What is the difference between duralumin and aluminum

Aluminum is a light silver metal. It is light, relatively soft, and melts at a temperature of 660.4°C. Al easily dissolves in strong alkalis and is resistant to acids, since a protective film is formed on its surface. Finely crushed metal burns in air when heated. The smaller its particles, the lower the heating temperature is needed for combustion. Aluminum has high thermal and electrical conductivity. This metal is very ductile. This property allows it to be rolled into very thin foil. It also has low strength: pure aluminum can be easily cut with a knife. This metal is very resistant to corrosion - a thin film is formed on the surface of Al, protecting it from destruction.

Depending on the amount of impurities - the purity of the metal - in accordance with GOST, aluminum is assigned a certain grade.

What is the difference between duralumin and aluminum

Duralumin is a durable alloy that differs from aluminum in its performance properties due to the presence of alloying inclusions (copper, magnesium and manganese) in its composition. The features of the material include strength, good hardness, and low weight.

The discovery was patented in 1909 by German engineer Alfred Wilm. Duralumin immediately attracted attention all over the world, and in our country its production was established only in the early 40s of the last century.

History of discovery

The discovery of duralumin occurred in 1903. It was produced by Alfred Wilm. The man worked as an engineer at a German metallurgical plant. By mixing different metals, he was able to establish a pattern.

The man mixed aluminum with 4% copper, hardened it at 500°C, sharply cooled it and kept the workpiece at room temperature for up to 5 days, and then checked its technical characteristics. After several experiments, he was able to prove that the finished alloy had increased hardness and strength.

Later, the engineer, together with other workers, began to conduct various experiments, trying to modernize the resulting composition. By adding alloying components, it was possible to obtain an alloy with even greater strength, but maintaining other characteristics at the same level.

The name of the compound comes from the name of the town of Düren in Germany. There, industrial production of these alloys began and their further distribution throughout the world.

Muffle furnace for metal hardening (Photo: Instagram / mufelnaia)

Chemical composition

The special properties of this alloy are determined by the components of the material. The chemical composition of duralumin in percentage includes:

aluminum (about 93%);
copper (3.5-5.5%);
manganese (0.6%);
magnesium (0.5-0.8%);
other impurities (iron, zirconium, beryllium, chromium, lithium, titanium, silicon, chromium).

Cu, Mn, Mg serve as the main components of the alloy, giving the material special performance properties. Duralum was first obtained by accident, through the mistaken mixing of components during a scientific experiment.

Duralumin sheets

The inclusion of other components in the alloy can change the properties of the material for the worse, so their content must be strictly controlled. If there is an excess of other impurities, the final material loses its plasticity and becomes prone to cracks.

The presence of zirconium negatively affects the alloy's resistance to corrosion; beryllium increases the strength of the material by preventing its oxidation.
The inclusion of lithium in the alloy increases the elastic modulus, but reduces the density.
The addition of chromium makes it possible to increase the recrystallization temperature of the alloy, as well as its ability to self-destruct.
Titanium and boron are used to refine the grain of cast metal as modifying components.

At first, duralumin was produced under normal conditions, which led to a weak connection of the elements. With the outbreak of hostilities in Europe, the demand for the strategically important structural alloy grew rapidly. This entailed the development of new production technologies for better joining of alloy components.

The result of numerous studies was the construction of a new technological chain:

slow heating (about 3 hours) at a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius;
rapid cooling with water (or saltpeter) to improve the degree of strength.

You should be aware that the composition of the alloy may differ depending on the purpose of the material and the production technology used.

Duralumin or aluminum, which is better?

Duralumin is an alloy consisting of a base in the form of aluminum with copper and additives of other metals. The discovery of the technology for its production occurred at the very beginning of the nineteenth century by an employee of a German metallurgical plant.

After numerous experiments, he found that when copper is added to aluminum in a ratio of 96% to 4%, an alloy is obtained, which, when kept in a room at room temperature, retains the ductility of the main element with an increase in strength indicators.

Duralumin: features

The very name of the alloy comes from the Dural trademark, under which its production was launched. It came into Russian at the beginning of the twentieth century and denotes a whole group of alloys with aluminum as a base. Various forms can be found, for example “duralumin” and “duralumin”.

