Aluminium Sheet

In the mid nineteen sixties aluminium was made, or discovered. The country of Malaysia seems to be the first plant that rolled out the aluminium sheet. The company incorporated the name of Alcan Malayan aluminium Company, shortened to ALCOM.

The aluminium sheet is now used for a multitude of things. From roofing materials, construction, accessories, materials for ship building, bottle caps, etc. the aluminium sheet does not rust easily, as pure aluminium has a very low intensity, the higher the purity it has, the lower the intensity. aluminium sheet 1050 is welded with the TIG (tungsten inert gas0 and MIG (metal inert gas) processes.

aluminium sheet can be gas welded or resistance welded. But the joints that are resistance welded are not as strong or resists corrosion as the inert gas welded joints. Using gas welding can result in heat distortion, and it might burn through. There are four different grades for aluminium as some call it sheet metal. They are 1100-H14, 3004-H14, 5052-32 and 6061-T6.

The purest grade of aluminium is grad 1100-H14, as it is weather and chemical resistant. It is yielding enough for the deep drawing and it can be welded easily but it is low in strength. This grade of aluminium sheet is used to make jewelry, reflectors and processing equipment.

The next strongest aluminium sheet is the 3003-H14, it is a bit stronger than the 1100, and it is still low cost and keeps the same form and is corrosion proof and can be welded. This grade is used in spun, drawn or stamping parts; tanks, mail boxes, and fan blades. Those are just some of the items it is used for. The third grade, 5052-H32 is much stronger than 3003, but it still can be welded and holds its form. This grade of aluminium sheet has a very high corrosion level, meaning it is almost corrosion proof. Pressure vessels, electronic chassis and tanks are made from this aluminium sheet.

The strongest aluminium sheet is grade 6061-T6 and it is heat treatable. It is as well, stronger and more corrosion resistant than the other three, it is not easy to mold. It also will lose some the strength when welded. Almost every manufacture of the aluminium sheet makes perforated metal products. It seems to more predictable and accurate of the load bearing capacity than wire mesh or expanded metal. aluminium sheet that is perforated is mainly used in lighting, automotive, mining, military and acoustical applications.

There is a lot of aluminium sheets that are made as foil. It is prepared in very thin metal leafs, and the thickness is less than 0.2mm/0.008. This type of aluminium sheet is extremely easy to bend or fold. This type is usually used for wrapping items up. These are often laminated to some other material such as paper or plastic. aluminium sheet foil replaced the tin foil in the mid twentieth century.

aluminium sheets made into the thin foil can be used as a form of art, many crafts and decorations. Although it is silvery in color, through iodization, it can be different colors. This creates an oxide layer on the aluminium sheet surface that will accept metallic slats or colored dyes.