Different Types of Alloy Plate
Plate aluminum is made of pure aluminum plus varying amounts of copper, magnesium, zinc and other metals. It is stronger and more durable than pure aluminum.
The explosive bonding of thin Al plates to extruded Mg96Zn2Y2 and commercial AZ31 was investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and electron probe microanalysis.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel alloy plates are used in the construction of food and beverage processing equipment, medical equipment, and other products that must be durable and safe to use in harsh environments. They feature high levels of chromium and other elements that make them more resistant to corrosion than low-alloy steels.
The chromium in these alloys helps protect them from corrosion by reacting with oxygen in the air to form a tenacious passivating coating that prevents further oxidation. These properties allow the steel to maintain its strength at high temperatures.
There are several sub-categories of stainless steel alloys, including austenitic, martensitic, ferritic, duplex, precipitation hardening, and super alloys. Each of these has different traits, so it’s important to consider the specific requirements of each application before selecting a stainless steel grade.
Stainless steels have a high strength-to-weight ratio and are easy to alloy plate work with. These qualities make them a popular choice for building and repairing machinery that will be used in harsh environments or where corrosion is a concern. They can be finished with a variety of protective coatings that can enhance their resistance to corrosion, fingerprints, scratches, and other wear. For example, a mirror finish may look nice but can easily become scratched and discolored in a busy environment, while an anodized finish will hold up well to heavy use.
Aluminium
Among metals, aluminium offers the most versatility in terms of industrial applications. It is lightweight, but has high strength and corrosion resistance. It can be recycled continuously without losing any of its properties. Plate aluminium is used for many applications from construction materials to transportation vehicles and aircraft components. Plate aluminium can be made into different shapes including sheets and plates. It can be finished with mill finish, aluminum diamond plate, or brushed to create an architectural look. It can also be painted any color or anodized to protect it from the elements.
The production of both aluminum sheets and plates starts with ingots of raw aluminium that are preheated before processing. The ingots are sent through a breakdown mill to be formed into thick sheet or plate. Historically, industry standards have used gauges galvanized steel manufacturer to designate metal thickness; however, new technology has eliminated this practice and now specifies the precise thickness of each sheet or plate.
The 6000 series of aluminum alloys are popular for aerospace, transportation, and construction industries due to their strength and durability. Magnesium and silicon are the main alloying ingredients in these versions of the metal, which feature excellent machinability and significant resistance to atmospheric corrosion.
Titanium
Titanium is a silvery white metal that is valued for its high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance. It has excellent fatigue resistance, which makes it ideal for aerospace crafts and large buildings. It can also withstand extreme temperatures, making it useful for aerospace applications. Titanium can be used alone or combined with other elements to create titanium alloys. These alloys can have many uses, including manufacturing aircraft and rockets, bicycles, jewelry, and premium sports equipment.
Pure titanium has a low density, which makes it lighter than steel. It is also highly resistant to corrosion from seawater and chlorine, which makes it ideal for boat rigging and propeller shafts. Titanium and its alloys are a popular choice for medical devices, as they have a low risk of reaction with human tissues. This makes them useful in artificial joints and bone screws.
Titanium can be combined with other materials to create composites that have even more impressive properties. For example, titanium-based composites have higher stiffness, wear resistance, and strength than conventional materials. They can also be fabricated using a wide range of welding methods, including stir welding. Titanium-based composites have been developed only recently, but they are already being used in aerospace applications. They are gaining popularity in the automotive industry as well.
Copper
Copper is the most commonly used metal, and its alloys are a significant part of manufacturing. Alloying copper with other metals allows for the creation of materials that can achieve specific colorations, improve strength or corrosion resistance, improve forming or joining characteristics, or meet any number of other demands that the pure metal cannot address on its own.
The most common copper alloys are brass (copper-zinc), bronze (copper-tin) and copper-nickel. Each of these families of alloys can be modified by varying the amount of each constituent metal to suit various requirements. For example, combining copper with zinc produces brass, a yellowish material that resembles gold and has the benefit of enhancing manufacturing properties such as stress relaxation, formability and solderability. Adding nickel increases the strength of the copper-zinc alloy. Beryllium increases the hardness of copper and enables the alloy to resist corrosion.
The metallurgical methods used to join copper and its alloys include soldering, brazing and welding. Soldering relies on the use of filler metals such as tin and lead that melt at lower temperatures than copper alloys. It is commonly used for connecting pipes in plumbing applications and to seal joints in roofing or flashing. Brazing utilizes heat and pressure to bond the alloys together. Welding combines the strengths of each of these metallurgical methods. Cadi Company stocks a number of copper alloy plate products, including free machining brass (CZ121/CW614N), which has a balanced combination of hardness, formability and conductivity. This material can be used to make electrical springs, connector terminals and relays.
