing and other methods. Make it more decorative.
In contrast, the surface treatment of stainless steel is relatively complex, and certain surface treatment methods may affect its corrosion resistance and other properties. For example, after stainless steel is welded, special treatment is required on the welded area to restore its corrosion resistance, while aluminum extruded profiles require relatively simple surface treatment after similar processing.
5. Good thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity
Thermal Conductivity Applications
Aluminum has a high thermal conductivity of about 237W/(m·K), which makes aluminum extrusions excellent in industrial applications that require heat dissipation. In the electronics industry, aluminum extrusions are often used to manufacture heat sinks. For example, computer CPU radiators are usually made of aluminum extrusions. Its good thermal conductivity can effectively dissipate the heat generated by the CPU and ensure the stable operation of the computer.
Conductive applications
Aluminum is also a good conductive material. Although its conductivity is slightly lower than copper, in some industrial applications that do not require extremely high conductivity, aluminum extruded profiles can be used as conductive structural materials. For example, in some structures of power transmission towers, aluminum extruded profiles can play a certain conductive role and reduce material costs while meeting structural strength requirements.
6. Corrosion resistance
Corrosion resistance in natural environments
Aluminum extruded profiles will form a dense oxide film on the surface in the natural environment. This oxide film can effectively prevent further oxidation of aluminum. Aluminum extruded profiles have good corrosion resistance under most natural environmental conditions, such as atmosphere and fresh water.
In contrast, although stainless steel also has a certain degree of corrosion resistance, in some specific environments, such as environments containing chloride ions (seaside environments), corrosion phenomena such as pitting corrosion may occur in stainless steel. As long as the oxide film of aluminum extruded profiles is not damaged, it can maintain good corrosion resistance.
Corrosion resistance in industrial environments
In some industrial environments, such as chemical industry, food processing and other industries, the corrosion resistance of aluminum extruded profiles also has excellent performance. For some container frames that store non-corrosive chemicals, or equipment frames in food processing workshops, aluminum extruded profiles can resist the erosion of chemical substances while meeting strength requirements.
