Construction, when you look for its definition in the dictionary, sounds deceptively simple. However, it’s anything but. Construction involves many layers, and that includes a variety of materials. Among these materials are aluminum extrusions, which can be found in various consumer-level and industrial applications.
What are Aluminum Extrusions?
Aluminum extrusions are components made from extruding or pushing a billet of aluminum through a die, which determines the shape. Think of it like icing: its output will depend on the tip that you use on the piping bag. However, when extruding aluminum, a hydraulic press is needed to produce enough pressure to push the aluminum through the die and get the shape you want.
Apart from producing hollow, semi-hollow, and solid shapes, manufacturers can also make long or short components. This can be done through continuous or semi-continuous processes. In addition, because aluminum is a highly malleable and lightweight material, it can be easily extruded into complex shapes. Hot and cold processes are both used to extrude aluminum, although cold extrusion is more ideal for aluminum as it affords added strength and a better finish.
The Role of Aluminum Extrusions in Construction
Due to its low cost but top-notch structural integrity, aluminum extrusions have become important components in the construction industry. Steel can also be extruded and formed into various shapes, but because it’s already expensive, to begin with, construction costs can quickly skyrocket. The resulting structure can also be unreasonably heavy. With extruded aluminum, you’ll have an ideal combination of strength and weight.
Aluminum is also naturally resistant to rust and corrosion. Therefore, aluminum extrusions are ideal for construction applications that are exposed to moisture and rain, like windows, shopfronts, and curtain walls. They are also used for roofing, signages, and even expansion joints on roads. Another excellent property of aluminum extrusions is that they are not easily distorted by movement. In fact, extruded aluminum components can spring back into shape after an impact. If you’re building an earthquake-proof structure, count on it to have plenty of extruded aluminum components.
Finally, aluminum extrusions also have reflective capabilities. As such, they can be used to shield areas or even entire buildings from radio waves, infrared radiation, and magnetic waves. Moreover, aluminum is also an ideal heat shielding material. Aluminum extrusions can also be used as heat transfer components.
From the Outside, In
Obviously, aluminum extrusions are important components in building exteriors. However, they are also important components in various interior elements of construction, including interior structural support. Moreover, aluminum extrusions can also be used in elevators shafts, lighting fixtures, stairwells, plumbing, electricals and cabling, and even as design accents.
Another benefit of aluminum extrusions is their recyclability. Aluminum is easy to reuse for other purposes, especially thanks to its malleability. It’s very easy to work with! If the aluminum extrusions can’t be refashioned to something else, they can be melted down completely to recycle them without losing their structural integrity. This makes aluminum extrusions and aluminum, in general, a very attractive material for construction efforts and projects that aim to make more environment-friendly structures.
Beyond Construction
Due to all the favorable characteristics mentioned above, aluminum extrusions have seen varied use across multiple industries. In electronics, for example, extruded aluminum is used in heating and cooling systems of computers. In the automotive industry, aluminum extrusions are used in chassis, air conditioning units, radiators, and engine blocks. Aluminum extrusions are also used in food manufacturing and processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Of course, extruded aluminum can also be found in furniture and storage and organization solutions. The possibilities are essentially endless.
With its many favorable properties, including cost-effectiveness and ideal weight-to-strength ratio, it’s easy to see why aluminum extrusions are used throughout the construction industry and beyond.
