General Introduction to the Characteristics of Pure Aluminum Strips and Sheets
Release time:
2026-03-02
Aluminum can be cast using any method. It has excellent ductility and processes quickly, allowing it to be rolled into thin sheets and foils; drawn into tubes and fine wires
In general, aluminum has the following characteristics.
1. Low density. The density of pure aluminum sheet is close to 2,700 kg/m³, about one-third that of iron or copper.
2. It can be strengthened. Although pure aluminum has relatively low strength—its tensile strength in the annealed state is about 80 MPa—cold working can more than double its strength. By adding alloying elements such as magnesium, zinc, copper, silicon, manganese, and lithium, coupled with heat treatment, even higher strengths can be achieved. Today, we can already produce aluminum alloys with tensile strengths exceeding 700 MPa, whose specific strength rivals that of high‑quality alloy steels.
3. Easy to process. Aluminum can be cast using any method. It has excellent plasticity and processes quickly—can be rolled into thin sheets and foils; drawn into tubes and fine wires; extruded into profiles with a wide variety of complex cross‑sections; and can undergo mechanical machining such as turning, cutting, boring, milling, and planing at high speeds achievable by most machine tools.
4. Corrosion Resistance. The surface of aluminum and its aluminum alloys readily forms a dense, robust protective film of Al₂O₃. This protective film is only susceptible to degradation under the intense action of alkaline solutions or halide ions. Consequently, aluminum exhibits excellent resistance to atmospheric and water corrosion. It can withstand corrosion from most acids and organic substances, and with the use of corrosion inhibitors, it can also resist corrosion from weak alkaline solutions. By implementing appropriate protective measures, the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys can be further enhanced.
5. No low-temperature brittleness. Below 0°C, the strength and ductility of aluminum not only do not decrease with decreasing temperature, but actually increase.
6. Good electrical and thermal conductivity. Aluminum’s electrical and thermal conductivity ranks second only to silver, copper, and gold. At room temperature, the volumetric electrical conductivity of electrical-grade aluminum can reach 63% IACS; when calculated based on electrical conductivity per unit mass, its conductive capacity is twice that of copper.
7. High reflectivity: The polished surface of aluminum reflects more than 80% of white light; the higher the purity, the higher the reflectivity. In addition, aluminum exhibits excellent reflective properties across infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, electromagnetic waves, and thermal radiation.
8. Non-magnetic and does not produce sparks upon impact. For certain specialized instrument materials, shielding materials for electrical equipment, and production equipment used in the manufacture of flammable and explosive substances, this property is extremely important.
9. Sound absorption. It is highly beneficial for interior decoration and can also be formulated into damping alloys.
10. Resistant to nuclear radiation. For high‑energy neutrons, aluminum exhibits a neutron absorption cross section comparable to that of other metals; for neutrons in the low‑energy range, its absorption cross section is relatively small, second only to metals such as bismuth and magnesium. The reason aluminum can withstand radiation is that the induced radioactivity generated by irradiation decays very rapidly.
11. Aesthetics. Aluminum and its aluminum alloys boast strong reflectivity and a silvery-white luster on their surfaces; after machining, they can achieve exceptionally high levels of smoothness and gloss. Through anodizing and coloring, not only can vibrant, dazzling surfaces be created, but their corrosion resistance can also be further enhanced. Aluminum can also be electroplated with ceramic coatings, making it an excellent substrate for the production of coating materials. After painting, no cracking or peeling occurs—even if there is localized damage, no rust spots will form.
Casting,Aluminum alloy
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