Sunday, March 29, 2015

Why Go For The 6061-T6 Aluminum Pipe

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.

By understanding its details and properties, you will be in the position to appreciate its application for your construction needs. The aluminum alloys are identified by the use of a 4-digit number series that indicates the materials used in alloys. The 2XXX series indicates the copper content, the 4XXX series for silicon content, and the 6XXX series for an alloy that contain silicon and magnesium.

In addition to this, alpha-numeric suffixes are added to the 4-digit number as an indication of the degree of hardness or temper. In the case of 6061-T6, the T6 is used to indicate that the alloy solution was heat-treated and then artificially aged so as to reduce the chances of distortion. For additional numbers on the suffix, it simply indicates additional process such as stretching for stress-relieving.

This shows why the 6061-T6 aluminum structures are known to be very tough. They are suitable where structural strength is necessary while weight is undesirable. In addition to this, they are known to provide very good finishing and respond very well to anodizing processes including color dying and hard coat.

In its pure form, aluminum is actually soft and reactive metal and does not qualify for most structural applications. However, alloys such as the 6061-T6 is completely a different case. It is widely used in manufacturing of structural and other components that are meant to be long lasting. Their high strength-to-weight ratio gives them particular preference for construction of light structural parts that are to be strong and light in weight such as some plain components such as fuselage and the wing.

Its ordinary uses include the construction of boats and other watercrafts due to strength and light weight. It is ideal for sailboat masts, yacht hulls, and for the fabrication of flat-canoe bottoms. The pipes are also ideal for bicycle frames, heat sinks, heat exchanger, air coolers, and other applications that require heat transfer. The material best for piping and tubing where non-corrosive properties are necessary, such as hydraulic, water and air piping.

As such, they are the optimal choice for your piping solution in any form of construction. In fact, they are the most widely used metals after steel and it is easy to come across them. The builders find them easy to handle and weld. Although they are available in most hardware stores, without proper understanding, it might be difficult to make the right choice.

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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