Aluminum Extrusion 2040 and 2080 Characteristics and Applications

European Standard Aluminum Profiles

European Standard aluminum profiles are aluminum products with wide applications and excellent performance. They come in various models, each with different dimensions, shapes, and uses. Here are some common European Standard aluminum profile models and their characteristics:

20 Series (e.g., 2020, 2040, 2080): This series of aluminum profiles has a cross-sectional area of 20 square millimeters. It is a smaller-sized aluminum profile widely used in mechanical manufacturing, communication equipment, display racks, LED lightboxes, and other fields.

30 Series (e.g., 3030, 3060, 3090): The cross-sectional area of this series of aluminum profiles is 30 square millimeters. It is a medium-sized profile used in construction machinery, stage equipment, logistics transportation, automation equipment, and other fields.

40 Series (e.g., 4040, 4080, 40120): With a cross-sectional area of 40 square millimeters, this series consists of larger-sized aluminum profiles. It finds extensive applications in manufacturing large-scale production lines, logistics equipment, robots, and other fields.

45 Series (e.g., 4545, 4590): This series of aluminum profiles has a cross-sectional area of 45 square millimeters and features a 45-degree angled section. It is suitable for applications such as decorative frames.

50 Series (e.g., 5050, 8080): The cross-sectional area of this series is 50 square millimeters, making it a large-sized aluminum profile. It is used in the manufacturing of robots, logistics equipment, large-scale production lines, and more.

60 Series (e.g., 6060, 6063): With a cross-sectional area of 60 square millimeters, this series comprises larger-sized aluminum profiles. It is employed in the manufacturing of construction machinery, logistics transportation, production lines, and other applications.

In summary, European Standard aluminum profiles come in various models and are widely utilized in different industries.

Aluminum Extrusion Profile Processes

Industrial aluminum profiles specifications include various models such as 2020 aluminum profile, 2040 aluminum extrusion profile, 2080 extrusion profile, 3030R aluminum profile, 3030 aluminum profile, 3060 aluminum profile, 3090 aluminum profile, 4040 aluminum profile, 4060 aluminum profile, 4080 aluminum profile, 5050 aluminum profile, 6060 aluminum profile, 8080 aluminum profile, 9090 aluminum profile, 50100 aluminum profile, 100100 aluminum profile, and more.

The process of titanium gold plating for aluminum profiles falls under the category of coating technology. It involves additional pre-plating and electroplating steps based on conventional titanium plating processes. The pre-plating process involves placing activated parts in a water solution of salt and hydrochloric acid for chemical treatment. The electroplating process includes nickel sulfate, nickel chloride, boric acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, saccharin, and brighteners in the plating solution. This process offers the advantages of simplicity, practicality, and excellent results. The titanium gold aluminum profiles produced through this process have a hardness of HV≈1500, which is 150 times harder than 22K gold plating under the same conditions. They can be processed into various forms of bright gold, colored, black, and other aluminum profile products.

Using 6063 industrial aluminum for assembly lines is cheaper than using steel and provides a more convenient installation process. Additionally, aluminum profiles have a more appealing appearance compared to steel. Industrial aluminum profiles are gradually entering the market and are expected to replace steel in a diversified manner.

Extrusion is the method used for shaping profiles. First, molds are designed and manufactured based on the profile's cross-section. The heated round cast bars are then extruded through the molds using an extrusion machine. The commonly used alloy is 6063, which undergoes an air-cooling quenching process and subsequent artificial aging process to achieve heat treatment strengthening. The heat treatment procedures vary for different alloys that can undergo heat treatment strengthening.

Coloring (emphasizing the oxidation process here)
Oxidation: After the extrusion of aluminum alloy profiles, the surface corrosion resistance is not strong enough. Anodizing is required to enhance the corrosion resistance, adsorption capacity, and aesthetic appearance of the aluminum material.

The main process includes:

(1) Surface pretreatment: Chemical or physical methods are used to clean the profile's surface, exposing a clean base to facilitate the formation of a complete and dense artificial oxide film. Mirror or matte (semi-gloss) surfaces can also be achieved through mechanical means.

(2) Anodizing: After the surface pretreatment, the profile undergoes anodization on the base surface under specific process conditions, resulting in a dense, porous, and strongly adherent AL203 film.

(3) Sealing: The pores in the porous oxide film formed after anodization are sealed to enhance the film's pollution resistance, corrosion resistance, and insulation properties. The oxide film is colorless and transparent. By utilizing the strong adsorption of the oxide film before sealing, metal salts can be deposited within the pores, resulting in various colors beyond the natural color (silver-white) of the profile, such as black, antique bronze, gold, stainless steel, etc.

