Aluminum is one of the most useful metals on earth, and aluminum plate is one of its most useful forms. Aluminum has a number of properties that make it versatile and useful in many different industries. Aluminum plate is an easy form work to handle and ship. With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder that so many businesses are always on the lookout for aluminum plate for sale.
Properties of Aluminum
If you’ve ever held a piece of aluminum in your hand, you probably realized that it was very light, a result of having a low density. Surprisingly, this has little adverse affect on its strength, which is as high as 700 MPa for some alloys. Unlike steel, aluminum actually gets stronger in the cold, too. It is also corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic, conductive and reflective.
Aluminum can be worked much more easily than most metals, with a large coefficient of linear expansion and superior malleability (absolutely essential for aluminum extrusion). It can be easily machined, whether cut, punched, drilled, milled or bent. Aluminum pieces can be joined by fusion welding, taping, bonding and friction stir welding.
Uses for Aluminum
Aluminum’s strength and light weight make it very popular in the aerospace and transportation industries, especially in its plate form. It can be used to make the skin of an airplane, the fenders of a car, exhaust components, and even parts of the engines of vehicles. Aluminum plate is used in construction for everything from shed walls to I-beams and elevators. Aluminum can be extruded to make gutters, troughs, and a host of decorative pieces, fittings and clips. Aluminum is a staple of the HVAC industry, being the perfect material from which to make ductwork.
Aluminum Plate
When you see aluminum plate for sale, it is generally classified according to how the plate is made and the type of alloy used. Typically, plates are wrought, cast or molded, and some popular alloys include 2024, 7075, Alca 5, Mic 6 and Max 5, among others. Each alloy has its own features that are beneficial for different uses. Aluminum plate is sold by thickness, and that thickness can vary from fractions of an inch up to 30 inches thick or more, depending on the alloy and whether it was wrought, cast or molded.
Howard Precision Metals, Inc. is a leading supplier of aluminum in many forms. To learn more, visit Howardprecision.com.
