Aluminium

BY
P.MANIKANDAN(M.Tech.. Phd)
 ALUMINIUM
The aluminum is one of the abundantly available non-ferrous
metals on the surface of earth.
 But it is not available in direct form, generally it is extracted
from bauxite.
Aluminum also available in the form of oxides, sulphates,
silicates and phosphates etc
Aluminium (Aluminum) has properties which makes it suitable
as a building / construction material.
Nowadays in advanced countries, aluminum became the
important construction material for buildings especially for
industrial buildings along with brick, cement and steel.
Properties of Aluminum as Building Material
Air tightness
High strength to weight ratio
Ease in fabrication and assembly
Cryogenics
Low Handling and transportation cost
High reflectivity
Corrosion resistance
Appearance
High Scrap value
Sound proof
Maintenance
 Air Tightness
Doors and windows or its frames made form aluminum
are perfectly air tight which cannot permit dust or air or
water when they are closed.
Now a days for fully air conditioned buildings like
seminar rooms, theaters etc. aluminum doors and
windows are using.
 Strength to Weight Ratio
Aluminum as a construction material has a property of
very high value of strength to weight ratio.
It represents that small amount of aluminum can give
more strength to structure.
Because of less weight we can construct the structure in
less time and load transferring to foundation also reduces.
 Ease in Fabrication and Assembly
Compared to other metals aluminum alloys can be cast,
forged, extruded, rolled or welded easily.
During or after composition of aluminum alloy it cannot
break because it is not having brittle nature. The assembly
of aluminum structures can be easily dismantled or
transported or assembled.
 Cryogenics
Study of phenomena occur at very low temperature is
called cryogenics.
At very low temperature steel becomes brittle and lost its
strength.
But in the case of aluminum, it is highly suitable for sub-
zero temperatures. So, for snow bound areas aluminum
structures are highly preferable.
Cont..
Low Handling and Transportation Cost
Handling of aluminum is very easy because of its less
weight.
So, we can transport it easily in large quantity to any place
with low transportation cost.
Reflectivity
Reflectivity of aluminum is also very high.
Aluminum does not absorb radiant heat and low absorption
heat. So, during summer it maintains the interior cooler and
during winter maintains warmer conditions.
 Corrosion Resistance
Corrosion resistance of aluminum is very high.
It doesn’t effected by weathering conditions.
They can withstand against humid or hot dry conditions
very well.
Because of its good corrosion resistance, aluminum
corrugated sheets are widely used for power plants,
chemical plants, paper mills, petroleum refineries etc..
 Appearance
Aluminum also gives beauty to the structure.
Smooth and bright finishing is possible for aluminum
structures.
We can also provide various shades of colors on the
aluminum sheets to enhance decorative style.
Cont..
High Scrap Value
Scrap value of aluminum is very high. So, it cannot be
damaged easily and highly durable.
Because of high scrap value, we can resale it for good
value.
Sound Proof
Aluminum sheets acts as sound proof materials.
They are excellent reflectors of sound waves as well as
electromagnetic waves. So, they do not allow external noise
into the building and also interior sounds to outside.
 Low Maintenance Cost
As said above, aluminum have high corrosive resistance
and good properties against low temperature so,
maintenance of aluminum is negligible.
Even though it is expensive to buy, it will with stand for
25-30 years without any maintenance.
 COMPOSITE MATERIALS
A composite material is a material made from two or
more constituent materials with significantly
different physical or chemical properties that, when
combined, produce a material with characteristics
different from the individual components. 
Cont..
 Typical engineered composite materials include:
Reinforced concrete and masonry.
Composite wood such as plywood.
Reinforced plastics, such as fibre-reinforced polymer or
fiberglass.
Ceramic matrix composites (composite ceramic and
metal matrices)
Metal matrix composites.
and other Advanced composite materials.
 Reinforced concrete (RC)
Reinforced concrete (RC) (also called reinforced cement
concrete or RCC) is a composite material in which concrete's
relatively low tensile strength and ductility are counteracted
by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile
strength or ductility.
The reinforcement is usually, though not necessarily, steel
reinforcing bars (rebar) and is usually embedded passively in
the concrete before the concrete sets.