Characteristics and Performance of Aluminum Profiles after Various Surface Treatment Processes

Matte Finish Aluminum Profiles: Matte finish aluminum profiles avoid the drawback of shiny aluminum alloy profiles causing light interference under certain environmental conditions in architectural decoration. Its surface is as delicate and soft as satin, and it is highly favored in the market. However, existing matte finish materials need to overcome the unevenness of surface sand particles and the visibility of mold patterns.

Multi-tone Surface Treated Aluminum Profiles: Currently, monotonous silver-white and brown colors cannot meet the architects' needs for good coordination with exterior wall tiles and latex paint. Stainless steel color, champagne color, gold color, titanium gold color, red series (burgundy, plum red, black, purple), combined with colored glass, can enhance the decorative effect. These profiles need to undergo chemical or mechanical polishing before oxidation to achieve the best results.

Electrophoretic Painted Aluminum Profiles: Electrophoretic painted profiles have a smooth gloss surface and can resist the erosion of cement, mortar, and acid rain. 90% of aluminum profiles in Japan undergo electrophoretic painting.

Powder Coated Aluminum Profiles: The characteristics of powder coated profiles include excellent corrosion resistance, with salt spray performance far superior to oxidized and colored profiles.

Plasma Enhanced Electrochemical Ceramic Coated Aluminum Profiles: This type of material represents the most advanced surface treatment technology in the world today. These profiles have excellent product quality but come at a higher cost. They offer more than 20 different shades and can be color-matched as needed, resulting in a colorful surface for the profiles and a beautiful decorative effect.

Characteristics of Industrial Aluminum Profiles

After undergoing oxidation, the surface of industrial aluminum profiles becomes extremely beautiful and resistant to dirt. Once coated with oil stains, they are easy to clean. When assembling products, different specifications of profiles are used based on the load requirements, along with matching aluminum profile accessories. Welding is not required, making it environmentally friendly. Furthermore, installation, disassembly, carrying, and transportation are extremely convenient.

How are Industrial Aluminum Profiles processed?

Generally, the pricing of industrial aluminum profiles is based on the regional industry guidance price (aluminum ingot price) plus processing fees. The processing fees include raw material costs, oxidation costs, electrophoretic coating costs, spray coating costs, processing expenses, and local production and handling fees charged by manufacturers. Surface treatment requirements are taken into account, as well as freight and packaging fees. Except for special customization, standard industrial aluminum profiles are delivered in 6-meter lengths and can be cut to the desired dimensions, such as 1 meter.

In general, series 1 aluminum exhibits good corrosion resistance, followed by series 5. Series 3 and 6 come next, while series 2 and 7 perform less favorably. The corrosion resistance principle should be determined based on the specific usage context. When using high-strength alloy in a corrosive environment, various corrosion-resistant composite materials must be employed. Many customers are particularly concerned about the hardness of aluminum, which is directly related to the alloy's chemical composition. The strength of aluminum profiles is an important factor to consider during product design, especially when aluminum alloy components are used. The appropriate alloy should be selected based on the pressure the component will bear. Pure aluminum has high strength, while series 2 and 7 heat-treated alloys have a certain negative correlation between hardness and strength.

Corrosion resistance includes chemical corrosion and stress corrosion resistance. Different conditions also have a significant impact. In terms of achievable hardness, series 7, 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, and 1 decrease in that order.

Industrial aluminum (alloy) profiles have a wide range of applications and are known for their versatility, environmental friendliness, easy assembly and disassembly, time and cost savings. They come in a variety of types and complete specifications, suitable for various types of mechanical devices. They do not require welding, making size adjustments and structural changes easy. Strict dimensional tolerances and high surface finish requirements are necessary. Assembly work is convenient and quick, resulting in high production efficiency. The surface undergoes anodization treatment, providing corrosion resistance, eliminating the need for painting, and enhancing aesthetics, thereby increasing the added value of the products. Industrial aluminum profiles are suitable for frame structures with high stress and strength. They feature rounded transitions, anodized surfaces for an elegant appearance and corrosion resistance. Internal connections are typically made using M8*20 high-strength bolts and elastic fasteners, ensuring stability and reliability. They are commonly used in industrial framework applications. Aluminum profiles for conveyor systems generally bear relatively low loads, but aluminum offers greater convenience compared to other materials. Moreover, this type of profile is relatively affordable and highly sought after in the market by a wide range of customers.