Aluminium gets the aviation industry off the ground.
Aircraft are a heavy subject indeed. A jumbo jet (Boeing 747-400), for instance, weighs almost 180 tonnes without passengers or cargo. Then another 200 tonnes of cargo and passengers will be added. So, it’s not surprising that a light metal such as aluminium has such a prominent role in the aviation industry.
Among metals, aluminium has many coveted properties. The silvery metal does not rust; it has good conductivity, high flexibility and an unmatched ability to generate heat. In addition, it is essentially 100-percent recyclable.
In addition to aircraft, aluminium is used in components for cars, cargo trucks, rail transport, cargo vessels, cruise ships, engines and automotive bodywork. The low weight, combined with strength and durability, provides lightweight construction that means lower energy consumption during transport.
Aluminium is used in ventilation, wind turbines and building materials. The metal is also commonly used in the food industry for foil, tubes, canned food and beverage cans.
Danubia actively monitors the development of new innovative aluminium products. One of the future challenges in the metal industry is to find lighter and more durable materials.
Aluminium is 100-percent recyclable and can be called a recycling metal.
Eight percent of the earth’s solid surface is composed of aluminium. Pure aluminium can only exist in environments that lack oxygen. The metal easily forms alloys with copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese and silicon.
Alloy qualities
Alloy EN AW-1050A and -1200
Unalloyed aluminium opens a wide range of industry opportunities. 1200 is used in the manufacture of heat exchangers and is particularly useful for deep drawing. Unalloyed aluminium is characterised by good corrosion-resistance, rigidity and weldability. In addition, it has very good cold formability.
Alloy EN AW-3003 and -3103
Manganese alloy grades are used for coated sheet metal, bodywork, packaging, construction and heat exchangers. It essentially offers the same corrosion-resistance, abundance and cold formability as 1050A and 1200. The grade has a higher strength than 1050A and 1200, but basically the same corrosion abilities and cold formability, and good weldability.
Alloy EN AW-5005A
This is a magnesium alloy grade, with good weldability, suitable for decorative anodising. It has higher strength than non-alloy aluminium but essentially the same corrosion-resistant properties and cold formability.
Alloy EN AW-5052, AW-5754 and AW-5083
Magnesium alloy and magnesium/manganese alloy grades with good weldability, high strength and resilience. These are found in the shipbuilding and transport industry and is a suitable material for use in maritime environments, for example, where the alloy demonstrates exceptional corrosion resistance properties.
Alloy EN AW-6060 and AW-6063
Magnesium/silicon alloy grade with properties that make it suitable for extrusion profiles, for decorative anodising. It has good weldability, high strength and good corrosion resistance.
Alloy and AW-6082
Magnesium/silicon alloy that meets high demands for strength and durability. This is less suitable for decorative anodising but features good corrosion resistance and weldability.
Alloy and AW-2014
The properties of copper alloy are beneficial in applications where the risk of corrosion is quite small. The alloys therefore have less corrosion resistance but are suitable for constructions where strength requirements are especially high.
Alloy EN AW-7020
Zinc alloy properties are suitable for structures with high strength requirements. For example, cranes, lifting devices, load-bearing elements in bridges, vehicles and crash barriers. It has a high load-bearing capacity in welded-joints. Zinc alloy should be protected against corrosion.
Alloy EN AW-7075
Zinc/copper-alloy properties are useful for aviation industry applications and in constructions requiring a high strength-to-weight ratio.
As mentioned above, the alloy has high strength but lower corrosion resistance.