The Aluminium Guide
What you need to know to work with aluminium, in short lessons: from bauxite to profile, how to choose an alloy and a temper, and how to buy without paying too much. Each lesson ends with a tool to put it into practice.
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- 01What aluminium is and where it comes fromIt is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, but it is never found pure. This is how a red rock becomes a profile, and how it is done in Argentina.5 min
- 02How an aluminium profile is made: extrusionA hot billet, a steel die and a press that pushes with hundreds or thousands of tonnes. Step by step, from the billet to the 6-metre length sold in Argentina.6 min
- 03Aluminium alloys: what 6063, 6061 or 7075 meanThe alloy number tells you what was added to the aluminium. Profiles almost always use the 6000 series, and each alloy has its place.5 min
- 04Aluminium tempers: what T4, T5 and T6 meanThe same alloy can be soft or hard depending on the heat treatment it received. That is the temper, and it is written after the alloy number.4 min
- 05How to buy aluminium: lengths, kilos and kg/mProfiles are sold by the length and priced by the kilo. To avoid overpaying or running short, there is one number you need to know: the weight per metre.4 min
- 06Finishes: mill finish, anodising and powder coatingThe same profile can be silver, bronze, black or any colour. What each finish is, how long it lasts and which one suits each use.5 min
- 07Tolerances and standards: EN 755 made simpleNo profile comes out exactly to the dimensions on the drawing. Standards set how far it may deviate, and knowing this avoids surprises in assembly and in weight.4 min
- 08Aluminium vs steel, PVC and timberEvery material has its place. When aluminium is the right choice, when it is not, and what to bear in mind if you are replacing a part made of another material.5 min
- 09Custom profiles: dies, costs and developmentWhen no catalogue profile will do, you design your own. The steps involved, what is paid only once, and how to design it so that it comes out right and at a low cost.6 min
- 10Aluminium glossaryThe terms used in the aluminium industry, from A to Z, each explained in one line.6 min
Which one to choose?
6061 vs 6063, T5 vs T6, anodising vs powder coating, aluminium vs steel: the most common questions, side by side and with the values from the standards.
Industry documents
UOM agreements, wage scales, chamber reports and company results, with their source.
The lessons are an introduction. For a specific specification, check the standard or ask a technical team.