What is Aluminum Extrusion Process? (Extrusion aluminum guide 2020)

Today, aluminum extrusion process is widely used in the construction of structures, and especially in such structures as:

• Doors
• Windows
• Partitions
• ventilated and
• translucent facades

To extrude is to force the passage of a material through an orifice. In industry in general, the extrusion of a material is used to shape it and confer certain characteristics

What is aluminum extrusion process?

The pressing or extrusion process can be applied to aluminum profiles and bronze, brass, stainless steel or titanium. Although it is the extrusion of aluminum that has become widespread due to its low melting point (about 500 ° C).

1.1. Aluminum and steel

The extrusion process makes it possible to produce aluminum profiles in widths from 10 to 800 mm. Thanks to an unlimited range of various cross-sectional shapes. The cost of tools for making a new extruded section from aluminum is much cheaper than for making a rolled steel section.

Moreover, the downtime of the extrusion press when changing the die is significantly less. It is due to the time it takes to change the rolls of a rolling mill in the production of steel profiles.

Therefore, aluminum extrusion process produces extruded aluminum profiles. An aluminum extrusion company can carry the order according to customer drawings in order to fulfill specific tasks in a structure or product. One of the main features of the extrusion process of profiles is that they can have very thin elements.

1.2. Direct compression method: aluminum extrusion process

Aluminum profile production technology or how aluminum products are made.

The technology for manufacturing an aluminum profile is a complex process. But in order to have an idea of ​​this process, it is enough to know the basics. And in this article in a simple and understandable form, we will try to outline the whole essence of aluminum extrusion process.

So where does it all start?

At very high temperatures in production, aluminum poles are cast from aluminum raw materials. Then there is the extrusion (pressing) of the aluminum profile. There can be the process of manufacturing products from aluminum.

Aluminum extrusion process technology

First, the heating of the die starts.

What is a die?

This is a tool in the shape of which an aluminum profile is extruded. If a standard profile is made, then the tool for it is usually available at the casting factory. If we are talking about the production of a non-standard profile, then the required die is made in advance.

• Billets are loaded into the extrusion line.
• At a very high temperature, the process of heating aluminum to a plastic state takes place.
• The heated workpieces are cut with a saw.
• The aluminum is then loaded into a press and a high pressure extrusion process takes place.

The die is installed in the press. And the aluminum profile is extruded through the prepared tool. And it is automatically cut to a certain size. So you can see aluminum extrusion process is not as simple as we read it.

The resulting aluminum profile is leveled. We can say the process of "stretching" takes place.

But at the next stage, the aluminum profile is being cut into dimensions according to the order from the client.

Automatically and evenly, the profile is placed in a tank for heat in a special oven. This gives the aluminum profile its strength.

The product from the aluminum profile is ready! Next, the profile is usually packed in foil and then in cardboard.

On request, the finished product from the aluminum profile can be powder painted in any color. The standard is painted according to the RAL catalog.

Types of aluminum extrusion

The aluminum extrusion process occurs the metal billet deformation in order to adapt it to the most different applications. It all starts with the billet. This, after passing through a hole those models it for a specific applicability. In addition, it forms the aluminum profiles used in civil construction and in finished products.

2 Methods of Aluminum Extrusion

In any extrusion process, there are two ways to do the job, which depend on the ductility of the material. In the case of aluminum, the method used is high temperature extrusion.

The phenomenon is similar to the operation of an injection syringe. The aluminum billet is injected at high pressure and temperature and is propelled to a mold. Through which it gains the desired shape. After this step, it takes the form of a solid part and can be cut as the manufacturer wishes.

How to classify aluminum extrusion process?

Due to its immense use in civil construction and the furniture industry, the aluminum extrusion process has an infinite variety of profiles. They can be classified as solids, in which the cross section has no gaps circumscribed by metal.

The tubular profile, on the other hand, is one that presents a cross section with at least one void totally circumscribed by metal. There are also semi tubular profiles, whose cross sections have voids partially circumscribed by metal.

Conclusion

Despite the malleability of aluminum, aluminum extrusion process allows any type of extrusion. There are some groups of alloys. They imply a greater range of properties for the extrusion, giving maximum efficiency in the process. Each of them has individual characteristics.

They can be easily extruded; others require a more complicated process, which even involves reducing the speed of extrusion