Aluminum profile production process
Aluminum alloy profiles are renowned for their environmentally friendly characteristics, stability, and ease of processing and decoration. Their applications are prevalent across various sectors, particularly in construction and home furnishing industries, encompassing items like glass curtain walls and sliding doors. Aluminum profiles come in various forms, including substrates, anodized and powder-coated profiles, as well as thermal insulation varieties. The production of aluminum profiles involves several intricate processes that ensure their quality and performance.
Mold Making Process
Mold Design: The initial step involves the design of the mold using CAD software to create precise drawings.
Machining: The mold steel blank is then machined to the required diameter and thickness, ensuring adequate preparation for the welding chamber and duct holes.
Heat Treatment: The mold undergoes heat treatment in a vacuum quenching furnace, which enhances its hardness.
Wire Cutting and EDM: Wire cutting is utilized to shape the die hole, followed by Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) for the mold working belt.
Polishing: After the mold is formed, it is polished to ensure a smooth working surface for efficient extrusion and evaluation during trial.
Nitriding: The nitriding process increases the durability of the mold working belt.
Melting and Casting
Batching Furnace: Raw materials like aluminum ingots and master alloys are proportioned and fed into the smelting furnace.
Melting: The aluminum ingots are melted under natural gas heat, ensuring a uniform composition and temperature throughout.
Refining: Slags and gases are removed from the molten aluminum to enhance its quality.
Casting: The molten aluminum is continuously cast into rods of various specifications, which are then homogenized to eliminate residual stress for improved processing.
Extrusion Process
Heating Aluminum Rods: The rods are carefully heated between 410 to 500 degrees Celsius.
Extrusion: Utilizing the technique of high-temperature and low-speed processing, the profiles are extruded.
Straightening: Cold-form shaping processes correct any bends or twists in the profile, resulting in a uniform surface.
Artificial Aging: The profiles undergo aging treatment to bolster the strength of the alloy.
Packaging: Profiles requiring no further treatment are measured for length and strength before packaging and warehousing.
Surface Treatment
Surface treatments enhance the aesthetics and performance of aluminum profiles. The process begins with cleaning and pre-treatment to remove oils before applying coatings. Surface-treated aluminum profile procedures include chromization and powder coating, where a durable finish is created to withstand weather conditions and ensure long-lasting visual appeal.
Finishing Techniques
After treatment, profiles are subjected to finishing techniques such as anodizing, which promotes oxidation, enhancing durability and providing an opportunity for coloring. Custom operations lead to flexibility in design, catering to a variety of aesthetic and functional needs. Custom Aluminum Profile offers unique solutions for specific applications.
Understanding the comprehensive processes involved in aluminum profile production helps to appreciate the versatility and functionality these materials bring to our daily lives.