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Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight

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1.3.1. The good points about aluminium<br />

Lightness<br />

<strong>Aluminium</strong> is light, one third the weight of steel.<br />

Non-rusting<br />

<strong>Aluminium</strong> does not rust <strong>and</strong> can normally be used unpainted. However,<br />

the strongest alloys will corrode in some hostile environments <strong>and</strong> may<br />

need protection.<br />

Extrusion process<br />

This technique, the st<strong>and</strong>ard way of producing aluminium sections, is<br />

vastly more versatile than the rolling procedures in steel. It is a major<br />

feature in aluminium design.<br />

Weldability<br />

Most of the alloys can be arc welded as readily as steel, using gasshielded<br />

processes. Welding speeds are faster.<br />

Machinability<br />

Milling can be an economic fabrication technique for aluminium, because<br />

of the high metal removal rates that are possible.<br />

Glueing<br />

The use of adhesive bonding is well established as a valid method for<br />

making structural joints in aluminium.<br />

Low-temperature performance<br />

<strong>Aluminium</strong> is eminently suitable for cryogenic applications, because it is<br />

not prone to brittle fracture at low temperature in the way that steel is.<br />

Its mechanical properties steadily improve as the temperature goes down.<br />

1.3.2 The bad points<br />

Cost<br />

The metal cost for aluminium (sections, sheet, plate) is typically about<br />

1.5 times that for structural steel volume for volume. For aircraft grade<br />

Copyright 1999 by Taylor & Francis Group. All Rights Reserved.

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