A technique that works on different types of metals to change their forms and shapes is called extrusion. Extruded aluminium is the commonest product of this strategy. You can create many things from extruded aluminium by slapping a considerable number of hollow cavities thru it or putting 1 or 2 slots so that you can place bars or any material to connect it to several of it.
Apart from aluminum, there are a few more materials which you can extrude. But before I enumerate some more of them, let me explain further what extrusion is and how it is done.
For you to switch the form of a metal, you must apply heat to it so it would melt. You can make use of several tools and machineries to help with the whole process.
There are many types of extrusion hot extrusion, cold extrusion and warm extrusion. In hot extrusion, the temperature is kept at a high level to be sure that material is soft and will not toughen easily. Hydraulic presses are sometimes employed in this sort of process, that explains why it is the most dear among the three types.
In cold extrusion, the temperature is maintained at a level that is equal or below the room temperature. This is done so the finished products will have good surface finishes and higher strength. Steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, lead, vanadium, molybdenum and tin are good examples of materials frequently utilised in cold extrusion.
Ultimately, in warm extrusion, temperature is kept at a level larger than room temperature but lower than the material's recrystallization temperature. This is done to reach the best ductility and extrusion properties.
The other generally utilized metals that may be extruded are the following :
- Copper utilized in making tubes, wire, cable sheathing and pipes
- Steel used in tracks and rods
- Magnesium used to manufacture nuclear industry parts and airplane components
- Tungsten carbide advisable to use because of its durability and hardness
- Zinc used in handrails, tubes, bar, rods, fitting and many hardware elements
- Lead utilized in making wire, pipes, cable sheathing and tubes
- Tin also used in a similar way as lead and copper
- Titanium used to manufacture engine rings, seat tracks for aeroplanes and other structural components
You can use either extruded aluminium or extruded steel dependent on your chosen end product. Remember that each one of these metals has an unique set of properties that would ideally suit your requirements.
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