Areas of application of duralumin

The formula for success of duralumin was simple. The light weight and strength of the new product contributed to its rapid spread. Its first major application was in airship frame structures. He showed himself excellently, and over time he found a place in more and more branches of mechanical engineering.

Aircraft manufacturers appreciated duralumin, and it quickly became the basis of aircraft construction, as well as in the future the main structural material in the production of space technology.

It is used in the production of trains. Duralumin these days can be found even in the kitchen in the form of numerous household items. Duralumin foil is also actively used in which confectionery products are sold.

The alloy is also actively used in construction. Various pipes and sheets are parts of building structures.

Duralumin is also used in the automotive industry, helping engineers reduce the weight of the car and improve the technical performance of the car. Due to its resistance to high temperatures, it can also be used for internal engine mechanisms.

Duralumin tolerates vibration better than steel, which made it possible to use it in drilling operations.

It may be noted that not all duralumin alloys are suitable for welding. For example, in the construction of aircraft, rivets are used to create structures from duralumin parts. They can be made from the same duralumin alloy, only suitable for welding.

Dural: alloy composition

Over time, the composition of the duralumin alloy has been improved, many new types have appeared, their differences both in the composition of impurities and in the method of subsequent processing.

Al+Cu+Mg. This type is called duralumin. Depending on the concentration of copper and manganese in the alloy, its general properties and characteristics also change. This type does not have additional protection against corrosion, therefore its operation requires an additional coating to protect it from moisture.
Al+Mg+Si. This type is called "avial". Adding parts of magnesium and silicon to aluminum increased the corrosion resistance of the alloy. To obtain its properties, the alloy undergoes heat treatment at a temperature of about five hundred degrees Celsius and is cooled in water at a temperature of twenty degrees with natural aging for about a day. This treatment allows the alloy to be used in conditions of high humidity and under stress.
Al+Mg, Al+Mn. This alloy is called "magnalia". No heat treatment is used in its production. Its main advantages are increased resistance to corrosion and good suitability for welding and soldering work.

The composition of duralumin in percentage can be considered using the example of the composition of duralumin alloy D16:

Al (Aluminum): 91 - 94.7%.
Cu (Copper): 3.7−4.9%.
Fe (Iron): 0.5%.
Si (Silicon): 0.5%.
Zn (Zinc): 0.25%.
Mg (Magnesium): 1.1 - 1.8%.
Cr (Chromium): 0.1%.
Mn (Manganese): 0.4% – 0.9%.
Ti (Titanium): 0.15%.

Markings may be added depending on the form of release of the alloy:

"T" - hardening in natural conditions.
“T1” - after the artificial aging process.
“A” - after coating with special varnishes and anodizing.

For example, d16t.

Properties of duralumin

Despite attempts to combat corrosion by adding manganese and magnesium, duralumin is still susceptible to it and is susceptible enough to pay attention to it. Therefore, during operation it is necessary to protect it with some kind of coating. Protection should be as thorough as possible.

Dural is characterized by its low weight and high strength. Because of this, it is used as the main structural material in astronautics and aviation. It is also used in aircraft manufacturing, in the production of high-speed trains and various other areas of mechanical engineering.

The average density of duralumin is 2500−2800 kilograms per cubic meter.

The melting point of duralumin is approximately 650 degrees Celsius.

Duralumin alloy, unlike pure aluminum, is well suited for welding work.

It has high resistance to environmental influences and low vulnerability to destruction.

The emergence of such a light and durable material made it possible to raise mechanical engineering to a new level and construct technical projects that previously seemed impossible.

Duralumin

Duralumin can be used to produce various parts and things. This material got its name from the city in which it was created. The differences between duralumin and aluminum lie in the chemical composition, which affects the main performance qualities. Let us consider the features of this alloy in more detail.

Duralumin

Chemical composition

The appearance of duralumin is associated with a German company located in the city of Duren. The specialists of this company were developing a new alloy and mistakenly mixed previously unused components.

After conducting preliminary tests, they were surprised by the results they were able to achieve, but initially considered them to be erroneous.

After some time, they repeated their experiment and achieved even better results.

Aluminum and duralumin, first of all, differ from each other in their chemical composition. Duralumin has the following composition:

4-5% copper;
93% aluminum;
2-3% of other alloying elements that are added to give the alloy special qualities.

