The advantages of 6063 aluminum for led tubes heat sink shell
A unique combination of properties makes aluminium and its alloys one of the most versatile engineering and construction materials available today.
Good Heat Conductor
Aluminium is about three times as thermally-conductive as steel. This characteristic
is important in heat-exchange applications (whether heating or cooling). Aluminium
is used extensively in cooking utensils, air conditioning, industrial heat exchangers
and automotive parts.
Corrosion Resistant
Aluminum is naturally resistant to corrosion and
may be left unpainted. On contact with air it
forms a resistant layer of aluminum oxide that
guards against corrosion. Hapco round poles are
constructed of aluminum alloy 6063, a marine grade
alloy also used in the manufacture of boat hulls.
This alloy exhibits extremely high resistance
to corrosion when compared to ferrous-based
products. 6063 is highly weldable, and Hapco heat
treats the material to obtain a T6 temper adding
strength to the material.
Lightweight
Aluminum is lightweight, allowing for easier
installation than steel which provides savings in
both labor and equipment. In fact, aluminum is
approximately one-third the weight of steel,
making it much easier to handle and less expensive
to ship. Aluminum has a high strength-to-weight
ratio. Pound for pound, it is stronger than steel.
Durable
Aluminum light poles have been in use for
over 60 years, and many of the original installations
are still in service without structural problems or
noticeable difference in appearance. The fact that
aluminum is maintenance-free allows it to be a
tremendous value when the overall cost of pole
ownership is considered.
Valuable
Aluminum offers significantly higher scrap value
than steel, allowing a return on investment in
the event of a knock down. The scrap value of
aluminum is more than ten times that of steel.
100% Recyclable
Aluminum is the most abundant mineral in the
earth’s crust. Aluminum has a low impact on the
environment, unlike the galvanization process of
steel which emits zinc chloride and ammonium
chloride into the atmosphere. Aluminum can also
be recycled without losing any of its superior
characteristics or integrity, making it appealing to
both environmental and economic criteria.
Simply put, aluminum never has to be thrown
away. Aluminum provides an environmentally
responsible choice of material and approach within
the burgeoning green movement. It allows specifiers
to aggressively pursue a design that will be based
upon sustainable principles.
Strong
Although tensile strength of pure aluminium is not high, mechanical properties can be
markedly increased by the addition of alloying elements and tempering. You can choose the
alloy with the most suitable characteristics for your application.
Typical alloying elements are manganese, silicon, copper and magnesium.
Strong at Low Temperatures
Where as steel becomes brittle at low temperatures, aluminium increases in tensile strength
and retains excellent toughness.
Non-magnetic
Aluminium has non-magnetic properties which make it useful for electrical shielding
such as busbar or magnetic compass housings. Other applications include computer
disks and parabolic antennas.