What is Aluminium Extrusion?

Definition of aluminum extrusion

Aluminum extrusion molding applies strong pressure to the metal blank placed in the mold cavity (or extrusion barrel), forcing the metal blank to undergo directional plastic deformation and extruding from the die hole of the extrusion die to obtain the required section plastic processing method of part or semi-finished product with shape, size and certain mechanical properties.

Felt pad for protecting aluminum profiles

Classification of aluminum extrusion

According to the direction of metal plastic flow, extrusion can be divided into the following categories:

• Positive extrusion: During production, the direction of metal flow is the same as that of the punch

• Back extrusion: During production, the direction of metal flow is opposite to that of the punch

• Compound extrusion: During production, part of the metal flow direction of the blank is the same as the direction of the punch movement

• Radial extrusion: During production, the direction of metal flow is 90 degrees with the direction of the punch movement

Process characteristics of aluminum extrusion

1. During the extrusion process, the extruded metal can obtain a more intense and uniform three-way compressive stress state in the deformation zone than rolling and forging, which can give full play to the plasticity of the metal being processed;

   
   

2. Extrusion molding can not only produce rods, tubes, shapes, and wire products with simple cross-sectional shapes, but also can produce profiles and pipes with complex cross-sectional shapes;

   
   

3. Extrusion molding has great flexibility. You only need to replace extrusion tools such as molds to produce products with different shapes and specifications on a single device. The operation of replacing extrusion molds is simple, fast, time-saving and efficient.

   
   

4. The precision of extruded products is high, the surface quality of the products is good, and the utilization rate and yield of metal materials are also improved;

   
   

5. The extrusion process has a good impact on the mechanical properties of the metal;

   
   

6. Short process flow, convenient production, a single extrusion can be a larger area than hot die forging or forming and rolling methods, less equipment investment, low mold costs, high economic benefits;

   
   

7. Aluminum alloy has good extrusion characteristics, especially suitable for extrusion processing, can be processed through a variety of extrusion processes and a variety of mold structures.

   
   

Advantages of aluminum extrusion

1. Improve the deformability of aluminum. Aluminum is in a strong three-dimensional compressive stress state in the extrusion deformation zone, which can fully exert its plasticity and obtain a large amount of deformation.

   
   

2. High comprehensive product quality. Extrusion can improve the structure and mechanical properties of aluminum. After quenching and aging, the mechanical properties of the extruded product in the longitudinal direction (extrusion direction) are much higher than similar products produced by other processing methods. 

   
   

3. Wide product range. Extrusion molding can not only produce tubes, rods and wires with simple cross-section shapes, but also can produce solid and hollow profiles with very complex cross-section shapes. The cross-sections of the products change gradually and gradually along the length. Shaped products cannot be formed by other plastic working methods. 

   
   

4. Large production flexibility. Extrusion molding has great flexibility. It can produce products with different shapes, sizes, and varieties on the same device just by changing the mold. The operation of replacing the mold is simple, convenient, time-consuming and efficient.

   
   

5. The process is simple and the equipment investment is small. Compared with perforated rolling, hole rolling and other pipe and profile production processes, extrusion molding has the advantages of short process flow, less equipment and less investment.