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ALUMINUM
ALUMINUM
Aluminum is used as a construction material that comes in
different forms and can be used for both residential as well as
industrial applications. It is the most abundant metallic element
and the most widely used non-ferrous metal, as it constitutes
the Earth’s crust at least 8% by weight, exceeded only by
amount by oxygen and silicon.
 ALUMINUM
AS AN
INDUSTRIAL
METAL
Aluminum was used as an industrial metal seriously from
1886. This was when the modern smelting process was
developed.

This material is used commonly as a replacement for

steel, where their special properties are essential and
ALUMINUM
AS AN
worth paying for. The present world consumption of
aluminum is in the range of 20 million tonnes per year.

The tensile strength of aluminum is in the range of 90 to

140 N/mm2. This is mainly dependent on the temper. The INDUSTRIAL
METAL
aluminum in its pure form is weak.

For serious structural applications, the aluminum must be

strengthened by the addition of alloys. This transformation
of properties brings a tensile strength of over
500N/mm2 for the aluminum material.
Health Risk and Fire Risk
from Aluminum Material
This metal was considered to be non-toxic and
non-hazardous when compared with other
metals. This has later brought issues from the
prolonged use of aluminum cookware. They
form a reason towards Alzheimer’s disease as
per the researchers.

The aluminum sections of any structures say

whether it be plate, sheet, wire or foil will not
support combustion. But these metals get
burned when they are in the powdered form.
Characteristics of
Aluminum
•High corrosion resistance
•Excellent machining properties
•Light weight
•High thermal/electrical
conductivity
•High ductility/easily deformable
 Physical Properties
of Aluminum
Construction Material
 There are certain essential
physical properties of aluminum,
Physical which is essential for the design.
Properties of
Aluminum A. Weight of Aluminum Metal
Construction B. Elastic Constants
Material C. Thermal Expansion
D. Melting Point
E. Electrical Conductivity
A. Weight of Aluminum Metal

The density of aluminum is

2.70g/cm3, while this is
7.9g/cm3 for the structural
steel used in construction. The
values of alloys that are used
for the wrought products will lie
in the range of 2.67 – 2.80
g/cm3..
B. Elastic Constant
Pure Aluminum have a value of
E = 69kN/mm2. The Structural
Steel has a E = 205kN/mm2.
The value of E for wrought alloys
ranges between 69 to
72kN/mm2.
C. Thermal Expansion of Aluminum
The coefficient of thermal
expansion of aluminum is a =
23.5 x 10-6/oC. This value for
the wrought alloys lie in the
range of 22 -24.610-6/oC.
D. Melting Point of Aluminum
The aluminum has a
melting point of 660 degree
Celsius under pure condition.
This value is 1500 degree
Celsius for mild steel. The
alloys used have a lower
melting point. The boiling
point of the metal is 1800
degree Celsius.
E. Electrical Conductivity of Aluminum
This is a standard material
used in the making of
conductors in the overhead
transmission lines. This metal
competes with the copper in
certain applications. The
resistivity of the aluminum
metal at room temperature is
2.7 ohm cm. This metal
alloying has greater change.
Wrought and Cast Aluminum

Wrought aluminum is defined as

an alloy that has been subjected
to mechanical working by
processes such as rolling,
extrusion or forging. In contrast,
cast aluminum is formed by
pouring molten aluminum into a
pattern or die.
 Different Grades of Aluminum

