ALUMINIUM

By Prof. Mohan
ALUMINIUM

BMC - III
 ALUMINIUM - PROPERTIES
Aluminium is light, strong, and resistant to corrosion and cracking. But
for aluminum to be a strong construction material, it needs to be mixed with small
amounts of other metals. ... The most common elements used in aluminium alloys are
magnesium, silicon, manganese, zinc and copper.
Aluminium is a silvery-white, lightweight metal. It is soft and malleable. Aluminium is
used in a huge variety of products including cans, foils, kitchen utensils, window
frames, beer kegs and aeroplane parts. This is because of its particular properties.

• It is a very good conductor of heat and electricity.

• It is a non-magnetic substance.

• It is highly resistant to corrosion.

• It is light in weight, malleable, and ductile.

• It possesses great toughness and tensile strength.

ALUMINIUM - PROPERTIES
 ALUMINIUM - PROPERTIES
Aluminium's flexibility, strength and light weight are some of the qualities that make it attractive in so
many different applications.

Alloys
An aluminium alloy is a mixture of aluminium metal and other types of metal. Aluminium alloys are usually made to enhance
material properties. The most common elements used in aluminium alloys are magnesium, silicon, manganese, zinc and copper.
The properties of aluminium change when other metals are added. These other metals can give aluminium greater:
•Strength
•Brilliance
•Ductility
•Formability
• Aluminum can be recycled easily.

• High scrap value

• Non corrosive and non toxic so used for both indoor and outdoor

• Light weight and high strength and flexible . aluminium’s strength can
equal that of steel, yet its weight is still only one-third of the weight of
steel.

• High strength to weight ratio


Casting Based
• Baluster head
• Hardware & fittings
• Security & decorative grills
ALUMINIUM
Sheet Based
• Cable trays
Extrusion Based • Flat type false ceiling
• Prefabricated houses
• Doors and Window • Rain water Foil and
frames
• Ridging and angel of roof Powdered Based
• Panels and curtain walls
• Roofing and sliding • Decorative laminates
• Geodesic domes
• Aluminum plate : 6.35 mm • Insulative foils
• Green house & roof (0.250inch)
tops gardens • Paints
• Aluminum sheet :0.006 inch
• Hardware & fittings - 0.250inch • Water proofing
sheets
• North light glazing • Sheet is supplied either flat,
rolled or in coils, also
frame available in large sizes
• Space divider and
partition
 Casting Based

Baluster head Hardware & fittings Security & decorative grills

•It adds elegance to the •The unconventional •Commonly used

interior of buildings designs of hardware and everywhere
fittings can be produced
•Complicated figures can
be developed
 Extrusion Based

Extrusion means heating an ingot of aluminium and pressing it under high pressure through a die shaped
like the finished extrusion. Like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. 

Pure aluminium is only used in a limited way commercially. The majority of extrusions are made from
aluminum alloyed with other metals.

Aluminium is heated to to 500 degrees C and pressed through a shaped tool called a die.
The speed through the shaping tool depends on what metals the alloy is made of, and how complicated the
pattern of the tool is.
The extrusions are then drawn out onto a receiving table, stacked and allowed to cool. They are then tempered
and cut to a specified length. Some extrusions receive a surface finish
.
 Extrusion Based

The extrusion technique has almost unlimited possibilities for design. That, and the
fact that we can build in features that save both work and money, makes aluminium
extrusions the ideal construction material.
 Extrusion Based

Doors and Window frames Panels and curtain walls Geodesic domes

•Majorly used as building •Aluminium is light weight and •A vaulted structure of light
materials strong enough to resist wing straight elements that formed
load thus can be as panel interlocking polygon
•Possible to make several and curtain wall
types of windows and door
frame as per requirements •It can be produced by using
interlocking aluminium
extrusion
 Extrusion Based

Green house & roof Space divider and

Hardware & fittings Light glazing frame
tops gardens partition
•Aluminium extrusion •Used in handles, tower •Used in industrial •Used in office interiors
are used for making bolts, aldrops, curtail shed, cold region where high finishing
such green house and rails, etc because of its easy and quality is essential
roof-top gardens quick application and
maintenance free
installation
 Sheet Based

Cable trays Flat type false ceiling Prefabricated houses

•For carrying insulated •Such type of false •Made for colder and
electric cables in ceiling exhibit supreme tropical climates
industrial complex like aesthetic appearance •Effective paneling
chemical industries material for mobile
houses and caravans
 Sheet Based

