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+--- Thread: Characteristics of Marine Grade Aluminum Alloys (/Thread-Characteristics-of-Marine-Grade-Aluminum-Alloys--22117)
Characteristics of Marine Grade Aluminum Alloys - askaluadmin - 08-14-2019
The marine industry uses aluminum alloys for shipbuilding and fabricating components in offshore platforms because they are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and have superior mechanical properties.
The following are some examples of cast aluminum alloys, their characteristics and uses:
Al-Si alloys (examples 413.0, 443.0):
highly fluid, castable and weldable
corrosion-resistant
moderately strong
great for leak- and fatigue-resistant castings
used in critical components in marine applications
Al-Mg alloys (examples 512.0, 514.0, 518.0, 535.0):
not heat treatable
tougher to cast
machinable
highly corrosion-resistant
suitable for components exposed to seawater
Some characteristics and uses of wrought aluminum alloys are as follows:
Al-Mg alloys (examples 5052, 5083, 5754):
non-heat treatable
strain hardenable
easily weldable
highly corrosion-resistant, even in salt water
tough, even at cryogenic temperatures
moderately strong
Al-Mg-Si alloys (examples 6061, 6063, 6111):
heat treatable
extrudable
highly corrosion-resistant
moderately strong
Watercraft made from aluminum alloys have high speeds, longer lives, lower maintenance costs, greater payloads, and higher recycle values. Designers, who are proactive about corrosion control and wish to avoid maintenance and safety issues, prefer using marine grade aluminum.