What is less well understood is that aluminum can also be some of the most durable materials on the face of the planet. Frequently, the metal is used in applications where high strength and durability are the most important considerations, such as automobiles and trucks, building materials, and military vehicles, among others. Without even realizing it, you probably put your trust in aluminum to keep you safe and secure dozens of times a day.
For many people, when they hear the word "aluminum," they immediately think of everyday convenience items that, while incredibly useful, do not convey a strong image of strength. In fact, aluminum is an extremely versatile metal that can be processed to be thin, lightweight, bendable, and even crushable by human hands if the proper conditions are met.
Aluminum as a Key to Vehicle Safety: aluminium pipe supplier is increasingly incorporating aluminum into their multi-material vehicle designs in order to improve fuel efficiency while maintaining vehicle strength and safety. In every single crash test conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an aluminum-intensive vehicle has received a 5-star overall safety rating.
High-Strength Aluminum Can Be Found Almost Everywhere:Steel and aluminum alloys with high strength and durability are used in hundreds of everyday applications where strength and durability are required – from planes to trains to buses to trucks – and even in some of the world's tallest skyscrapers.
Extreme Applications: Aluminum is also used by the United States military, NASA, and other organizations to construct vehicles and structures that are capable of surviving in some of the most extreme environments conceivable.
The Physicochemical Basis of Strength: aluminium tube can be engineered to be as strong as, if not stronger than, some steels by incorporating elements such as silicon, magnesium, and lithium into pure aluminum and applying special processing techniques to the alloy.
When it comes to everyday strength, aluminum is about one-third the weight of steel, allowing parts to be made thicker and stronger while still maintaining a low overall weight in vehicles and other applications.
Aluminum can be forged to be just as strong as, if not stronger than, some steels when pound for pound, depending on the alloy and processing technique used to produce it.
Aluminum is already the second most commonly used material by automobile manufacturers, so your car or truck most likely has a significant amount of aluminum in it right now, protecting you from road hazards. Engineers understand how to work with aluminum to create parts that perform as well as or better than steel parts – all while reducing the weight of the vehicle on which they are installed. Aluminum is extremely effective at absorbing crash energy, which means that it will protect passengers in the event of a collision. Additionally, lighter aluminum vehicles have better performance. Drivers who have better handling and shorter stopping distances are more likely to avoid accidents in the first place.
Window frames and curtain walls made of aluminum are used in some of the world's tallest skyscrapers, including the one in which you are currently sitting, and even the office building where you work. This extremely versatile metal is used in the construction of planes, trains, buses, trucks, and even ocean liners. In a nutshell, people all over the world rely on the strength of aluminum on a daily basis, whether they realize it or not.
Aluminum's strength and durability are not only relied upon for "everyday" applications, but also for some of the most extreme applications imaginable. Designers are well aware that high-strength aluminum alloys are capable of withstanding some of the most extreme conditions on the planet – and beyond.
United States Army: The United States Army has relied on aluminum to help protect our troops for decades. Humvee (HMMWV), HEMTT, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle are constructed of high-strength, crash-absorbent metal to reduce weight, resist corrosion, and remain reliable in extreme conditions. It has even been used to protect against explosives and other types of attacks in the military.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration):It is not an exaggeration to say that modern space travel would be impossible if aluminum were not present. The metal was extensively used in the space shuttle program, and NASA chose a high-strength aluminum-lithium alloy for the construction of the new Orion spacecraft, which will one day transport humans to Mars and other planets.
Air Force of the United States:Highly resistant aluminum alloys have risen to become one of the most commonly used materials in the manufacture of military aircraft since WWII, when they began replacing older wood, steel, wire, and fiber aircraft. Indeed, the F-16 fighter jet's airframe is made up of 80% aluminum, making it one of the most advanced aircraft ever built.
Shark cages are a type of enclosure that is used to contain sharks. Even when confronted with one of nature's most fearsome predators, the strength of aluminum can be relied upon. Aluminum is a popular choice for shark cages because it is more buoyant than other metals and will not corrode in salt water, unlike other metals. Divers can be protected from direct attacks by Great White and other sharks with aluminum bars that are more than adequate in strength.
The Key to Developing Your Strength
The chemistry of aluminum is what gives it its incredible strength. Aluminum is mixed with other elements to form high-strength alloys, which are used in aerospace and defense applications. Silicon, magnesium, and copper are examples of additives that are commonly used to improve the strength and formability of aluminum. Aluminum-zinc alloys are among the strongest alloys currently available, and they are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries, among other applications.
Aluminum can be strengthened even more by undergoing additional processing, such as hot rolling or cold rolling. Heat treatment followed by rapid cooling can improve the strength of certain alloys. In this process, the atoms are frozen in place, which helps to strengthen the final metal. Alternatively, some aluminum is “cold worked” to increase its strength, which is typically accomplished by rolling, stretching, forging, or drawing. During this process, the movement of atoms in relation to one another is inhibited, resulting in a stronger finished product.
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