Rain water gutters Ridging and angel of roof Roofing and siding

•Due to non-corrosive •For corner flashing, •Ideal material for roofing

property it can be apply for ridgings, monitor roofs and and siding of industrial
water gutter, spouts, etc gable end flashing buildings and workshops,
sheds, etc
 Foil and
Powdered Based

Decorative Water proofing

Insulative foils Paints
laminates sheets
•Used as wall •Used for insulating •Aluminium powder •Foil based
papers, partition air-conditioning based paints are laminates provide a
panels, etc ducts in large central useful to grant maintenance free
air-conditioned protection to the barrier for protection
system building against of roof against water
corrosive leakage
environment
 TYPES OF SHEET

Anodizing sheets Pre painted sheets Reflector sheets

 TYPES OF SHEET

Decorative panel sheets Patterned sheets Vinyl coated sheets

 FINISHES FOR
TYPES
ALUMINIUM
OF SHEET

Anodizing

• Electrolytic process used to increase a thickness films on aluminium.

• immersed in sulphuric acid and electrolytically made anodic, which converts the surface metal into a porous
aluminium oxide film, which is then sealed by boiling in water. The anodizing process increases durability and
can be used for trapping dyes within the surface to produce a wide range of coloured products.

• The anodic films are normally between 5 to 25 microns thick depending on its use.

• Anodic films can also be used as a base of dyes of any color basically golden, silver and black.
Surface textures

A range of surface textures is achieved by mechanical and chemical processing. Finishes include bright

polished, matt, etched and pattern-rolled according to the pretreatments applied, usually before

anodizing, and also the particular alloy used.

Coatings

Metallic

Zinc-coated aluminum is a foldable cladding material combining the durability of aluminium with the
appearance of pre-weathered zinc.
Organic

PVC and PVDF simulated wood-grain and other pattern film finishes may also be applied to aluminium extrusions

and curtain-wall systems. The range of factory-applied organic coatings, including polyester, acrylic, polyvinylidene

fluoride (PVDF), alkyd and polyurethane,

Paint

Where aluminium is painted for decorative purposes it is important that the appropriate primer is used. The

aluminium should be abraded or etched to give a good key to the paint system, although cast aluminium normally

has a sufficiently rough surface. Oxide primers are appropriate but red lead should be avoided.
USE OF ALUMINIUM
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
Around one-fifth of the world's aluminum consumption is accounted for by the construction industry. Bridges,
domes and roofing of markets and sports stadiums are among typical applications. Aluminum is highly suited
for roofing, cladding, stairways, railings and the like. Its malleability and stylish appearance make it ideal for
a variety of uses in window frames, doors and interior paneling.
 

TRANSPORTATION
Around one-quarter of aluminum use is in transportation. Increasing
priority is being given today to reducing the weight of transportation
hardware such as aircraft, trains, ships and motor vehicles in order to
reduce energy consumption and pollution. In this respect aluminium has
overwhelming advantages because of its combination of lightness and
strength. In aircraft construction, aluminum is used for frames, exteriors,
wiring and electrical systems; and in the automotive industry it is used for
frames, bodies, blocks, pistons, valves, bumpers, wheels and other parts.
The use of aluminum in trains, buses and boats is also steadily
increasing.
PACKAGING
Packaging accounts for around one-fifth of all aluminum use. Because of its
qualities, aluminium has few rivals when it comes to the packaging of food,
beverages and pharmaceuticals. Aluminum packaging is light and unbreakable
but not bulky. Lower energy consumption is achieved and there are reduced
distribution and recycling costs because transportation costs are kept to a
minimum. The high thermal conductivity of aluminum also spells energy savings
when drinks in aluminum cans are refrigerated.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Some 10% of aluminum use is connected with electricity usage. In electric wiring systems,
aluminum has almost entirely replaced copper. Aluminum is also increasingly replacing copper in
transformers. Because of its malleability and other properties, aluminum can also be used in casing,
mountings and other parts or equipment used in communications and electronics. Other
applications include general office equipment, fuse boxes, satellite dishes, household appliances,
television sets and sound systems. 
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
About a quarter of world aluminum consumption is accounted for by a wide variety of consumer
products including furniture and household fittings, as well as sundry manufactured goods such as
transportation containers, gas cylinders, masts, bicycles and caravans. In addition, aluminum is
used in marine applications such as the bodies of ships, helicopter pads, gangways, handrails and
firewalls. This long list of uses for aluminum is constantly growing, as new ideas become reality. 
Crystal Centre for Sustainable Urban Development in London
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
The Sage Gateshead, Gateshead Quays, United Kingdom
London Aquatic Centre