Composition of various grades of duralumin

For a long time, duralumin was produced under normal conditions, which determined the poor quality of the elements. The outbreak of war made this metal strategically important, which led to the search for more effective methods of connecting all components. The result of these studies was the following technological features of the process:

Heating is carried out at temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius.
It takes about 3 hours to warm up.
Rapid cooling with water or saltpeter is carried out to increase strength.

The composition of duralumin can vary significantly - it all depends on the specifics of the production technology used.

The most common brand D16 has the following chemical composition:

The main part of duralumin in all cases is represented by aluminum, which accounts for 90-94% of the total mass.
A fairly large amount of copper is added to the composition (3.8-4.9%).
A prerequisite is the addition of silicon and iron in equal parts, approximately 0.5%.
The composition includes zinc (no more than 2.5%).
A fixed amount of magnesium is added - 1.8%.

The remaining components are represented by chromium, manganese, titanium, which are taken at approximately 1%.

The resulting duralumin with a similar chemical composition has a fairly high softness index. That is why D16 is often used as semi-finished products in the production of stampings.

Brands of duralumin

The list of the most popular brands includes:

The most popular brand D16 contains:

aluminum (90 to 94%);
high inclusion of copper (from 3.8 to 4.9%);
zinc (up to 2.5%);
iron and silicon (in equal shares of 0.5%);
magnesium (recorded amount 1.8%).

In addition, the list of required components includes chromium, titanium and manganese, the volume of which is 1% of the total mass.

The D16 grade is characterized by a certain softness, which allows this material to be used as blanks in the manufacture of stamped products.

Duralumin is rarely used in its pure form because it has little resistance to corrosion. It is not difficult to improve the technical properties of an alloy through improvement.

The list of technological improvement methods includes:

hardening of the material in a natural environment (marked with the letter “T”);
artificial aging treatment (“T1”);
applying special coatings or anodizing to form surface protection (“A”).

Thus, the performance characteristics of alloys are affected not only by the percentage of impurities, but also by special technological methods. To increase strength, the alloy undergoes additional heat treatment followed by cooling.

Duralumin - aluminum alloy

Duralumin was produced in 1909 in the city of Duren, Germany. The new chemical alloy, which was named after the city, quickly gained popularity throughout the planet. The approximate composition of duralumin is: 94% aluminum, 4% copper, 0.5% each of manganese, magnesium, iron and silicon. The alloy is heated to 500°C, then quenched in water and subjected to natural or artificial aging.

The most common aluminum alloy today is duralumin.

After hardening, duralumin acquires a special hardness and becomes approximately seven times stronger than pure aluminum. It, however, remains light - almost three times lighter than iron. The alloy has become much stronger, but has lost one of its most important properties—corrosion resistance. Again we had to use aluminum to combat corrosion. Items made of duralumin began to be clad, i.e. cover with the thinnest layer of pure aluminum.

Price of duralumin per 1 kg

The properties of duralumin make it possible to produce blanks of any configuration from this alloy. Thus, hexagons according to GOST 21488/97 cost around 100-160 rubles. per kilogram. Round fittings up to 230 rub. per kg. Dural price per kg mainly depends on the grade of the alloy and the cross-section of the products. Sheet duralumin 0.5 mm thick costs 300 rubles. per kg. Duralumin pipes have a price of 130 rubles. per kg in Moscow.

The aluminum market is expected to face a shortage by 2022. The Russian aluminum giant United, which accounts for about 5.6% of global production, is reducing exports due to Western sanctions policies. Today, American aluminum buyers are forced to defend the Russian company, rightly fearing a sharp rise in prices for these products. Thus, how much duralumin costs in the future will depend solely on the actions of Western countries.

Round duralumin fittings cost up to 230 rubles. per kg

In order to combat sanctions against Rusal Plc, the relevant ministry launched several projects in 2022 that will contribute to the growth of domestic aluminum consumption. As a result, in Russia it increased by 7.6% in 2022 compared to the previous period, and copper increased by 1.8% over the same period. In 2018, over 200,000 tons of aluminum products worth about 730 million US dollars were imported from Russia.

