Aluminum extrusion represents one of the important manufacturing processes that allows aluminum to be shaped accurately and efficiently. This process involves pushing aluminum material through a specific shaped hole using high pressure. Aluminum extrusion is characterized by the ability to obtain complex shapes of the produced material, in addition to its ability to form soft, pressure- and shear-sensitive materials, which makes it an important process in several industries. In this article, we will explore more details about the aluminum extrusion process and its importance.
Steps in the aluminum extrusion process:
Two aluminum extrusion methods:
There are two main aluminum extrusion methods available:
1. Direct extrusion:
In this method, the pressure is on one side and the metal comes out on the other side. This helps reduce the amount of waste remaining in the container after the extrusion process is completed. The advantage of this method is that there is little waste after the operation. On the downside, the metal and the container experience a lot of friction because the entire amount of metal is moving.
2. Indirect (reverse) extrusion:
In this method, the pressure is from the same side as the metal exits. This method can have advantages such as reducing friction between the metal and the container. However, this results in a large amount of metal remaining inside the container in the form of a non-extrudable disc.
Uses and benefits:
The aluminum extrusion process is used in many industries including the automotive industry, the construction industry, the aircraft industry, the electrical appliance industry, and the packaging and food industry. This process has the ability to produce complex, lightweight shapes from aluminum, a metal that is strong and resistant to corrosion.
In short, aluminum extrusion is a modern and efficient manufacturing process that allows the production of complex aluminum shapes with excellent performance and mechanical properties, making it of great importance in multiple industries.
