Automotive
Aluminium is strong, but only 30% of the weight of steel, so means lighter cars with lower fuel consumption and less emissions. Components and systems include aluminium car roof panels, body applications, roof rails, finished trim, structural parts, radiators, structural components, tubing for heat exchangers, extrusions and engines. Aluminium is also increasingly used to make railway carriages.
Light vehicles need a body structure that is rigid to support weight and stress and to securely tie together all the components. Aluminium is well-suited for structural parts such as frames and sub-frames, impact beams and bumpers.
The growing trend for light weighting is aided by adding less grain refiner, reducing the number of inclusion related defects and allowing thinner aluminium sections to be produced without affecting grain size or other properties.
We have Optifine grain refiners that are particularly suited to the automotive industry with its challenging requirements for aluminium alloys that provide incredibly high tensile strength such as extrusion-based crash management systems, body-in-white structural components and battery enclosures.
Packaging
Aluminium is used in all types of packaging, from drink cans, food containers, cooking foil, laminated foil with paper and confectionery linings to pharmaceuticals. Even when only six microns thin, aluminium keeps the contents fresh for a long time.
With such small thicknesses, it’s important to have no defects larger than the thickness of the container. By adding Optifine grain refiner, this risk is reduced. We have Optifine grain refiners that are particularly suited to the packaging with its specific challenges and requirements.
Engineering
Aluminium is widely used to build large-scale structures with non-standard shapes such as stadiums, concert halls and other sports facilities. The glass faces of modern office skyscrapers are supported by lightweight and sturdy aluminium frames made from extruded aluminium profiles. Aluminium is also used for window frames, staircases and cladding.
The trend towards light weight frames is aided by using thinner extruded sections that are not compromised when considering strength.
The production of ever thinner sections is optimised by adding Optifine, reducing the number potential inclusion forming particles. We have Optifine grain refiners that are particularly suited to the engineering sector and its wide-ranging applications.
Aerospace
Aluminium will always be thought of as the metal that allowed people to fly. Light, strong and flexible, it is the ideal material for building heavier-than-air aircraft
Aluminium makes up a large part of a modern aircraft and it was actually first used in aviation before aeroplanes were invented. Components include aeroplane fins and skins.
To achieve thinner sections without affecting other properties is optimised by adding Optifine, reducing the number potential inclusion forming particles. We have Optifine grain refiners that are particularly suited to the aerospace sector.