Physical properties of duralumin

The main feature of the material is its low dead weight with good thermal stability and excellent strength. The specific gravity of duralumin is only 2.8 g/cm3 (for steel this figure is 8 g/cm3).

The melting point of duralumin is about 650 degrees Celsius. The density of duralumin is determined in the range from 2500 to 2800 kg/cm3.

The disadvantages of the material primarily include its susceptibility to corrosion under the influence of elevated operating temperatures or increased load. It is noteworthy that the alloy, unlike metal without impurities, is suitable for spot welding.

Duralumin has excellent resistance to long-term exposure to any aggressive environment, and is resistant to wear and destruction. The physical properties of the alloy made it possible to implement technical projects in the field of aviation and mechanical engineering, which were not feasible without such a structural material.

News. Helpful information.

Dural is a special grade of duralumin alloy with special parameters. The material was developed by a German metallurgical engineer named Alfred Wilm. This is an employee of a metallurgical plant located in Germany. At the beginning of the 20th century, Wilm, in the process of work, established that a high-quality aluminum alloy of a special grade, in which a certain amount of copper is present, after a sufficiently sharp and strong cooling, being in a room at room temperature for about 5 days, gradually and surely becomes very durable and very hard, since the duralumin composition is optimal. At the same time, the alloy does not lose its ductility at all.

Composition of the material The experiments that were carried out did not end with this achievement. The structures of metals and alloys discovered by the specialist made it possible to significantly increase the strength level of a base such as duralumin to approximately 350-370 MPa. This is facilitated by the special composition and alloy of high-quality components. Dural contains such elements as: • copper 4.4%; • manganese 0.5%; • magnesium 1.5%; • silicon 1.2%; • iron approximately 0.1%; • aluminum - everything else. Strength indicators are at the highest level, it is for this reason that it was given the name “duralumin”, which in translation from Latin means a solid composition.

This alloy is obtained by heating it to a temperature of at least 500 degrees. After this, the material is hardened in water at the required temperature or strengthened using natural or high-quality artificial structure methods. After this procedure, duralumin acquires characteristics such as flexibility and softness, and after aging the alloy, it becomes very hard and acquires a quality such as strength. Welding is carried out at a high quality level, and its composition is of ideal quality. The natural aging process usually occurs within 24 hours. At the same time, the temperature is maintained at approximately 20 degrees. As for artificial aging, it usually does not take so much time, but it requires the use of higher temperatures. As a result of the work carried out, the metal during the manufacturing process is very durable. Duralumin alloy is able to ideally resist all mechanical damage and withstand severe loads.

Duralumin is currently considered not as widespread as ordinary aluminum, despite this, it is simply irreplaceable in the construction process, especially in a process such as welding. It is used, as a rule, in the construction of various residential buildings, as well as in common areas of automobile and aircraft construction. This popularity is based on the fact that duralumin has high strength levels, unlike aluminum itself. Parts that are made from high-quality duralumin have densities ranging from 2500 to 2700 kilograms per cubic meter. Such qualities as wear resistance are also noted. The technical properties are characterized as unique and are appreciated by a large number of specialists. They carry out activities with it such as welding and other manipulations.

Advantages and disadvantages

Duralumin is an aluminum-based alloy, which, like any material, has advantages. Among them: • High static strength. • Long service life. • Low vulnerability to destruction. • Resistance to many aggressive environments, mechanical and temperature influences. • Adaptability to welding work (aluminum in its pure form does not react well to welding seams). • Numerous areas of application. There is one significant drawback that duralumin has - it is susceptible to corrosion. All products made from this material must be clad with pure aluminum or coated with primers that prevent rust.

Stainless steel and aluminum: what's the difference?

Aluminum is not magnetic - this is the main characteristic that distinguishes it from stainless steel. But not all types of stainless steel react to metal, so this test method is not always 100% correct.

Another point is color. Yes, they are both silver in color, but if you look closely, you will notice that the surface of stainless steel tends to have a shiny tint that lasts forever. The surface of aluminum is usually matte, so this feature allows you to distinguish them from each other.

