Is Forged Aluminum Strong?
What is Forged Aluminum?
Drop Forging is a manufacturing process where metal is pressed under great pressure to produce high-strength parts. In CFS Forge, we can supply steel forging, aluminum forging and copper forging sevices based on our advanced closed die drop forging process. Compared forged aluminum with forged steel & forged copper, there is a big advantage is that forged aluminum is light, but strong. And, forged aluminum is ideal for applications where performance and safety are critical but a lighter-weight metal is needed for speed or energy efficiency.
How Forged Aluminum Compared with Cast Aluminum?
When discussing a forming process of an aluminum component, sometimes it can be either forged or cast. Then what are the differences between forged vs cast aluminum? The basic difference between forged aluminum and cast aluminum is that the aluminum forging process does not melt the work piece material to create a new shape. In aluminum casting, aluminum is melted and poured or forced into a mold made in the shape of the desired item. In forging, deformation of the material in solid form, often by pressing the material, creates the desired shape. Both processes have certain advantages, cast aluminum can make complex aluminum products without size limitations, while forged aluminum shows better quality, especially strength that cast aluminum can not compare.
How About the Strength of Forged Aluminum?
Aluminum forging has the advantage of the addition of deformation energy to further refine and improve the metallurgy of the shape being created. Through mechanical and thermomechanical deformation energy applied, originally cast ingots of aluminum are shaped and reshaped, changing the internal microstructure. Any inclusions or alloy concentrations are dispersed, and any voids are crushed and eliminated. Forging energy drives the recrystallization of the microstructure, creating enhanced durability and toughness. Forged aluminum is not usually able to produce shapes as complex as cast aluminum. This often requires additional machining operations which adds to the cost of using aluminum forging. The improved properties of forged aluminum product outweigh cost issues, however, when safety, reliability and the cost of component failure are the greatest challenges.
In summary, forged aluminum is strong, which is the ideal choice when aluminum components must exhibit maximum strength and performance in service, where weight is minimized.
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