5 Interesting Facts about Aluminum Extrusion
What you might not know about extruded aluminum
Aluminum extrusion is increasingly sought-after as it provides a number of financial and procedural benefits in the manufacturing sector. With the invention of aluminum extrusion processes and its rise in popularity, the number of dies, billets, and designs available for extrusion has quadrupled. The ecological aspects of aluminum have also become more apparent and have contributed to the increased popularity of extrusion. To shed more light on this emerging trend in aluminum processing, here are five interesting facts about aluminum extrusion.
1. A first for everything
The process of extrusion has been around since 1797 when Joseph Bramah patented the method. It was largely executed manually until the invention of the hydraulic press in 1820. However, it was not until 1894 that Alexander Dick invented the first hot extrusion process to be used with non-ferrous materials. According to Gale’s Encyclopedia of American Industries, aluminum extrusion was in high demand during the two World Wars for the manufacturing of military and aircraft machinery.
2. Rising temperatures
During the aluminum extrusion process, temperatures can range from 375 to 500 degrees Celsius, which is still below the boiling point for aluminum alloys, set at about 660 degrees Celsius. This means that the aluminum foundation is actually pushed through the die in a solid form, though not as solid as room-temperature aluminum, according to the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC).
3. Aesthetic beauty
Aluminum extrusions are not only being used in the manufacturing of products related to hard industries such as transportation, food preparation, and space exploration. Interestingly, the process is being widely used to create works of art, including jewellery. Swedish design firm Claesson Koivisto Rune created bracelets through “twisting aluminum as it leaves the die and slicing the extrusion in an irregular manner,” according to the AEC. The bracelets are not only everlasting in their durable strength, but they are also easily recyclable for different uses.
4. Record Setter
Extruded aluminum has many advantageous features for the modern consumer: cost-effectiveness, increased lifespan, and eco-friendliness, to name a few. However, some of these benefits are setting incredible world records. Tesla Motors’ Model S achieved a record automotive safety rating, thanks, in part, to its extensive use of extruded aluminum. According to the AEC, “The Model S ‘preserved 64.5% of driver residual space’ as a result of ‘nesting multiple deep aluminum extrusions’ in the car’s side rail to absorb impact energy.” This led to a record performance in the side pole intrusion test, one of the “most severe challenges to structural integrity.” In addition, the use of extruded aluminum in the manufacturing of bicycles allowed Koga to launch their record-breaking A-Limited aluminum frame, weighing just over two pounds.
5. Ideal properties
Many properties of extruded aluminum make it ideal for use in the manufacturing of certain products. However, aluminum extrusions have unique properties that may come as a surprise. For example, aluminum extrusions do not emit sparks, making them an ideal material for use with explosives. In addition, aluminum extrusions have a distinctive high-strength-to-low-weight ratio, without which “space travel might never have been realized,” according to the AEC. Aluminum’s thermal conductivity has also contributed to the extrusion process being used in hot and cold applications. Aluminum extrusions present a range of desirable characteristics not seen in other processed alloys.