ALUMINIUM PROFILE

What is Aluminum Extrusion?

Aluminum extrusion is a technique used to transform aluminum alloy into objects with a definitive cross-sectional profile for a wide range of uses. The extrusion process makes the most of aluminum’s unique combination of physical characteristics. Its malleability allows it to be easily machined and cast, and yet aluminum is one third the density and stiffness of steel so the resulting products offer strength and stability, particularly when alloyed with other metals.

The Process of Aluminum Extrusion

The process of aluminum extrusion consists of the following steps:

• After designing and creating the shape of the die, a cylindrical billet of aluminum alloy is heated to 800°F-925°F.
• The aluminum billet is then transferred to a loader, where a lubricant is added to prevent it from sticking to the extrusion machine, the ram or the handle.
• Substantial pressure is applied to a dummy block using a ram, which pushes the aluminum billet into the container, forcing it through the die.
• To avoid the formation of oxides, nitrogen in liquid or gaseous form is introduced and allowed to flow through the sections of the die. This creates an inert atmosphere and increases the life of the die.
• The extruded part passes onto a run-out table as an elongated piece that is now the same shape as the die opening. It is then pulled to the cooling table where fans cool the newly created aluminum extrusion.
• When the cooling is completed, the extruded aluminum is moved to a stretcher, for straightening and work hardening.
• The hardened extrusions are brought to the saw table and cut according to the required lengths.
• The final step is to treat the extrusions with heat in age ovens, which hardens the aluminum by speeding the aging process.

Additional complexities may be applied during this process to further customize the extruded parts. For example, to create hollow sections, pins or piercing mandrels are placed inside the die. After the extrusion process, a variety of options are available to adjust the colour, texture and brightness of the aluminum’s finish. This may include aluminum anodizing or painting.

Today, aluminum extrusion is used for a wide range of purposes, including components of the International Space Station. These diverse applications are possible due to the advantageous attributes of aluminum, from its particular blend of strength and ductility to its conductivity, its non-magnetic properties and its ability to be recycled repeatedly without loss of integrity. All of these capabilities make aluminum extrusion a viable and adaptable solution for an growing number of manufacturing needs.

Extrusion Process

Extrusion Billet

The starting material for making aluminium extrusions is the aluminium billet. These are cast in lengths of up to 6 metres and available in a wide range of alloys and diameters. After casting they are further heat-treated , (homogenised), before being supplied to the extrusion plant.

Pre-heating

In most extrusion plants today the first operation is to cut the long extrusion log into suitable lengths for extrusion based on press capacity and the final extruded length. The cut log or billet is fed into the billet heater where it is heated typically to 400 – 500 deg.C. The exact temperature will depend on the alloy, shape complexity and other process parameters.

Extrusion

Extrusion involves pressing a preheated aluminium ingot (450-500°C) under high pressure through a die the opening of which corresponds to the cross-section of the extrusion. The extrusion press speed depends on the alloy and the complexity of the die’s opening.

There are two basic types of extrusion process – direct and indirect. In the traditional direct method the die is stationary.

The pre-heated billet is loaded into the container and squeezed through the die opening, (which corresponds to the cross-section of the extrusion).

Typical press sizes range from 1,600 tonnes to 6,500 tonnes – sufficient force to cause the aluminium to flow plastically and exit the die at extrusion speeds in the range of 5-80 m/min. At the exit of the die the temperature of the extrusion will be in excess of 500 deg. C. The extruded length may be as long as 50 metres and may consist of one strand or multiple strands of the same section. With most commercial alloys the extrusion will be cooled or quenched as it exits the press.

Cooling

Cooling is carried out for two main reasons:

To enable the subsequent stretching and handling of the extruded lengths.
As the first part of the heat treatment of age-hardening alloys – these form the bulk of commercial alloys. This “solution cooling” operation may be achieved with air, water or a mixture of the two depending on the alloy and the final mechanical property requirements. (The use of solution in this context is a metallurgical term referring to what is happening in the aluminium alloy and does not describe the medium used for cooling).

Stretching and Cutting to Length

The long lengths are transferred across the press table into the stretcher. Here, stretcher jaws at either end grip the metal and give it a controlled stretch. This straightens the long lengths and can also have a minor effect on subsequent mechanical properties.

The up to 50 metre long extrusions are then fed to the saw conveyor where they are cut to the customer’s required length. Typical customer cut lengths range from 2-6 meters, but other lengths can be accommodated. The ability to supply longer lengths will depend on the logistics of the individual plants and shorter lengths are often achieved by an additional re-cut operation off-line.

Ageing

This is a specific form of heat treatment and typically involves heating the extrusions in ovens to a temperature in the range of 170-190 deg. C for 4 to 8 hours. This develops the mechanical properties of the extrusions, particularly their strength. The minimum mechanical properties that must be achieved after ageing are specified in the relevant EN/US Standards for different alloys and tempers.

After sufficient aging, whether in an aging oven or at room temperature, the profiles are moved to other areas of the plant and may be finished (painted or anodized), fabricated (cut, machined, bent, welded, assembled), or packed for shipment.