Aluminium extrusions satisfy a wide range of design specifications and allow creativity to flourish. The extrusion process involves transforming aluminium alloy into a form which allows cross sectional profiles to come together in almost endless structures. And this is why it continues to prove highly popular with designers all over the world.
It may be very popular, but it’s important to understand why it stands out as such a versatile material. So, let’s take a look at the main benefits of aluminium extrusions:
Aluminium Extrusion Benefits
- Non Corrosive: One of the major problems with metals comes in the form of rust. Iron, for example, reacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere to form that flaky, orange substance known as iron oxide. Aluminium reacts with oxygen, but the aluminium oxide that forms is very different. Not only does it lack any discolouration, but it also provides a layer of protection for the aluminium.
- Lightweight: Aluminium extrusions only require you to use a minimal amount of the metal as extrusions are all about being economical. This, on its own, is enough to reduce the weight of any metalwork. But aluminium is already incredibly light, especially when compared to metals such as steel and lead, so this attribute is quickly magnified.
- Strength: Before the extrusion process, aluminium is close to four times stronger than steel, but once the extrusion process is complete it’s even stronger. And this is why aluminium is such a popular material when it comes to load bearing designs such as aircraft. It can withstand strong forces and, despite this strength, it retains an attractive flexibility which makes it a highly versatile material to work with.
- Easy to Work With: A sure fire way to reduce design headaches is by working with a metal which is easy to work with. And aluminium is very easy to work with. It’s relatively soft and this means that it’s easy to cut and drill, even with hand tools such as hacksaws. This allows you to customise your aluminium extrusions with ease over the course of a project and complete it with fewer obstacles.
- Environmentally Friendly: Times may change and so do aesthetics, so there will likely come a time where your design needs to be replaced. Disposing of this can be difficult, but there’s always a great demand for scrap aluminium. Therefore, by working with aluminium extrusions that can be recycled you can seriously enhance your green credentials.
- No Need for Welding: An effective way of strengthening metal work can be achieved with welding, but this is not always an option due to time and skill restrictions. The versatility of aluminium extrusions allows you to avoid this pitfall. You could, for example, create a series of interlocking parts which can quickly be snapped together to simplify construction projects.
The most successful designs are those that embrace simplicity and high quality materials. These two conditions can easily be satisfied by working with aluminium extrusions. Ticking every box that a designer could possibly ask for, aluminium extrusions are the perfect solution for a wide range of designs and projects.
For more information on the benefits of aluminium extrusions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.