There are other ways to help distinguish aluminum from stainless steel:

Marking. Spoons, forks or other stainless steel items are marked accordingly. “STAINLESS” and other similar inscriptions clearly indicate that this is stainless steel.
Using paper. You will need a clean sheet of white paper (it is better if it is thicker). The edge of the product being examined is thoroughly cleaned from oils and other contaminants. Next, we strongly draw the cleaned edge over the paper - if there are no marks, then it is stainless steel, and if there is a thin strip of gray color, then it is aluminum.
Recognize by spark. It is better to conduct the experiment in a dark room. You need to take some metal object and hit it with the product being tested. Stainless steel will give a pronounced spark, but aluminum will not produce any sparks. For greater convenience, you can use a sharpening machine if you have one.
Melting and thermal conductivity. Aluminum melts at a temperature of 660 degrees Celsius, and stainless steel at 1800 degrees. We will need a regular gas burner, which can be purchased at a hardware store, with which you can achieve a heating level of 700 degrees. In such conditions, you can melt an aluminum product, but this cannot be done with stainless steel. The thermal conductivity of aluminum is much higher than that of steel, so water boils faster in aluminum containers.
Copper sulfate. During processing, cloudy stains and marks will appear on the aluminum surface, but not on stainless steel.
Acid. A solution of regular citric acid may be quite suitable. It will not have any effect on stainless steel at all, but stains will appear on the aluminum surface.

If possible, you can compare the specific gravity. For aluminum - 2.7 g/cm3, for stainless steel - 7.8 g/cm3. This method is only possible with very accurate scales and a container for immersing the sample in water. First, the volume of the sample itself is calculated, and then the specific gravity is calculated using the usual formula.

Technological properties

The technological features of duralumin include the ease of its production, which is due to the low temperature of the working environment. If there is an urgent need, it is not difficult to produce an alloy at home due to the low melting point of the main components.

If pure aluminum begins to melt at a temperature of 660 degrees, then reducing its share in the alloy to 99% entails a decrease in the melting threshold to 643 degrees.

The temperature threshold that allows you to start forging grades D16, D16P is 450 degrees. Pressed products made from an alloy of these grades that have undergone hardening or natural aging are prone to intergranular corrosion when heated to 100 degrees.

It is not recommended to solder duralumin material at high temperatures due to the risk of burnout.

The advantages of the material include:

long service life;
resistance to chemical, mechanical, thermal effects;
high level of static strength;
weldability;
wide scope of application.

What is the difference between aluminum, duralumin and food grade aluminum?

What is the difference between aluminum, duralumin and food grade aluminum?
How aluminum is produced in industry
What properties does aluminum have?

Aluminum has high thermal and electrical conductivity. This metal is very ductile. This property allows it to be rolled into very thin foil. It also has low strength: pure aluminum can be easily cut with a knife. This metal is very resistant to corrosion - a thin film is formed on the surface of Al, protecting it from destruction.

Depending on the amount of impurities - the purity of the metal - in accordance with GOST, aluminum is assigned a certain grade.

A bit of economics

Products made from duralumin alloy are not difficult to purchase. Its production is deployed at almost all non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises. The price of products is determined depending on the composition, assortment, size of shipment and, of course, the distance of the manufacturer to the place of sale.

A few words in conclusion

As for duralumin, we can safely say that its appearance provided technological breakthroughs in aircraft construction and the space industry, and without its timely appearance we would have been flying airplanes made of wood.

Production technology

The production process includes the procedure of mixing a charge that includes granules of various metals. The mixture is heated to 500 degrees Celsius, then subjected to rapid cooling with saltpeter/water to room temperature.

The next stage is most often an artificial aging process to enhance the technical strength of the alloy. Often, as an additional technological operation, a protective film is created by cladding, anodizing or applying paint and varnish coatings.

Industrial production

A charge is formed, which consists of granules of alloying additives and aluminum.
The granules are fused. It is carried out in several stages.
Hardening is carried out. The alloy is heated to 500°C in an industrial furnace.
Cooling in progress.
The workpiece cools at room temperature for several days.

Manufacturers often speed up the production process. They heat the workpieces slightly so that they cool faster. This negatively affects the technical characteristics of the alloy, but reduces the cost and speeds up the process of its production.

