Key Engineering Properties of Aluminium
Aluminium (Al), the 13th element in the periodic table, makes up around 8.2% of the Earth's core mass. It is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust, following oxygen and silicon, and is the most plentiful metal on the planet, though it is never found in its pure form in nature.
The primary source of aluminium is bauxite, which contains aluminium in the form of hydroxide minerals.
Metallic aluminium was first isolated in 1825 from aluminium chloride, but it wasn't until 1888 that it began to be commercially produced. Aluminium offers a rare combination of valuable properties that make it a key material in engineering.
As one of the lightest metals, aluminium is almost three times lighter than steel, with a density of 2.7g/cm³ compared to steel's 7.9g/cm³.
Key Engineering Properties:
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Resistant to atmospheric corrosion
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Highly flexible and strong when alloyed
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Capable of forming alloys with virtually any other metal
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Excellent heat and electrical conductor
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Non-magnetic, non-toxic, and non-inflammatory
Today, aluminium surpasses all other non-ferrous metals in terms of volume used in a variety of industries. Aluminium Alloy 6106-T6 is specifically designed for applications requiring an optimal balance of mechanical properties, shape complexity, minimal section thickness, and a good surface finish, as well as chemical resistance.
The T6 designation indicates that the alloy has undergone solution heat treatment and artificial ageing for six hours at 185°C.
Physical Properties:
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Density: 2.70g/cm³
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Melting Point: 655°C
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Thermal Expansion: 23.4 x 10⁴ °C
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Thermal Conductivity: 192 W/mK
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Modulus of Elasticity: 69.5 GPa (65,500 N/mm²)
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Modulus of Rigidity: 25 GPa (25,000 N/mm²)
Mechanical Properties:
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Proof Stress: 200 MPa
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Tensile Strength: 250 MPa
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Elongation (A): 8%
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Hardness (Brinell): 75HB
Aluminium Glossary:
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Density: Mass divided by volume (e.g., kg/m³, g/cm³)
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Melting Point: The temperature at which a material changes from a solid to a liquid state under atmospheric pressure (°C, °F, °K)
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Linear Expansion Coefficient: The fractional change in length per degree of temperature change
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Thermal Conductivity: A material's ability to conduct heat, measured in watts per meter per Kelvin (W/m·K)
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Modulus of Elasticity: A measure of a material's resistance to elastic deformation when a force is applied
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Proof Stress: The amount of stress a material can withstand without being permanently deformed by more than a specific amount (Pa, kPa, MPa, N/mm²)
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Tensile Strength: The maximum stress a material can sustain before failure (Pa, kPa, MPa, N, kN), calculated by dividing the load by the original cross-sectional area of the test piece
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Elongation: The amount of extension a material can experience before failure in tensile testing, expressed as a percentage of its original length
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Hardness (Brinell): A test that applies a known load to a surface, creating an impression, which is then measured to determine hardness (e.g., 85HB)
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Section Modulus (Ix, Iy): A geometric property used in the design of beams and flexural members, expressed as Ix or Iy (mm³) for the corresponding axis (X or Y)
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Moment of Inertia (Wx, Wy): Determines the torque needed for desired angular acceleration about rotational motion. Must be specified with respect to a chosen axis of rotation, expressed as Wx or Wy (mm⁴)
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