Seamless Drawn VS Extruded Aluminum Tubes: Which one better?
Aluminum tubing as the most commonly used construction material and transportation tool for people, it has been undertaking important functions. And choosing the right tube is especially important, because the performance of the tube will directly affect the success of the project.
Aluminum tubes are usually produced using two methods, aluminum extrusion and seamless drawing. The chosen production method plays a key role in determining the properties of the tube and its applicability in various fields. And this article will help you choose the most suitable aluminum tubes:
Extruded Aluminum Tubes
Extruded aluminum tubes are formed by heating an aluminum billet and extruding it through a die. This process is also the one we use most often, as aluminum tubes produced by this method are usually used in applications that require a certain level of strength and lightness, and it is less expensive than other processes.
Manufacturing process of extruded aluminum tubes:
Aluminum billet preparation: aluminum billets (usually aluminum alloys such as 6061 or 6063) are cut to the appropriate length and pre-heated to the appropriate temperature (usually between 400-500 degrees Celsius).
Extrusion process:
1. Extrusion of Aluminum: The heated aluminum billet is placed in an extruder that uses a hydraulic or mechanical device to push the aluminum billet through a designed die.
2. Extrusion Die: The shape of the die determines the cross-sectional shape of the extruded aluminum tube. In this case, the die is designed with a hollow square cross-section to produce square aluminum tubes.
Cooling and stretching: The extruded aluminum tube is cooled and then straightened through a stretching process to achieve the required mechanical properties.
Cutting and Straightening: The cooled aluminum tubes are cut to the required length and further straightened to ensure that they meet the required tolerances.
Further processing:
Heat treatment: e.g. T5 (artificial aging) or T6 (solution heat treatment followed by artificial aging) to improve strength and hardness.
Surface treatment: e.g. anodizing to enhance corrosion resistance and appearance.
Advantages of extruded aluminum tubes:
Extruded aluminum tubes are available in multiple sizes and a variety of shapes, such as round, rectangular and extruded oval aluminum tube. Therefore it can be used in many construction projects where shape is a requirement, which is a disadvantage of other types of aluminum tubes. Secondly, the cost of manufacturing extruded aluminum is much lower than seamless drawing, so extruded aluminum tubes can be attractive for budget sensitive projects.
Applications of extruded aluminum tube:
- Building frames: support structures and railings
- Window frames, door frames and decorative profiles
- Mechanical equipment frames and supports
- Transportation ducts
- Cue or racket material
Seamless Drawn Aluminum Tubes
Seamless drawn aluminum tubes are made by drawing seamless tubes from solid aluminum billets (ingots). Aluminum tubes produced by this process typically have higher strength, better dimensional accuracy, and consistent wall thickness.
Its manufacturing process:
First, we need to select a high quality aluminum alloy ingot (e.g., 6061 or 6063), which is heated to the appropriate temperature (usually between 400-500 degrees Celsius). Then we need to put the heated ingot into a piercing machine, through a carbide piercing needle, the ingot will be pierced to form a rough hollow tube.
The initially perforated hollow tube is further stretched to make it longer and reduce its diameter while improving the surface quality. We need to maintain a certain speed during the stretching process, and finally a section of aluminum tube is obtained.
Advantages of seamless drawn aluminum tubes:
Outstanding strength and performance:
It typically has higher strength and better mechanical properties, especially excelling in high pressure applications. Better material uniformity and tube wall thickness consistency due to the absence of weld seams and drawing process.
Dimensional accuracy: Smaller dimensional tolerances and better surface finish for applications requiring high precision.
One-piece construction:
It is a more complex production process than tubes made from aluminum extrusion, but the finished product has a uniform material distribution. As a result, seamless stretched aluminum tubes will not rupture under conductive or high-pressure strong environments.
Seamless drawn aluminum tubing applications:
- Hydraulic lines
- High pressure fluid transfer
- Aircraft structural components
- Components with high strength requirements
- Medical devices or parts
- Missile casings
- Gun barrels
extruded VS seamless drawn aluminum tube
| Extruded Aluminum Tubes | Seamless drawn aluminum tubes | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing process | Extrusion molding, fast production speed | Pulled into shape, complex process |
| hardness | Medium strength for most applications | High strength for high pressure and high load applications |
| uniformity | Wall thickness and material distribution may be uneven | More uniform wall thickness and material distribution |
| precision | There are some dimensional tolerances, | Small dimensional tolerances and high surface finish |
| Applications | Building structures and decorative materials | Medical, aerospace, military |
| Cost | Lower cost, suitable for mass production | Very high cost |
Choose the right aluminum tube for you!
1. according to project needs:
Choose the right type of aluminum tube for your specific application. For example, high-pressure systems or applications requiring high precision should choose seamless drawn aluminum tubes, while extruded aluminum tubes can be selected for general structural and decorative applications.
2. Cost considerations:
Evaluate the project budget and select the most cost-effective material. For example, when we need to complete budget-sensitive projects. Then we need to use extruded aluminum tubing as a material because it has the lowest selling price. If the budget is sufficiently recharged one can opt for seamless drawn aluminum tubes.
3. Performance requirements:
We must consider factors such as strength, corrosion resistance and dimensional accuracy while selecting aluminum tubes to choose the one that meets the performance requirements. If you need to lay into water, then seamless drawn aluminum tubes will be a better choice!
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