Benefits of Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum extrusions provide an array of benefits in terms of their characteristics and available industrial applications. At Howard Precision Metals, we are the leading aluminum extrusion supplier you can trust to deliver the aluminum extrusion shapes you need for your projects and applications.

The various benefits provided by aluminum extrusions include:

Strength

Aluminum extrusions stock may be developed with varying levels of strength to meet the needs of a wide range of applications. The extrusion process enables the concentration of strength where it is required – for instance with the addition of internal reinforcement and varying wall thicknesses. These extrusions are particularly beneficial for cold-weather applications in which aluminum performs well.

Note: we often think of strength coming from which aluminum alloy we choose, but in Aluminum extrusion shapes, additional strength can come from the design.

Lightweight Characteristic

Aluminum extrusions are often easy to handle relative to other potential options with aluminum having approximately one-third the weight of steel, iron, copper, and brass. When weight reduction is a priority for applications that involve moving parts or transportation, aluminum extrusions are an attractive option.

Resilience

Aluminum and aluminum extrusions are flexible and strong. They offer considerable resiliency, having the ability to spring back from impact loads and flex under other loads, making them particularly useful as extruded parts for crash management systems in automobiles.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

Aluminum extrusion shapes consist of a unique combination of low weight and high strength, making them ideal in applications where supporting heavy loads and minimizing weight is important, such as in bridges, truck trailers, and aerospace designs.

Corrosion Resistance

Aluminum extrusions stock is highly corrosion resistant. The surface of aluminum is protected naturally through oxidation, which prevents rust. This natural protection can be enhanced by anodization or other finishing processes.

Excellent Thermal Conductors

Aluminum and aluminum extrusions conduct cold and heat more efficiently than other metals in terms of their weight and overall cost. This makes extrusion ideal for applications involving heat dissipation or heat exchangers. The design flexibility offered with extrusions permit designers to optimize heat dissipation in various components, including housings.

Excellent Electrical Conductor

Aluminum has twice the conductivity as copper when compared pound for pound. As a result, aluminum extrusions are highly cost-effective for bus bar distribution parts and electrical connectors.

Non-Sparking

Aluminum is a non-sparking metal and as such aluminum extrusion shapes are ideal for applications that involve highly flammable environments or explosive materials.

Nontoxic and Noncombustible

Even in exceptionally high temperatures, aluminum does not emit toxic fumes and it also does not burn.

Non-magnetic

Because aluminum does not develop a magnetic charge, aluminum extrusions stock products are ideal for use in high-voltage applications in addition to electronics (where magnetic fields are often involved).

Seamless Construction

The aluminum extrusion process allows the creation of complex shapes that do not require mechanical connections. This results in the development of profiles that are often stronger than mechanically joined assemblies and also less prone to leaking or loosening over time.

Reflective

Aluminum extrusion shapes and parts may be given surface treatments that create high reflectance, a property that is advantageous for applications involving lighting or where it is necessary to protect certain areas from light, infrared radiation, or radio waves.

Easily Tailored to Customized Requirements

Aluminum extrusions are preferred for the design of many products because of the ability to design custom profiles that meet various aesthetic, functional, and manufacturability requirements. Creating a custom Aluminum extrusion shape is also very cost effective when comparing to machining a block to the same design.

Easy Fabrication and Assembly

Various fabrication processes are used in the production of aluminum extrusions stock and custom assemblies and components. When aluminum extrusions are effectively designed, the fabrication that follows is often greatly simplified.

As an example, it takes particular skill and experience to produce consistently good welds. In the process of welding and making other connections, additional pieces of material may be required and some material may be lost due to practice or if errors occur. On the other hand, an aluminum extrusion made from a single piece can be used instead of a number of separate pieces that need to be welded together. In addition, aluminum extrusion can be used to design sections that easily assemble together through interlocking.

Fast-to-market

Aluminum extrusion shapes are generally available with short lead times, which means designers can opt for optimized designs instead of settling for standard aluminum extrusions stock available in catalogs. This facilitates the development of prototypes, testing, and new product launches.

Recyclable and Reusable

Aluminum may be recycled over and over again without a reduction in its properties. Often times, aluminum extrusion shapes are produced using a high percentage of recycled content without negatively affecting the end product’s functionality or aesthetics. There is a considerable market for scrap aluminum. Any aluminum piece that has reached the end of its service life may be recycled for eventual reuse. Because aluminum is reusable, some assemblies made from extruded aluminum sections may be disassembled if needed, with the individual pieces used in other ways.

If you have aluminum extrusion requirements related to a project or application, our team at Howard Precision Metals can help. Give us a call today at 800.444.0311 or visit our website to request a quote.