Aluminum manufacturing involves extrusion, a process that puts less stress on the metal, making it less likely to lose strength. It’s lightweight and versatile, used in various applications. It’s 100% recyclable, making it a valuable product to recycle for a fraction of the energy and cost of manufacturing from new raw materials.
Factories and manufacturing plants often specialize in various types of metalworking, but the manufacturing process for aluminum can differ from the processes for most other types of metals. Unlike other metals, aluminum is often extruded during aluminum manufacturing; this process involves drawing or pushing aluminum blank through a mold to create a shaped product. The extrusion process can be done hot, where the metal is heated to make it more malleable, or cold, where the process is done at room temperature.
Aluminum is used in a wide variety of applications because it is lightweight and resistant to corrosion, but it tends to be a fairly brittle metal that can break when force is applied in certain ways. Extrusion is a valuable method in the aluminum manufacturing process because it generally puts less stress on the metal during the manufacturing process than other manufacturing methods, meaning the aluminum will be less likely to lose its strength. Aluminum can certainly be manufactured in other ways as well, although other manufacturing methods can apply more stress to the metal, thus making it more brittle as a finished product.
Once the raw materials are transformed into useful parts, aluminum fabrication can continue with cutting, grinding, drilling or shaping to meet a specific need. Aluminum is often used for window frames, automobile components, bicycle components, building materials such as formwork shuttering, and much more. Aluminum can be cut and shaped quite easily, making it a versatile building material. Aluminum does not conduct heat as well as other metals, which can be advantageous or disadvantageous, depending on the application. It is lightweight, making it suitable for high-performance vehicles, although it can bond with steel when heated to some extent, potentially causing problems with various car components. Wheels for performance automobiles can be made from aluminum, and while they may not be the most durable options, they can definitely save weight and increase performance.
Recycling is another important process in aluminum manufacturing. This metal is 100% recyclable, so the recovered aluminum can be melted down and reworked in the extrusion process or in other manufacturing processes. The prevalence of aluminum in various applications, from construction to vehicles, and even beverage containers, make it a valuable product to recycle. This is especially true because it can be recycled for a fraction of the energy expended and cost of manufacturing it from new raw materials.
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