What is Marine-Grade Aluminum?
Even though pure aluminum has a high natural resistance to corrosion compared to many other metals, the constant exposure to water and moisture in marine applications warrants additional protection. When alloyed with other metals like magnesium, aluminum develops an even higher level of corrosion resistance that can tolerate constant contact with water and saltwater. These specially treated aluminum alloys are known as marine-grade aluminum.
What are the Benefits of Using Aluminum in Marine Applications?
Marine-grade aluminum is specifically developed to make it ideal for use in marine environments. As such, it possesses a number of properties required in these applications. Some of these properties include:
Superior corrosion resistance
Lightweight with a high strength-to-weight ratio
Compatibility with a variety of fabrication processes
Wide availability in sheets, extrusions, and plates
What aluminum plate grade should use for marine?
The aluminum alloy plate provides the exceptional strength, workability and corrosion resistance that marine applications require, aluminium has been the material of choice for forward-looking designers wherever durability, economy of operation and construction, responsiveness or sheer speed are priorities.
What are the properties of marine aluminum?
Properties of Aluminum for Marine Applications
There are many grades of marine aluminum, each differing slightly in its properties due to the alloy materials that are included.
Continental Steel supplies several grades of marine aluminum in a variety of stock forms, including plate, sheet, coil, pipe, tube, bars, and extrusions We can also provide them with varying degrees of temper. The grades we can provide include:
5083. 5083 marine-grade aluminum is ideal for applications that need superlative corrosion resistance in hostile environments. 5083 is the strongest non-heat treatable aluminum alloy and maintains its strength even after welding.
5086. This alloy is highly conductive with superior corrosion resistance. 5086 can be strengthened through strain hardening and cold working until it is even stronger than in 5083. Though compatible with multiple welding methods, electric arc welding is preferred for this alloy.
5454. The beneficial properties of 5454 include high strength, superior corrosion resistance, and good formability and weldability.
5456. Widely used for structural applications, 5456 is well-suited to the extrusion process. It is also amenable to forming operations like rolling and forging. 5456 can be made stronger through cold working, but the process reduces its ductility.
5754. Its superior resistance to corrosion makes 5754 very suitable for the marine industry and other industrial applications possessing corrosive operating environments. It is also suitable for flooring applications due to its high strength.
What is the difference between marine grade aluminum and regular aluminum?
Marine grade aluminum is aluminum alloys which can be used in shipbuilding industry with high corrosion resistance characters. Besides, Marine grade aluminum alloy as a non-heat treatable grade offers a high level of strength. Its fatigue strength is greater than the majority of other aluminum grades. In addition, it offers good resistance to Marine atmosphere and saltwater corrosion.