There are three fundamental

varieties of aluminum: 1100,
3003, and 6061. The pricing
point and end-use application
will depend on the aluminum
grade.
 1100 Aluminum
the purest form of
aluminum available, as
it is made of 99% min.
purity. It has excellent
workability and ductility.
 3003 Aluminum
a pure aluminum with
an additional
manganese to increase
its strength.
 6061 Aluminum
often called, “The
Workhorse Aluminum.”
It has better corrosion-
resistance than 300
series alloys
PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
WROUGHT ALUMINUM ALLOYS
*Main groups of wrought aluminum a. 99.000% Minimum Aluminum (1xxx series)
Non-heat-treatable alloys
• 1xxx series (Super-purity and commercial-purity Properties:
aluminum) •Low tensile strength (90 MPa )
• 3xxx series (Al-Mn and AlMn-Mg alloys) •Yield stress of 7-11 MPa.
• 5xxx series (Al-Mg alloys) Applications:
• 8xxx series (Miscellaneous alloys •Electrical conductors
Heat-treatable alloys •Chemical process equipment
• 2xxx series (Al-Cu and AlCu-Mg alloys) •Foils
• 6xxx series (Al-Mg-Si alloys) •Decorative finishes
• 7xxx series (Al-Zn-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys •Capacitor (by panasonic)
PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
WROUGHT ALUMINUM ALLOYS
b. Copper (2xxx series) c. Manganese (3xxx series)
1.Al-Mn alloys (up to 1.25% Mn) Greater amount
Properties: leads to large primary Al6Mn particles (deleterious
•High strength (2119: σTS 505 MPa). local ductility)
•Good creep strength at high temperature •High Properties:
toughness at cryogenic temperature •Good •Moderate strength, i.e., σTS ~ 110 MPa in
machinability. annealed 3003
ApplicaCons: •High ductility
•Welding wires •Excellent corrosion resistance
•Fuel Tanks
•Aircraft body
PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
WROUGHT ALUMINUM ALLOYS
Applications: Applications:
•Foil •Manufacturing beverage cans
•Roofing sheet
1. d. Silicon (4xxx series)
Al-Mn-Mg alloys (provide solid solution strengthening) Aluminum / Silicon alloys (Silicon ranging from 0.6%
and widely used in a variety of strain hardened to 21.5%)
tempers Properties:
Properties: •Excellent weldability and fair weld strength of 120
•Moderate strength, i.e., σTS ~ 180 MPa in MPa
annealed 3004. •Moderate strength
•Readily fabricated •Has heat and non-heat-treatable properties
•Excellent corrosion resistance •Excellent corrosion resistance
PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
WROUGHT ALUMINUM ALLOYS
e. Magnesium (5xxx series)
Properties:
•Al-0.8Mg (5005):σy 40 MPa, σTS 125 MPa
•Al-(4.7-5.5)Mg (5456): σy 160, σTS 310 MPa
•High rate of work hardening
•High corrosion resistance
•Bright surface finish
Applications:
•Transportation structural plates
•Large tanks for petrol, milk, grain
•Pressure vessel
•Architectural components
f. Magnesium and Silicon (6xxx series)
Properties:
•Medium-strength structural alloys (most widely used
6063-T6, σy 215 MPa, σTS 245) •Higher strength on
aging, 6013 - Al-Mg-Si-Cu, σy 330 MPa(T6) and 415
(MPa) T8.
Applications:
•Transportation structural plates
•Large tanks for petrol, milk, grain
•Pressure vessel
•Architectural components
PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS OF
WROUGHT ALUMINUM ALLOYS
g. Zinc (7xxx series)
h. Other Elements (8xxx series)
Properties:
•Strength is insensitive to cooling rate hence suitable Properties:
for welding •High corrosion resistance at high temp & pressure
•Deep drawing
•Yield strength might be double to AlMg and Al-Mg-Si
alloys (~ up to 600 MPa) Applications:
•Stress corrosion cracking resistance in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu •Al-1.1Ni-0.6Fr (8001) - nuclear energy installations
alloys •Al-0.75Fe-0.7Si (8011) - bottle caps.
Applications: •Al-Sn (up to 7%) soft bearings
•Lightweight military bridge •Al-Li for aerospace applications
•Aircraft construction.
 Properties required for good casting:
•Low melting temperature
•Low solubility of gasses except H2
•Good fluidity
•Good surface finishes
CAST Main disadvantage:
•High solidification shrinkage (3.5-8.5%)
ALUMINUM Factors controlling properties:
•Melting and pouring practices
ALLOYS •Impurity levels
•Grain size
•Solidification rate
Cast aluminum alloys are widely used for transport
applications, E.g. Cast engine block
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

a. Air tightness

b. Strength
to weight ratio
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

c. Ease in fabrication
and assembly

d. Cryogenics
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

e. Low handling and

transportation cost

f. Reflectivity
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

g. Corrosion
resistance

h. Appearance
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

i. High scrap
value

j. Sound proof
PROPERTIES OF ALUMINUM AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

k. Low maintenance
cost