Aluminum alloys are very unique among metal alloys as they have both strength as well as high corrosion resistance. They are also produced using a range of different techniques to create bar stock, sheets, tubing and aluminum plate.
Used as a preferred construction material for very extreme types of applications such as fuel tanks for spaceships and even the exterior of jet planes, aluminum plate is also found in railway cars, ships, and to provide the protective armor in a range of different military and custom made civilian security vehicles.
The Difference between Foil, Sheet and Plate
The most common confusion in different preparations of aluminum alloys is between the terms sheet and plate. They are both made using the same process which includes passing the alloy through pressurized rollers to create a thinner, longer plate or sheet.
The difference between aluminum plate and sheet is in the thickness or gauge of the final product. Anything less than .25 inches in thickness is considered to be aluminum sheet. From .25 and greater the flat alloy is considered to be plate. There is also a third option, known as foil, which is less than .008 inches in thickness.
Making Aluminum Plate
It takes more than just one pass to turn an ingot, a large, thick rectangle of aluminum alloy, into aluminum plate. It also includes the heating of the aluminum during the process to increase the strength of the final product.
During this heat-treatment the aluminum plate is cooled down rapidly to normal room temperature and then worked to provide a straight, tension free plate. The cooling process needs to be relatively quick to create the final strength of the alloy, but it also requires aging through sitting at room temperature or in a specially designed and heat controlled furnace.
It is important to realize the different aluminum alloy ingots used to produce the plate will influence the strength, weldability and corrosion resistance of the final plate produced.
The Next Steps
After the aging process, which is always when the aluminum plate develops the corrosive layer of protection on the surface, the plate can be machined using a variety of different methods to create the shapes, parts and designs required.
Today, laser and plasma cutting is often used for very intricate designs which can be precisely duplicated time and time again. Water-jet cutting also provides the same type of precision to produce the desired final product from the processed aluminum plate.
Offering a full range of precision cutting, special order and custom aluminum plate manufacturing Aerotech Alloys also has an extensive in-stock inventory. To learn more about our products and services see us online at Aerotechalloys.com.
