An Overview about Marine Grade Aluminium and Its Various Applications

08 September 2021

The marine industry maximises a lot of products and components from a wide array of metal materials. One of the materials that the industry typically uses is aluminium.

Aluminium, in general, is a type of silvery-white metal that boasts various notable features. For one, this specific material is known for its lightweight composition, making it easier and more affordable to transport and process. Aside from its lightweight composition, aluminium is also known for its corrosion resistance, electrical and thermal conductivity, reflectivity and ductility, and recyclability.

All these features alone make aluminium beneficial for the marine industry and its associated applications. Keep in mind, however, that not all aluminium grades are suitable for the industry. Only certain grades of aluminium can be processed to fit well with marine applications.

Notable Aluminium Grades for Marine Use

Since aluminium materials can be fabricated easily, they can be processed into sheets, plates, coils, pipes, bars, tubes, and extrusions. With these stock components, businesses that are part of the marine industry can generate parts and products that can be useful for them.

To date, most stock components for marine applications can be made from various aluminium grades. Some of the most notable aluminium grades for marine use are as follows:

• 5052– Grade 5052 is an aluminium grade that can be very useful for marine applications due to its great workability. Aside from its great workability, grade 5052 also has notable corrosion resistance, good weldability, medium static strength, and high fatigue strength.
• 5083– Grade 5083 aluminium, alternatively, can provide more strength than grade 5052 aluminium. It likewise has excellent corrosion resistance, making this specific material recommended for applications in hostile environments.
• 5086– With cold working and strain hardening, the grade 5086 can be effectively furthered strengthened. This aluminium grade boasts outstanding corrosion resistance.
• 5456– Grade 5456 is a type of aluminium that can be utilised in structural applications due to its ease of formability and workability. It can also be used for the said applications as it can be exposed to the extrusion process. It can even have better strength when processed with cold working.
• 5754– The high strength and excellent corrosion resistance of grade 5754 make it very suitable for marine applications and their respective harsh environments.
• 6061– Grade 6061, on the other hand, has excellent mechanical properties and can be processed under annealed conditions. Through various fabrication processes, aluminium with this specific grade can generate plates, sheets, and extruded shapes.
• 6063– Ultimately, aluminium materials with grade 6063 can be maximised for decorative and structural purposes. Their excellent tensile properties, finishing qualities, and corrosion resistance make them suitable for interior and exterior architectural applications.

Applications of Marine Grade Aluminium

Given all the features and characteristics of the previously mentioned aluminium grades, the marine industry can easily maximise them in generating various parts and components of its products. Some of the notable applications of marine grade aluminium stock components include structural shipbuilding, boat hulls, boat lifts, docks, and other prominent offshore structural applications. Luxury vessels, fishing vessels, workboats, leisure boats, and patrol boats can all be made from these aluminium components.

To know more about aluminium fabrication, you can contact us at Canfred Engineering.

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