Metal hardening (Photo: Instagram / petrovspd)

Production technology and application of duralumin

Dural can be easily forged, cast and machined due to its low melting point. It is annealed at temperatures from 350 to 380 C, followed by air cooling. The alloy then becomes ductile and can be easily processed and formed into desired shapes. The alloy is then heat treated at temperatures between 490 and 510 C to improve its tensile properties. After this, the duralumin is quenched and hardened.

Dural has the following areas of application:

For the manufacture of wire, rods and rods where good strength and workability are required.
In heavy forgings, wheels, plates, aircraft fittings, space booster tank and suspension components, i.e. where high strength is required, in work areas at elevated temperatures.
For the manufacture of aircraft structures, truck wheels, screw machine products, rivets and other structural products.
As sheets for body panels.
In forgings, aircraft engine pistons, jet engine impellers and compressor rings.
For the production of stampings and sheet products.

Types of alloys

Based on the final purpose of the product, the alloy composition varies to give the material different technical characteristics.

Depending on the list of technological methods in the production process, the following are distinguished:

tempered;
aged;
anodized duralumin.

Based on additional components and nuances of heat treatment, several types of connections are distinguished:

duralumin (grades D1, D16) a mixture of aluminum, copper, magnesium with a small addition of manganese;
an alloy of aluminum with magnesium (or manganese) is called “magnalium”;
aluminum mixed with magnesium and silicon (“avial”) has good corrosion resistance.

In addition to the main elements used for alloying alloys, the composition of duralumin may contain some impurities. At the same time, silicon and iron are included in the chemical composition of primary aluminum, zinc and copper can get in during the melting of various wastes, a number of other components (titanium, zirconium, beryllium) are introduced specifically to change the technical parameters of the final product.

The presence of iron in the alloy composition entails an increase in brittleness, but when paired with nickel, iron significantly improves the mechanical properties of the material under normal and elevated operating temperatures.

The property of additives to change the performance characteristics of the alloy requires a competent and responsible approach to the selection of components and the production process.

Duralumin rod

Normative base

In our country, there are several GOSTs that standardize the requirements for aluminum and its alloys. One of them is GOST 4784-97 Aluminum and wrought aluminum alloys. Brands (with Changes No. 1, 2, 3, as amended). It applies to aluminum and its alloys, which are intended to produce semi-finished products of various types and shapes.

In particular, GOST determines the ratio of aluminum and other components. The same document specifies the requirements.

By the way, in the same document you can also find the names of foreign analogues, for example,

D16 can be replaced with AlCu4Mg1, and D16ch with alloy 2124.

The documents provided by the manufacturer must necessarily indicate not only the brand of the finished product, but also its chemical composition.

How to distinguish aluminum from duralumin?

Usually in stores there are markings on products and you should be guided by them . However, questions about counterfeits often arise. There may be a need to check a batch of products from an unknown person who does not have documentation or other reliable evidence that what is being offered is duralumin. Of course, a chemical composition analyzer will immediately show the difference between duralumin and aluminum. Indeed, in the classical representation, the first contains units of shares of copper, and the second – its tenths or even hundredths.

There are also a number of subjective ways to determine whether you have duralumin in your hands or not. The alloy has a characteristic steel-gray color. If you try to scratch the surface, it will be quite easy. The chips are brittle and not viscous. Attempts to bend the samples will show no plastic deformation. When struck, a ringing sound should be heard. A fine-crystalline structure is visible in the scratch marks.

Knowing reliably how aluminum differs from duralumin, it is worth using another experimental method for determining the type of material. To do this, a drop of sodium hydroxide is applied to a small area of the test sample. Leave for 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, remove the substance and look at the color of the resulting stain. If it is dark, then it is duralumin, but not aluminum alloys with low copper content and not magnalium.

In addition, aluminum dissolves in acids when alkali is added, giving a white powdery precipitate. Having done the same with a piece of duralumin, the output is also blue granules, which are produced by the copper present.

The most important difference between duralumin and aluminum is hardness, brittleness and lack of ductility . If you make a visual comparison 3-4 times (of different parts) made of aluminum and duralumin, the difference will become obvious and then, when you pick up a product made of one material or another, it will be easy to identify it.

Application of duralumin

The strength and light weight of the material have made it in demand in various industries. Soon after the alloy was created, it was used to create airship frame elements. Excellent performance characteristics have made it possible to actively use duralumin in mechanical engineering.

