Archive: Nov 2020

The Differences Between Aluminum 3003 and Aluminum 6061

Aluminum is not just the most abundant metal on Earth, but it’s also a unique metal with a wide array of uses. It can be recycled almost completely without any change to it. This metal is also ductile, won’t become brittle in the cold, and is lightweight.

All of these properties make it a common choice for construction, but at its purest form may be too soft for particular applications. This problem is solved by combining it with other metals which are offered in different forms including aluminum 3003 and aluminum 6061. These are two of the most common choices for projects, but have differences between them.

Which of these would be the best for certain tasks, and what are the differences? Keep reading to learn which one you should choose, and what applications complement each one.

What Are Combined Metals?

When two or more metallic elements are combined alloys are created, and can take on some of the other metals’ properties. Different properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, workability, and density can be adjusted by adding different metals to make alloys that work best for certain projects. Understanding two of the most popular forms of aluminum alloys will allow you to choose the correct one for your intended application.

What Is Aluminum Alloy 3003?

3003 aluminum is the most commonly used aluminum alloy. This alloy is created from being combined with manganese, and this creates an increase in strength. Aluminum alloy 3003 also has corrosion resistance, great workability, and is able to be welded.

Aluminum’s formability is one of its greatest properties, and aluminum 3003 alloy is able to be bent more than others. This alloy is able to bend due to its strength, workability, and elongation.

It is difficult to list all of this alloy’s applications because of it being a general-use alloy. It is commonly used in the food and chemical industry in things like storage containers, pipes, cooking utensils, and chemical handling equipment. It is also used in things such as car radiators, fuel tanks, roofing, and siding.

What Is Aluminum Alloy 6061?

Aluminum 6061 contains magnesium and silicon as the main elements added to the aluminum to create the alloy. It is also a general-use alloy and has similarities to it. 6061 aluminum has high strength, corrosion resistance, and is able to be welded like 3003.

6061 Aluminum has higher strength, so it is commonly used in structural materials. This alloy is the better machining alloy because of its strength when welded with bolts and screws. 6061 aluminum experiences minimum stress at the point where pieces are connected, and this makes it last longer than 3003 aluminum as a structural material.

The strength of 6061 aluminum will also be the better choice for structural parts because of its yield strength. This is the measurement of how much stress it takes to cause the materials to deform, and this results in the instability of a building. Aluminum 6061 is more resistant than aluminum 3003, and this makes it the better choice for applications that need heavy strength in the materials.

6061 aluminum has a long list of uses since it is also one of the most commonly used alloys. The main applications of this alloy include chemical equipment, electronic parts, furniture, and welded assemblies. It is used for structural materials in products that are needed to be welded together.

There are a lot of options of sheet metal for your project since it is contributing about $30 billion in U.S. revenue. 3003 and 6001 aluminum are two of the most popular alloy options because of their ability to take on any benefits that aluminum doesn’t have on its own. It is important to know the differences between these two alloys when making your project material decision.

4 Advantages of Using AMS 5510 Stainless Steel

There are many different stainless steel grades, and each is better suited for different purposes. If you are looking for stainless steel with high resistance to intergranular corrosion and excellent mechanical properties, then AMS 5510 fits the bill. A variant of type 321 stainless steel, AMS 5510, has many industrial uses compared to type 304L and 304 stainless steel. These are the advantages of using AMS 5510 stainless steel.

1. Presence of Titanium in 321 Steel Makes It Resistant to Intergranular Corrosion

Carbide precipitation is one of the greatest challenges when welding steel at extremely high temperatures. The weld areas with temperatures of 930°F – 1470°F are referred to as carbide precipitation zone. At these high temperatures, Chromium combines with Carbon, and this forms chromium carbides at the grain boundaries. As a result, the corrosion resistance of steel is greatly impacted, reducing its effectiveness in high-temperature industrial uses such as making chemical processing equipment.

To counter the carbide precipitation effect, manufacturers utilize stainless steel with lower carbon content, such as 304L stainless steel. However, the most efficient way of combating carbide precipitation is by using type 321 steel, which is stabilized using Titanium. When AMS 5510 steel is exposed to high temperatures – 930°F – 1470°F-, the Carbon is attracted to the Titanium instead of Chromium. Therefore, precipitation of chromium carbides is avoided. Resultantly, equipment made from 321 steel is more resistant to intergranular corrosion and can be used in many applications requiring high temperatures or involve corrosive substances such as chemicals.

2. Fatigue Strength

For steel to be workable and utilized in many industrial applications, it should have a high endurance limit. AMS 5510 has a higher fatigue strength compared to 304 stainless. In its annealed condition, type 321 steel has an endurance limit close to one-half of its tensile strength. This increases the ductility of 321 steel, and the high endurance limit allows manufacturers to use it for high-temperature welding purposes. Additionally, it has a high creep and stress rupture threshold, which prevents temperature sensitizations in applications with prolonged high-temperature exposures.

3. Type 321 Steel Resists Oxidation up to 1500 Fahrenheit

321 Stainless steel provides the best resistance to corrosion and oxidation more than 304 stainless or 302 stainless. It has high creep strength that allows it to be used in applications that require continuous or intermittent service temperatures. This means that AMS 5510 can be used in equipment that requires cooling or heating within the range of 800 to 1500 Fahrenheit without sustaining rust. It is best suited for chemical processing equipment that works under high temperatures and where corrosion has to be avoided at all costs. Applications that involve diluted organic acids and pure phosphoric acids are sensitive to corrosion even under lower temperatures. This makes 321 stainless steel highly effective in making thin metal strips, tubing, thin steel sheet, and steel pipes commonly utilized in chemical processing plants.

4.Type 321 Steel Is Perfect for Welding

Besides preventing carbide precipitation during welding, 321 stainless steel forms easily, and it can be hardened by cold working. This saves manufacturers a lot of time and resources that would have been used for hot working. For large industrial welding processes that take place in high temperatures, AMS 5510 works best. Most manufacturers prefer 321 steel over 304 stainless when welding expansion joints and manufacturing aircraft piston engine manifolds and exhaust stacks. Other industrial applications that may utilize 321 stainless include thermal oxidizers, refinery equipment, food processing equipment and storage, and high-temperature chemical process equipment.

The benefits of AMS 5510 stainless steel in industrial applications include resistance to intergranular corrosion, fatigue strength, high oxidation resistance, and are highly weldable. With the many benefits of 321 steel, it is good news that more than 80 million tons of steel is recycled in the U.S. every year. This accounts for 69% of all steel produced globally. To get the best quality of 321 steel, you should trust the top thin sheet metal supplier near you.