Fabricated Aluminum Components Add Light Weight & Versatility

From the aluminum foil in our kitchens to the fuselages of the airplanes we travel on, aluminum plays an indispensable role in modern life. 

The global market for aluminum is projected to reach $249.83 billion in 2024, thanks to a range of properties that add value to a range of products. 

Light, strong and versatile, aluminum is corrosion-resistant and easy to shape into a wide range of components thanks to its malleability. It is also non-toxic, non-magnetic and non-sparking. Aluminum is often used as an alloy in order to achieve added strength. Common alloys include copper, manganese, magnesium and silicon.

Products Containing Aluminum Parts

Aluminum is used in a vast number of products of many shapes and sizes in a variety of industries. We use it in the cans, foils and kitchen utensils in our homes. Construction applications include window frames. Industrial uses include vehicle parts and electrical transmission lines.

Highly reflective aluminum coatings are formed when the metal is evaporated in a vacuum. Uses include telescopic mirrors, decorative paper, packaging and toys. 

• Automotive: The proportion of aluminum in new vehicles is increasing. Because of its light weight, it helps to boost fuel economy. Common applications include engine components, body panels, wheels and electric vehicle batteries. 

• Aerospace: Aluminum reduces the weight of an aircraft and increases payload capacity compared with heavier materials. It is commonly used for fuselages, wings and landing gear. 
• Marine vessels: Aluminum is frequently found in hulls and superstructures in commercial and military vessels, as well as recreational boats. 

Finally, aluminum is a highly recyclable material, which helps to reduce waste in our landfills. 

Aluminum Grades

As with other types of metal, aluminum comes in a variety of grades based on its composition and unique properties. The Aluminum Association has 530 registered aluminum alloys. These grades tell manufacturers which material will yield the best results for a specific application. 

Grades include four numerical digits followed by a letter. The first digit groups the alloys into families as follows: 

1. Pure aluminum – high conductivity, workability and corrosion resistance
2. Aluminum-copper – Heat-treatable, high strength, high toughness
3. Aluminum-manganese – Moderate strength and workability
4. Aluminum-silicone – Lower melting point without brittleness
5. Aluminum-magnesium – Moderate to high strength, good weldability and good resistance to corrosion
6. Aluminum-silicone-magnesium – Heat-treatable, versatile, highly formable and weldable
7. Aluminum-zinc – May include magnesium, copper or chromium; heat-treatable and high strength

The letter at the end of each grade indicates the material’s temper and can be either H, O or T. 

• H = Aluminum that has been work-hardened (or strain-hardened)
• O = Aluminum that has been annealed at the mill
• T = Aluminum that has been thermally treated

Hardened aluminum, or H temper, can be further categorized as:

• H1 = Work-hardened only
• H2 = Work-hardened then partially annealed
• H3 = Work-hardened then stabilized

The second digit in H-temper shows that the aluminum was hardened to a specific degree:

• 2 = ¼ hard
• 4 = ½ hard
• 6 = ¾ hard
• 8 = fall hard
• 9 = extra hard

Thermally treated aluminum, or T temper, can be divided into ten categories:

• T1 = Naturally aged after cooling
• T2 = Cooled, cold worked and naturally aged
• T3 = Solution heat treated, cold worked and naturally aged
• T4 = Naturally aged after solution heat treated
• T5 = Cooled and then artificially aged
• T6 = Artificially aged after solution heat treatment
• T7 = Solution heat treated and overaged
• T8 = Solution heat treated, cold worked and artifically aged
• T9 = Solution heat treated, artificially aged and cold worked
• T10 = Cooled, cold worked and artificially aged

Aluminum Gauge

While the metal grade categorizes aluminum based on its composition, its gauge identifies its thickness. The material’s thickness dictates the correct tools and processing methods fabricators will use to create custom parts. 

The gauge for different types of metal is measured on a different system. Nonferrous metals, including aluminum, are measured according to the American Wire Gauge, also known as the Brown and Sharpe system. The lower the gauge, the thicker the aluminum (See Appendix).

The gauge of the aluminum tells engineers what designs will be feasible and enables fabricators to determine the correct process for cutting, forming and welding the metal. For example, thinner materials are more vulnerable to high temperatures and more difficult to weld, while thicker metals are harder to bend. 

Get a Quote on Custom Fabricated Aluminum

From custom design to assembly, Metaltech fabricates quality, custom aluminum components for your products. We have the tools and experience to handle parts of all shapes and sizes in large production runs as well as small one-off projects. 

We encourage you to request a quote and contact us online if you have a question. You can also give us a call at 417-426-5577.

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