When you take an aluminum alloy and pass it between two large and heavy rollers, it produces a flattened out and thinner product. This type of application has been used for centuries to make things thinner, and it is the basic idea behind creating aluminum plate and sheet. Sheets of aluminum are used in a variety of industries today like automotive, construction and aerospace. Here are some important things to know about this type of aluminum.
Creating Aluminum Plate
The process starts out with enormous ingots of aluminum weighing as much as 40,000 pounds. The ingots are as thick as 24 inches and are heated before the process of rolling can begin.
Before being pressed into shape, the ingot is placed in a breakdown mill. Inside this mill it is repeatedly rolled until it is only a few inches thick to create the desired plate thickness. For some alloys, a heat treatment is done to increase strength. During the process, the aluminum is heated rapidly and then quickly quenched. In addition, the aluminum is then stretched to relieve tension created from the rolling process. A finally trimming is performed and some types of aluminum plate may be machined into a number of different shapes.
Uses for Aluminum Plate
When heavy duty materials are needed, plate is a favored option. It is often utilized in military, transportation and the aerospace industries. Plate is not hard to machine so it can be transformed into fuel tanks for rockets and jet liner skins. Some kinds of aluminum plate also see use in very cold environments, including cryogenic applications. It is so tough it makes for excellent military armor and frames for ships and rail cars.
Aluminum Sheet
Sheet is made in a similar method to plate, except it is rolled more to create a thinner product. Sheet is eventually rolled into coils, and then cold rolled through a special rolling process. Some alloys may be heat treated afterward to increase strength.
Applications for Aluminum Sheet
Aluminum cans come from large sheets of pressed aluminum. These sheets may also become car or truck panels. Some sheets become cookware or parts of home appliances. They also may be part of your home as guttering, siding, carports or roofing. Thanks to anodizing processes, aluminum can be created in a number of attractive colors.
Both aluminum plate and sheet can be continuously recycled without losing any of their properties. This can save industry as much as ninety percent on energy costs.
