Monday, December 9, 2013

Sheet Aluminum Is Lighter Than Steel And Can Be Stronger

By Leanne Goff


Sheet aluminum is something that has changed the way we build many things. Since being discovered in the 1800s, it has been used for things that have impacted every bodies lives in many ways. Most people know that it is lightweight and, for that, everyone is glad. It is strong and corrosion resistant, but that is just the beginning.

Quite a few people know that airplanes are constructed from this material. They may also know that space craft as well as many of the things the military use are made from this flexible material. The stresses and pressures put onto all of these objects made it necessary for the industry to find that substance that can withstand them. Aluminum fit the bill perfectly.

Aluminum is easy to work with. It can be bent, shaped, molded and machined with a variety of hand tools. It can be seen as case parts on your computer and wrapped around the casserole you have in the oven as foil. It has the ability to be used as a fine cooking surface and comprises many of the parts in each and every appliance you have in the kitchen.

Cars have many parts that are made from this non rusting, corrosion resistant material. Many body parts have been fabricated from this metal and that reduces the weight of the car to conserve on gas. Frames, engine blocks and much of the trim, on most new cars, have this as a primary component. It can be brushed to provide a luster or polished to shine like anything else.

The raw metal is fairly soft and malleable. The strength comes from being alloyed with other metals. Some of these are stainless steel, carbon steel, brass and copper as well as titanium. The other metals will lend the aluminum some of their properties while keeping the best feature which is its rust and corrosion resistance. The weight of the object is brought down by this metal and every application benefits from the compounding of two or more elements to create the various grades.

All of the different grades, such as aircraft, food and general purpose, will have specific formulations used for each category of use. Aircraft grades will be used in the aviation industries and food grades will be used for the processing of food products as well as those items found in kitchens. The many general purpose grades can be found in everything else and made in just the right way to help those items benefit from it.

This material is used in the construction trade for many of the things that wood used to be used. The framing of the structure, with the many necessary studs, use this material to a larger degree than ever. The electrical conduits can be made from this as well as the flashing on your roof. With its strength and ability to withstand many things that will interfere with the integrity of many other materials, it is an all around nice material to work with.

When you have a material that has the strength of steel and the lightweight functionality of raw aluminum, you have the best of both worlds. Sheet aluminum does this for you whether you are looking at the walls that hold up the roof or keeps your computer running properly. This pertains to the space craft and the deep sea diving equipment that has to protect that diver from the dangers down there.




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