Fabrication of aluminium sheets

Fabrication of aluminium sheets

The manufacture of aluminium sheets is very different from the use of other metals due to the unique properties of aluminium. The light weight of aluminium is common knowledge. This can be an advantage, but at other times it can be a disadvantage. For example, because aluminium is not as strong as stainless steel, manufacturers often find it easier to use aluminium sheets. Aluminium is approximately one third the weight of stainless steel. Although it has lower mechanical properties, it usually has a higher strength-to-weight ratio.

As you may already know, aluminium sheet also has some special problems when it comes to welding. It is easy to make the mistake of "burning through" when welding aluminium, as aluminium sheet is characterised by a higher thermal conductivity and lower melting point than many other metals. In addition, it is easy to get tangled when feeding aluminium wire into the welding process. This is because aluminium wire is softer than steel and therefore reduces column strength.

A rule of thumb to remember when welding aluminium plates is to clean the base material adequately and ensure that all aluminium oxide has been removed. The melting point of aluminium oxide is more than three times that of the base material, which means that its presence will inhibit welding. Another issue is that the welder must be fast. Aluminium sheets need to be welded at high current and voltage settings and welded much faster. Welding too slowly risks excessive burn-through, especially when using thin aluminium sizes.

You can also find out more about aluminium welding by visiting How to avoid defects when welding aluminium.