The development of aircraft manufacturing and the production of space technology would be impossible without structural materials with such technical characteristics. It is used to reduce the weight of body elements without loss of strength, as well as for internal engine elements due to its resistance to high temperatures. In modern conditions, duralumin finds its application in a wide variety of production areas. It is used in the production of rolling stock for railways and in the manufacture of household items (dishes).

The alloy is also in demand in construction for the manufacture of sheets, pipes, and various profile products. Pipes with different wall thicknesses are used in the construction of various communications and pipelines.

In shipbuilding production, the material is used both for the production of hulls and for the manufacture of various components and parts.

Duralumin is necessary in the production of insulating materials. It is also used in the food industry as food foil for packaging confectionery products.

Where is duralumin used?

Production of sheets for construction work.
Wire production.
Manufacturing of drills.
Foil production.
Shipbuilding - manufacturing of hulls for ships, boats, internal components.
Production of pipes for the assembly of industrial and household pipelines.
Machine tool manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, aircraft manufacturing.

Ventilation systems and hoods are often assembled from this material.

Duralumin cauldron (Photo: Instagram / sudarushka_labinsk)

The difference between aluminum and duralumin

Markings on factory products allow you to determine the identity of the material. In situations where the marking is questionable or missing, other identification options must be used.

First of all, you need to know the subjective characteristics that allow you to distinguish between aluminum and duralumin. The alloy has a characteristic steel color; its surface is easy to scratch, resulting in brittle chips. In the scratch you can see the crystal structure. Products made of duralumin do not bend, and upon impact they produce a fairly loud ringing sound.

A more reliable option for determining whether a product is duralumin is the chemical method. A drop of caustic soda must be applied to the surface of the product being tested. After 10 minutes, the surface is wiped and carefully inspected. The remaining dark spot confirms that the object is made of duralumin.

In-depth knowledge of chemistry will allow you to use an acid solution with the addition of alkali to determine the material. In such an environment, aluminum will dissolve, forming a white precipitate in the form of a powder. A similar experiment with a duralumin sample will yield an addition in the form of blue granules formed by copper.

The main difference is the physical properties of duralumin, namely, fragility, hardness and the absence of ductility characteristic of aluminum. As practice shows, it is not difficult to visually distinguish aluminum from duralumin. To distinguish aluminum from duralumin, it is enough to visually compare several samples of both materials.

The difference between duralumin and aluminum

Metals are very similar to each other, before distinguishing them, you need to become familiar with their properties. Aluminum is a silvery metal, light, relatively soft, melts at a temperature of – 660.4 C. It is highly soluble in strong alkalis and resistant to acid, since a protective film is formed on its surface.

Aluminum is characterized by high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. This metal is very malleable, allowing it to be rolled into very thin foil. It also has low strength: pure aluminum can be easily cut with a knife. This metal is very resistant to corrosion - the thinnest film is formed on the surface of Al, which protects it from damage.

In duralumin alloys, the main alloying element is Cu; sometimes Mg is also added. The characteristics of this series are good hardness-to-weight ratio and low corrosion resistance. As for the first characteristic, it demonstrates mechanical properties that are an order of magnitude higher than those of low-carbon steels. This alloy is most often used in applications where a high hardness-to-weight ratio is required at temperatures above 150 oC.

Heat treating these alloys improves their strength, but they are not as corrosion resistant as other aluminum alloys, so they are usually painted for use, which helps visually identify the alloy.

Manganese added to aluminum increases its strength and produces a metal with excellent machinability and corrosion resistance.

