3 - Aluminium Extruders - South Africa
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Stretch, Cut & Ageing
Extrusions being cut to required length.When the extrusion has cooled, it is clamped on both sides and stretched to be straightened. This process has to be done carefully as over or under stretching will cause dimensions to be incorrect. After stretching, the desired lengths are cut and the dimensions are checked.
The extrusions are placed in the basket spaced out to allow sufficient air flow during this time to obtain the mechanical properties specified in our technical information pages. After the ageing time has lapsed, the baskets are removed from the oven and allowed to cool. From here the aluminium extrusions are lifted by crane and transferred to the metal finishing plants.
As per the customer requirements, the metal is then taken to either anodizing or powder coating plants for metal finishing.
Technical Info (Tempers Table) |
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Temper |
Description |
Application |
F |
As fabricated. |
No guaranteed properties- |
O |
Annealed. |
Medium strength condition maximum formability |
T4 |
Solution heat- |
Formability with higher properties. Used when bending is required |
T5 |
Cool from an elevated shaping process temp. and artificially aged. |
When highest mechanical properties are not required. |
T6 |
Solution heat- |
Where highest possible mechanical properties are required (structural) Highest strength in this condition |