The resilience of an aluminium metal sheet
It is one of the most widely used materials because it lends itself to numerous performances and applications. Let’s explore how an aluminium metal sheet can give rise to many things and become valuable for the production of expanded metal.
What is aluminium?
Aluminium is a chemical element naturally present on Earth. It constitutes about 8% of the Earth’s crust: it is then the most abundant metal. Thanks to its versatility, it plays a crucial role in various applications, including:
- automobile;
- manufacturing;
- construction.
Since the inception of industrial aluminium production, global demand has surged significantly. A large portion of the demand is for virgin aluminium. Nevertheless, at least one-third relies on recycled aluminium, sourced from scrap metal.
It is noteworthy that aluminium is a key engineering material because of its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, surpassing that of steel.
What are the properties of aluminium?
So, what makes aluminium so appreciated in many industries? An aluminium sheet offers a lot of advantages which are associated with its main properties.
Thermal and electrical conductivity
Aluminium has an excellent conductivity for both heat and electricity. Its thermal conductivity plays an important role in various applications, such as heat exchangers employed in industries like chemical processing, food production and aircraft manufacturing.
Resistance to corrosion
Aluminium develops a protective layer of oxide skin if exposed to air and humidity. This oxide layer provides resistance to deterioration and weathering, even in harsh weather conditions. Anodizing treatments enhance the durability of the oxide layer on surfaces.
Reflectivity
Reflectivity is the property of reflecting light or radiation. An aluminium sheet can bounce almost 80% of light and 90% of the heat on its surface.
Strength
Pure aluminium has a tensile strength of 90 MPa (MegaPascal, a basic unit of pressure or tension measurement). It is highly valuable for structural materials. Alloying with elements such as copper, manganese and silicon increases its strength.
Recyclability
Aluminium can be recycled over and over again. It does not lose its quality. Almost 75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use today according to the International Aluminium Institute, the body representing the global primary aluminium industry.
What are the advantages of an aluminium sheet?
Aluminium is easy to make and that’s one of its important qualities because it can be worked with easily using different methods.
- You can make aluminium into different thicknesses, starting from really thin foils (thinner than paper) to rolling aluminium wires, and forming an aluminium sheet that can be rolled, stamped and drawn.
- Basically, the fast and easy way aluminium can be shaped helps keep the cost low when making parts. Aluminium metal can be turned, milled and bored quickly with machines that are capable of handling its flexible nature.
The characteristics of aluminium make it a very useful material in the production of expanded metal mesh for facades, interior furnishings and other design and architectural products such as false ceilings.
The work processes make the final product more customised and aesthetically pleasing. Thanks to cutting-edge machinery, the production of aluminium expanded metal is more efficient and innovative. An advanced anodising system, for example, provides a wide range of colours and helps make the material even more durable.
Aluminium and its alloys work well in the cold. Unlike steel that gets brittle in low temperatures, aluminium gets stronger. It also holds up better against pulling, stretching and impact. Aluminium is better at resisting rust in the cold, making it good to use in cold and icy places without breaking down quickly because of moisture.
What is aluminium mesh used for?
Aluminium mesh is a really useful material in building things because it has a lot of good points. It is different from other metals because it is not heavy, and it looks nice with different finishes. This makes it great for inside projects such as:
- curtains;
- room dividers;
- staircases;
- furniture and wall coverings;
- ceilings;
- railings.
Attractive and versatile solutions arise from the resilience of this material.
