LARGE DIAMETER ALUMINUM TUBES

You will find aluminum tubes in many industrial applications, from structural piping and pipeline to the latest aircraft. Many applications use different sizes of aluminum tubes – both small and large-diameter aluminum tubes.

Typically, the diameter of the large aluminum tube can be anywhere from 100-250mm onwards. Some of the tubes are as large as 650 mm in diameter. Based on your project requirements, you can order any custom size within the range from FONNOV ALUMINIUM. The best manufacturers will give the customer the freedom to request custom large-diameter aluminum tubes.

Here is the standard process for manufacturing large aluminum tubes:

• Raw material in the form of aluminum billets arrives at our plant
• The billets are cut according to the desired length
• The aluminum billets are preheated to the specified temperature for the extrusion die
• At least 100,000 PSI is applied to push the billet through the extrusion die
• The extruded large aluminum tube is cooled, stretched, and cut to a specified length
• Heat hardening follows to enhance corrosion resistance, strength, and durability

The large-diameter aluminum tubes present similar features and advantages.

The alloys 6063 6061 6082 7075 2024 are often used to produce large aluminum tubes.

Despite the large diameter, these large aluminum tubes are easy to transport and pose fewer weight challenges when they build a structure. That explains why these tubes are popular for vehicles, buildings, and ship industries.

Large diameter aluminum tubes are also generally built for longevity and resistance to elements. If you pick the right manufacturer, you will get a tube that can serve you with consistent quality for a long time.

With the right provider, you are sure that the large aluminum tubes have been built according to national standards. That’s the mark of the best products.

You can accomplish a lot with large diameter aluminum tubes. Whether you are in the oil & gas or transport sector, the applications of these products cut across different industries.

Energy

This is a popular industry for large aluminum tubes. The transmission systems in this industry require materials that have adequate electrical conductivity. Large tubes made from aluminum alloy are effective for such projects. In the renewable energy area, the tubes are prominent in the construction of wind turbines, whereby the strength and low weight play a critical role.

Transportation

Low weight and high strength is an irreplaceable combination in transportation designs. The versatility of the material allows for usage in vehicle manufacture.

Choosing the right large diameter aluminum tubes is a matter of considering the kind of project at hand more or less. Your project requirements will inform the criteria that you follow.

The purpose of the tubes will therefore be at the top of the criteria. Depending on the application or purpose of the tubes, there will be varying requirements for visual appeal, strength, profile, and corrosion resistance among other characteristics.

One thing that cuts across all large aluminum tubes is susceptibility to bending forces. An alloy that forms very easily may therefore not be the best for these types of tubes.

The alloy of the tubes does impact performance in different situations because it affects the properties of the product. Based on these properties, the product may be suitable or unsuitable for a particular application.

When it comes to the size and shape of the large aluminum tubes, it is important to note the possibility of these elements affecting the relevance or suitability of a product for an application. For instance, the shape of the tube can affect the suitability for carrying certain weights or loads.

Remember also to consider the project environment. For instance, if the tubes will be in a corrosive environment most of the time, insist on tubes that have high corrosion resistance.

There is also the matter of the temper. For projects where bending is a priority, we would recommend T4 temper. If the project focuses on hardness, then T6 temper is a perfect choice.

Based on the strength, durability, weight, and other requirements for the large aluminum tubes in their popular applications, certain alloys of aluminum are preferable in the projects. The most common aluminum alloys for large tubes are 6063, 6060, 6061, and 6082. Others are 2024, 7075, and 5052.

Each of these aluminum alloys has unique characteristics that emanate from treatments with magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and other metals. 6061 aluminum, for instance, contains magnesium and silicon. These alloying elements make the metal highly corrosion-resistant and easy to weld. That’s part of the reason why this alloy is popular in industrial and structural projects. It is no wonder many large-diameter aluminum tubes are of this grade. This aluminum alloy does an excellent job with truck racks & frames and machine parts.

Then there is 5052 aluminum, which is an alloy containing magnesium. As you would expect, this material is extremely corrosion-resistant. It is so good that it is usable even in brine situations, although it is not the easiest to weld. Projects requiring large aluminum tubes in the chemical and marine environments are fond of this alloy of aluminum.

7075 aluminum is equally relevant in projects where large aluminum tubes are prominent. With its high zinc content, this aluminum alloy presents high strength. It is particularly common in the automotive and aerospace industries, where low weight and superior strength are required.

In some projects, the strength-to-weight ratio is the priority. Aerospace, aircraft, and transportation structural projects are in this category. Provided the environment is not rugged, 2024 aluminum comes in handy. The only possible challenge with the alloy is its relatively poor performance on corrosion resistance. Galvanizing the alloy with the right alloy can ward off rust from 2024 aluminum though.

Both aluminum tubes and steel tubes have their pros and cons when used in automotive, construction, aerospace, and other industries. However, each of the options offers specific characteristics that may be suitable for a project.

Steel is heavier and stronger than aluminum, so it is more capable of withstanding cracking and fracture. However, aluminum tubes perform better than mild steel in these aspects.

Aluminum tubes are more malleable than steel tubes, meaning that they are easier to extrude and form into custom profiles. When the temperatures fall, aluminum tubes cope better than steel tubes because they tend to be stronger.

Aluminum tubes are undoubtedly better than steel tubes in thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. While aluminum is naturally protected by an oxide film, steel is prone to corrosion. Aluminum tubes have three times the thermal conductivity of steel tubes.

The same case applies to machinability, where the ease of working with and recycling large aluminum tubes. However, steel tubes are easier to weld.

With our two decades of experience serving different aluminum extrusion clients, we are convinced we are in a good position to offer some tips concerning large diameter aluminum tubes.

Choosing large diameter aluminum tubes from FONNOV ALUMINUM means being in a position to enjoy the benefits of products that are durable, high quality, and up to standard. We pride ourselves in being able to deliver the right products to our clients quickly once they have made the order.

We are experienced in producing all kinds of large aluminum tubes, even when the shapes are customized. FONNOV Aluminum is your one-stop shop for all alloys of large aluminum tubes.  Not many manufacturers can produce the profiles and specifications like the ones we do.

Work with the experts in large aluminum tubes! If you are looking for the ideal aluminum alloy for your project, we would be pleased to help. Contact Us today for suggestions.