Aluminum

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Contents 1 Material analysis 1.1 Traditional uses 1.2 Emerging uses / trends 1.3 Finish and aesthetic qualities 1.4 Surface forms / shapes 1.5 Cost analysis 2 Material properties 2.1 Primary structural use 2.2 Material performance 2.3 Dimensional and opening restriction 2.4 Acoustic property 2.5 Manufacturing process and assembly 3 Environment and Life Safety 3.1 Environmental impact 3.2 Flammability rating 3.3 Coefficient of friction 4 References 4.1 Notes 4.2 Student contributions 5 See also 5.1 Similar materials 5.2 Building references 6 External links 6.1 Additional resources 6.2 Leading manufacturers

Material analysis

MasterFormat Number: 05 70 00

Traditional uses

• Roofing.
• Window Frames.
• Doors.
• Siding.
• Furniture.
• Transportation applications.

Emerging uses / trends

• Curtain Walls.
• Wall cladding systems.
• Asymmetrical curves and extruded forms.

Finish and aesthetic qualities

• Naturally a dull silver color.
• Aluminum can be painted.
• Aluminum can be anodized
  • Anodizing is an etching process that is followed by an oxide treatment.
  • Commonly available in clear, dark bronze, and black, but many other colors are also available.
  • The hardness of the anodized aluminum oxide coating enhances the abrasion resistance.
• Naturally develops a thin aluminum oxide film when exposed to air, that seals the aluminum from further oxidation.

Surface forms / shapes

• Extrusion offers many design options; easily formed into complex shapes.

Cost analysis

• Varies by thickness, size and form.
• Aluminum is comparable in costs to other materials but when labor costs for assembly, installation, and field painting are factored in, aluminum is often at a price advantage.

Material properties

Primary structural use

• A pound of aluminum can replace twice the weight of steel in most applications.
• Aluminum has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than most other metals or materials
• Limited compression, tensile and malleability.

Material performance

• naturally corrosion-resistant
• non-magnetic
• non-sparking
• Although aluminum has a high strength to weight ratio, aluminum has a low-melting point.

Dimensional and opening restriction

• Varies by method of production: brake press or extrusion press.
  • Brake press creates thin, flat sheets from 0.02”-0.50” in thickness. Width and length depend on sheet or plate production.
  • Extrusion press pushes aluminum alloy into cast/die of a machine to create a particular shape.
• Can be molded, bended, and shaped into custom shapes
• The anodizing process makes the oxidized surface much thicker, up to several thousandths of an inch thick.
• Unlike steel, aluminum frames can be installed even after the walls are built/finished and flooring (such as carpeting) has been installed. Aluminum frames are completely constructed and finished in the factory, thereby making installation simple and quick.
• The most common thickness for aluminum roofing is .032 inches.

Acoustic property

Manufacturing process and assembly

• Shaped by a Brake press method; typically simple low volume aluminum profiles
• Shaped by an Extrusion method; the metal is cast in a die/mold that creates interlocking frames which are then screwed together; typically more intricate shapes.
• Unlike steel, aluminum frames can be installed even after the walls are built/finished and flooring (such as carpeting) has been installed. Aluminum frames are completely constructed and finished in the factory, thereby making installation simple and quick.
• The most common method of joining two aluminum profiles together is with clips that are screwed to the two pieces.
• A simpler method requiring less expertise by the assembler and installer is to use a screw spline that is extruded into one of the two shapes to join the profiles together.

Environment and Life Safety

Environmental impact

• Aluminum is easily recyclable. Most alloys of aluminum contain up to 50% of reused scrap.
• Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.
• Aluminum frames are painted or anodized in contained factory conditions to seal off-gassing and pollutants.
• Aluminum also provides a high degree of radiant heat reflectivity regardless of whether a roof is low or steep slope, resulting in less heat transfer to the interior of the building during the summer which, in turn, lowers energy costs by reducing cooling loads.(the Metal Initiative)

Flammability rating

• Flammable only as a fine dust powder, by Pure Tech Inc.’s MSDS.

Coefficient of friction

• Dry:
  • Static: 1.05-1.35
  • Sliding: 1.4
• Greasy:
  • Static: .3

References

Notes

• Aluminum Association
• The Metal Initiative
• AIA/Architectural Record Continuing Education Series.
• Sweets Catalog

Student contributions

• Hanna Kim-Seda, Fall 2005
• Michelle Aberbach, Spring 2008

See also

Similar materials

• Copper
• Perforated metal
• Metal Fabric
• Metal ceiling panels

Building references

• Akron Museum of Art: aluminum-clad addition, Akron, Ohio
• Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington

External links

Additional resources

Leading manufacturers

• Alcoa Inc.
• Superior Aluminum Products
• Forms + Surfaces