Material Basics Part III: Aluminum and Alloys Used for TEC Metal Stamping Services in Minneapolis, MN

August 26th, 2016 · No Comments

This is Part III of a three-part series covering precision metal stamping materials used at TEC. Part I covers steel and steel alloys and Part II covers copper and copper alloys.

From the sheets of foil used daily in the food industry to the aluminum bodies of commercial airplanes, aluminum offers a wide variety of uses for a range of industries. Because of its abundance and its cohesive chemical properties, aluminum has proven its worth to manufacturers as a material crucial to the fabrication of many products. At Thomas Engineering Company, we have also taken advantage of the versatility of aluminum and several other types of related alloys for our metal stamping services in Minneapolis, MN.

While the strength and durability of stainless steel and the electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of copper play vital roles in the production of many of our precision stamped parts, aluminum is also utilized in many cases, as are our alloyed materials containing silver, nickel, chromium, cobalt, and several other metals.

Aluminum: Even in its purest form, aluminum has a remarkable ability to resist corrosion by using a shielding structure called passivation. This means that through exposure to oxidation, aluminum creates a surface layer that chemically bonds with and protects the base material, preventing the possibility of corrosion. Aluminum is used for several parts engineered at TEC for its low density and cost effectiveness. It also bonds well with many different metals, creating alloys with wide ranges of advantageous properties.

Nickel Alloys: In the metal working industry, some common nickel alloys used are nickel-aluminum, nickel-copper, nickel-chromium, and nickel-titanium. Superalloys known as Inconels use a base of nickel, chromium, and austenite and are frequently used to produce parts resistant to corrosion, oxidation, pressure, and heat.

Silver Alloys: TEC produces parts for several industries, including the electronics industry. Because silver is a very efficient electrical conductor, silver alloys are useful in the production of electrical connectors and other electronic components.

Elgiloy: Like Inconel, Elgiloy is a superalloy resistant to corrosion. Its components of cobalt, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese also give Elgiloy-based parts high strength, good fatigue-resistance, and high ductility.

These metals and many others give our engineers the metal properties they need to manufacture high quality, precision stamped parts for our customers.

For more information about any materials we use in the manufacturing of quality parts with our precision metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN, contact Thomas Engineering Company at (763) 533-1501 today.

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