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mardi 14 avril 2015

The Role Of 6061-T6 Aluminum Pipe In Construction

By Iva Cannon


Aluminum alloys are categorized into two distinct groups; the wrought alloys and the casting alloys both suited for different applications. Wrought alloy, the more common of the two, is obtained by the process of extrusion and rolling after which it is forged into the desired shapes. Normally, cold-working or heat treated can be used as the means of making the alloy harder by increasing its strength, corrosion resistant and give them other properties. The 6061-T6 Aluminum Pipe is thus a hard and corrosion resistant pipe that is preferred for very many applications.

In order to understand its properties in details, it is best to understand how and why it is named so. The aluminum alloys are usually given 4-digit number for identification. The common series such as 2XXX for instance, are those with copper content. The 4XXX series contain the silicon while the 6XXX are the aluminum alloy series with magnesium and silicon in them.

After the four series number, an alpha-numeric suffix is added for more detailed identification. This suffix majorly used as an indication of the temper and degree of hardness. The T6 in 6061-T6 aluminum, for instance, shows that the material passed through the heat treatment solution and the artificial aging process. This is done to increase the material strength and reduce distortion chances. Additional processes like stress-relieving mean additional numerical parts on the alpha-numeric component.

As such, it is clear why the 6061-T6 aluminum materials are tough. They are used as a solution where structural strength is necessary while weight is undesired. They also offer very good finishing properties and are known to respond well to anodizing processes such as clear and color dye, and hard coat.

In its purest form, aluminum is very soft and highly reactive, making it unsuitable for serious structural use. However, its alloys, particularly the 6061-T6 alloy is very strong and is used to manufacture durable products. It has a very high strength-to-weight ratio and is thus ideal for conduction of light but strong parts. As such, it is commonly used to manufacture parts on planes such as wings and fuselage.

The other area where these alloys are commonly used is in the construction of water crafts. The water crafts are designed to be light in weight without compromising on their strength, and this is the solution. As such, they are common in sailboat masts, yacht hulls, lightweight boat, and for fabrication the flat-canoe bottom. They are also preferred for the frames of the bicycles.

However, in any ordinary construction site, they are used for most of the applications that involve heat transfer. These include heat-sink piping, heat exchanger piping, piping for and air coolers among others. They are also best for air piping and water piping where noncorrosive properties are necessary.

Other than steel, there are the other most used metal structures for construction. They are easy to handle and offers superior solutions for pipes and frames. They are widely sold in hardware shops and it is thus necessary for the buyer to understand how to make the right choice. Ideally, the 6061-T6 should be the marks to look for, however, the standardization and quality marks are also necessary to avoid buying from unapproved manufacturers. The internet may offer a good solution when buying the pipes. It gives access to numerous online sellers and the possibility of getting a seller with lower prices.




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