Reinforcing schemes are generally designed to
resist tensile stresses in particular regions of the concrete that
might cause unacceptable cracking and/or structural failure.
 PROPERTIES
High relative strength
High toleration of tensile strain
Good bond to the concrete, irrespective of pH, moisture,
and similar factors
Thermal compatibility, not causing unacceptable stresses
(such as expansion or contraction) in response to changing
temperatures.
Durability in the concrete environment
 Composite lumber
Composite lumber is a material that is a mixture of wood
fiber, plastic, and some type of binding agent.
These ingredients are put together to form a material that
is denser, stronger, and heavier than wood alone, a wood-
plastic composite.
Cont..
 Advantages
Composite lumber comes from the manufacturer as a
finished product.
There is no need to stain, sand, or paint the material.
Composite materials usually cost more than lumber, but
their long life and low-maintenance requirements could
make them more economical in the long run.
Many composites are often made partially out of recycled
plastics and waste wood, which makes them an
environmentally friendly, efficient use of resources
 Dis advantages
Composite lumber is usually more costly than normal or treated
lumber.
Composites may last longer, but the initial investment is likely to
be higher.
Many composites are formulated to be fade, scratch, and stain
resistant, but no lumber is immune to the elements. Although
composite lumber may resist these marring effects better than other
materials, it will still show signs of wear over time. Composite
lumber often has a plastic-like or synthetic appearance. Although
manufacturers do mold the product with a wood grain or brush
stroke pattern, some consumers simply do not like the artificial
sheen
 Fibre-reinforced plastic
Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) (also called fiber-
reinforced polymer, or fiber-reinforced plastic) is a
composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced
with fibres.
 The fibres are usually glass (in fibreglass), carbon (in
carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer), aramid, or basalt.
 Rarely, other fibres such as paper, wood, or asbestos have
been used. The polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester, or
polyester thermosetting plastic, though phenol
formaldehyde resins are still in use.
Cont..
Cont..
 Carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers
Advantages over a traditional rudder made from sheet
aluminium are:
25% reduction in weight
95% reduction in components by combining parts and forms
into simpler moulded parts.
Overall reduction in production and operational costs,
economy of parts results in lower production costs and the
weight savings create fuel savings that lower the operational
costs of flying the aeroplane.
 Glass-fibre-reinforced polymers
Advantages this has over cast aluminium manifolds are:
Up to a 60% reduction in weight
Improved surface quality and aerodynamics
Reduction in components by combining parts and forms
into simpler moulded shapes.
 Ceramic matrix composite
Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are a subgroup of
composite materials as well as a subgroup of ceramics.
They consist of ceramic fibres embedded in a ceramic
matrix.
The matrix and fibres can consist of any ceramic material,
whereby carbon and carbon fibres can also be considered
a ceramic material.
Cont..
 Properties
Elongation to rupture up to 1%
Strongly increased fracture toughness
Extreme thermal shock resistance
Improved dynamical load capability
Anisotropic properties following the orientation of fibers
 Metal matrix composite
A metal matrix composite (MMC) is composite material
with at least two constituent parts, one being a metal
necessarily, the other material may be a different metal or
another material, such as a ceramic or organic compound.
 When at least three materials are present, it is called a
hybrid composite. An MMC is complementary to a
cermet.
Cont..
 Advanced composite materials (engineering)
Advanced composite materials (ACMs) are also known as
advanced polymer matrix composites.
These are generally characterized or determined by unusually
high strength fibres with unusually high stiffness, or modulus
of elasticity characteristics, compared to other materials, while
bound together by weaker matrices.
These are termed advanced composite materials (ACM) in
comparison to the composite materials commonly in use such
as reinforced concrete, or even concrete itself.
The high strength fibers are also low density while occupying
a large fraction of the volume
Cont..
Advanced composites exhibit desirable physical and
chemical properties that include light weight coupled with
high stiffness (elasticity), and strength along the direction
of the reinforcing fiber, dimensional stability, temperature
and chemical resistance, flex performance, and relatively
easy processing.
 Advanced composites are replacing metal components in
many uses, particularly in the aerospace industry.
THANK YOU