Beginners guide to aluminium

At Edcon Steel, we stock a wide variety of premium-quality aluminium sections, including C-section channels, square and round bars, tubes, tees, sheets, and chequer plates.

The latest edition of our beginner’s guide is all about aluminium. Here, we delve into the key characteristics and diverse applications of this versatile material.

What is aluminium?

Aluminium is the most commonly used metal in the world, apart from steel, and has a density lower than other metals. Soft, magnetic, and ductile, aluminium resembles silver in its colour and ability to reflect light.

Highly versatile, aluminium is known for being lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it useful for almost any industry.

From aerospace engineering and construction to packaging and electronics, aluminium can be found all around us.

This article delves into this important metal, its key characteristics, and its various applications.

Characteristics of aluminium

Lightweight

Weighing around one-third as much as steel or copper, the most notable characteristic of aluminium is its light weight. This makes it perfect for industries and applications where weight reduction is crucial, such as transportation.

Corrosion resistant

Aluminium is naturally corrosion resistant because it reacts to oxygen in the air by forming a thin, hard, and durable layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. Remarkably, If this layer is damaged, it can form a new layer of aluminium oxide, protecting itself from further degradation. Because of this, aluminium is a great option for applications in outdoor or marine environments.

Strength-to-weight ratio

While lightweight, aluminium alloys have a very high strength-to-weight ratio (higher than steel) and low density. This makes aluminium ideal for applications where weight is a major factor, such as aircraft and automotive components, as well as construction.

Conductivity

Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, so much so that it is replacing copper in many applications. With a high conductivity-to-weight ratio and low cost, it is becoming the preferred option for many applications where electrical conduction is vital, such as wiring and heat sinks in electronic devices.

Ductility and malleability

Aluminium is also prized for its ductility and malleability, which means it can be easily formed into different shapes without breaking. Commonly rolled into thin sheets or drawn into wires, aluminium is perfect for a wide range of manufacturing applications.

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Edcon Steel-Model-engine — *Andrew Carstens’ twin-cylinder model engine.*

Aluminium applications

Construction

Aluminium is commonly used in the construction of window frames, building facades, roofing, and structural components. Its corrosion resistance, lightweight, and aesthetic appeal make it a favourite among architects and builders alike. One of our creative customers, Emily, showed the versatility of aluminium in construction with her mobile acrobatic stage!

Automotive
Because of its lightness, aluminium is commonly used in the automotive industry for engine components, frames, wheels, and body panels. Andrew Carstens, the winner of an Edcon Steel project competition, used aluminium products for his twin-cylinder model engine.

Edcon Steel-Finn’s Satellite Ground Station.

Aerospace and Aviation

The aerospace industry relies heavily on aluminium because of its strength-to-weight ratio and low weight.

Aircraft bodies, wings, and internal structures are often made from aluminium alloys to improve fuel efficiency and performance.

One of our customers, Finn, even built a satellite ground station using aluminium round tube.

Electrical
Because of its high conductivity, aluminium is used extensively in the electrical industry, from power lines to motors.

It is also a very common material in electronics such as casings and heat exchangers.

Buy metal online from Edcon Steel

At Edcon Steel, we pride ourselves on the expertise of our staff, our level of customer service and the depth of our local market knowledge.

You can visit our stores to browse the range or pick up an online order. Our staff are on hand to answer any questions you have about our full range of products and services, so feel free to contact us for your steel or metal solution today.