Aluminum and duralumin: features and differences 06/24/2016 07:56

Aluminum and duralumin: features and differences Non-ferrous metals are incredibly in demand in industry, construction and everyday life. And they play an important role in these industries - naturally, the buyer will carefully approach the choice of materials and study their properties. Here we will look at what similar materials such as aluminum and duralumin (duralumin) are. Aluminum This is a pure metal, incredibly in demand in various areas of production. This popularity is due to its following qualities: lightness - low weight plays a huge role, because thanks to this, aluminum is not only easier to transport than other metals, but it also does not greatly increase the overall weight of the structure in which it is used; durability - the metal has good resistance to external influences, which allows it to retain its properties for a long time; good degree of deformation - aluminum lends itself well to various types of processing, while retaining all its properties; resistance to corrosion and aggressive environments - thanks to an oxide film that instantly forms in air, which has a weak reactivity; high thermal and electrical conductivity – qualities that make aluminum a popular material in the energy sector; wide range of operating temperatures - aluminum retains all its properties at temperatures from -80 to 120 degrees Celsius. But despite all the good qualities, this metal has a very significant drawback - it is not very strong. Because of this, it cannot be used in industries such as aircraft and shipbuilding, as well as others, where a lot depends on the strength of structures. Duralumin And to the rescue of industrialists comes such a material as duralumin - an alloy of aluminum with copper, magnesium and manganese in various combinations. It has almost all the qualities of aluminum: light weight, ductility, long service life, etc. But its most important properties are: high degree of strength; slow accumulation of fatigue properties; resistance to cracking; high hardness. However, the presence of additives makes duralumin very susceptible to corrosion. To prevent this, it is either clad with a thin layer of aluminum, or coated with enamels or varnishes, and also anodized. As you can see, both materials have their pros and cons. When choosing between them, you should pay attention to the purpose of use. In the manufacture of products for the household sector, preference is given to aluminum; in those areas where the strength of materials is extremely important, duralumin is chosen. From us you can purchase duralumin pipes D16t , aluminum sheets, AMG aluminum pipes, duralumin rods, aluminum circles and other types of non-ferrous metals at attractive prices. We deliver materials not only in the Voronezh region , but also in all regions of Russia .
Your order will be delivered quickly and carefully. Contact us using the contacts listed on the website and we will answer all your questions. 8 (499) 3946002 ; 8(929)9495957 E-mail

Cost of duralumin scrap

You should know that a significant difference in the performance characteristics of duralumin from pure material does not have a serious impact on the price of scrap. Often, the list of categories of metal scrap with an indication of the cost at the collection point does not include duralumin scrap. The price of duralumin is not very different from the accepted cost of aluminum and is approximately 60-70 rubles per 1 kg.

Duralumin scrap can be classified as “AMG aluminum scrap”, although in fact it is not. The AMG alloy does not contain copper; it is replaced by magnesium.

When planning to extract maximum profit from the sale of duralumin scrap, you need to decide on the category of the metal to be delivered. The cost of a kilogram of commercial scrap, which includes corners, sheets and what can be used without recycling, is higher than the price of secondary raw materials for processing.

By sorting the scrap, you will increase the profit from its sale. In addition, the final revenue depends on the volume of the delivery batch and the acceptance price of scrap at a specific site.

How much does aluminum cost in Kyiv?

Lom Aluminum: reception in Kyiv

Aluminum Mix (0.8%) – 36 UAH/kg
Alum Offset (0.5%) – 44 UAH/kg
Alum Profile (0.5%) – 42 UAH/kg
Aluminum Chips – 23 kg
Alum Electrotech (0.5%) – 49 UAH/kg

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How much does duralumin scrap cost per 1 kg?

After a long story about all the advantages and distinctive features of duralumin from aluminum, we have to admit that the cost of these materials is not much different when it comes to scrap metal. Moreover, taking into account the fluctuations in the price of duralumin per 1 kg at different collection points, it may end up being either higher or lower than that set for pure Al metal - aluminum scrap.

Scrap aluminum - everything is collected in this pile: aluminum and silumin and duralumin

In general, keep in mind that at acceptance sites there is no such item in the price list as duralumin scrap. Some acceptances may write AMG aluminum scrap and add (duralumin) in parentheses next to it. In fact, the AMG alloy is not duralumin, because there is practically no copper in it; magnesium takes its place. But by and large this is not important for scrap, because... the price will be the same and now you can sell duralumin scrap for 70-80 rubles per 1 kilogram.

For example, in 2017-2018 the cost of duralumin per 1 kg in Moscow or Kazan was approximately the same and amounted to 70 rubles. However, much depends on the category in which secondary raw materials are defined. Dural and the price per kg of commercial scrap (angles, sheets, etc., i.e., everything that can be reused without recycling) may differ slightly in favor of the latter, especially when the products are new and made from a sought-after brand. This will not have much effect on a small mass. However, when delivered individually or weighing 100 kg or more, it will be noticeable.

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