0161 914 5697Aug
Aluminium Extrusion
Aluminium extrusion is a manufacturing technique whereby aluminium alloy is transformed into objects with a cross-sectional profile for a wide range of uses. More..
Aug
Aluminium tread plate & its Uses
Aluminium tread plate is an extremely tough, easy to maintain patterned metal sheet which is ideal for a wide range of uses in residential, industrial and commercial situations. It is also known as 5 bar tread plate (A5B), aluminium five bar, floor plate, chequer plate and diamond plate. Even though the name of the material is aluminium tread plate, some types are made with other metals. More..
Aug
Black Steel & Bright Drawn Steel
Black steel is produced by rolling the steel at a high temperature (typically over 1700° F), as it needs to be hotter than steel’s recrystallization temperature. When it is above the recrystallization temperature it can be formed and shaped more easily. It can also be made in much larger sizes. Black steel tends to be cheaper than bright drawn steel due to the fact that it can be manufactured without any delays in the process. However, when the steel cools down it shrinks slightly, which results in less control on the shape and size of the finished product compared to bright drawn steel. It can have a scaly, rough surface and is not precise in its dimensions, flatness or straightness. More..
Aug
Can aluminium rust?
Can aluminium rust? In short, no. Rust is the process whereby ferric metals (iron and steel) oxidize, or come into contact with water and oxygen. As aluminium is not a ferric metal, it won't rust but corrodes. Rust refers only to iron and steel corrosion. More..
Aug
Can stainless steel rust/corrode?
Stainless steel is much more resistant to rust, corrosion and staining than other alloy steels, but in some circumstances it is susceptible. In normal atmospheric or water based environments like domestic sink units, saucepans, cutlery and work-surfaces, stainless steel will not corrode however in more aggressive conditions, stainless steel needs to be substituted with a more highly alloyed stainless steel. More..
Aug
Common uses of stainless steel
With stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion, its strength, low maintenance and familiar lustre, it is an ideal material for many applications. There are over 150 grades of stainless steel; varying combinations of alloys are added to meet the requirements of industries across the spectrum. More..
Aug
How is Aluminium made?
About aluminium Aluminium is a soft, non-magnetic metal, which was discovered in 1827. It is strong, lightweight and can be recycled indefinitely. Aluminium is the third most abundant element and the most abundant metal, in the Earth's crust. Its chemical symbol is Al and its atomic number is 13. More..
Aug
How steel is made
Being strong, cheap and versatile, steel is one of the most widely used metals in the modern world and the second most mass-produced commodity after cement. Steel has built railways, skyscrapers, oil and gas pipelines, bridges, automobiles, ships, cutlery, razors and surgical instruments. From a tiny screw to the Eiffel Tower, steel is everywhere! More..
Aug
How to remove anodising from aluminium
Whilst aluminium is often anodised in order to make the metal stronger and more durable, it can have a negative effect on its texture and appearance. Some people simply prefer the look of the metal in its original mill finish state, or you want to re-anodise the aluminium in a different colour. More..
Aug
How to Weld brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and is a highly useful metal that has many applications. However, it is a difficult metal to weld as copper and zinc have very different melting points (zincs is much lower). Tig welding is the most popular choice for brass, although a strong weld can be achieved with Mig as well. Technically, brass is braze welded due to the lower temperature used. More..
Aug
Nickel’s role in stainless steel
Nickel was first classified as a chemical element in 1751 by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. There are about 3,000 nickel-containing alloys in everyday use and about 90% of all new nickel sold goes into alloys, twothirds of which goes into stainless steel. More..
Aug
PVD Stainless Steel
PVD is the abbreviation for Physical Vapour Deposition. It is a process which produces a metal vapour (chromium, titanium, and titanium aluminium) that can be deposited on electrically conductive materials as a thin, highly adhered pure metal or alloy coating. The PVD process In the PVD process, a solid metal such as titanium, is atomised into minute molecules using electricity in a vacuum chamber containing a high purity gas such as argon, nitrogen or oxygen. The metal reacts with the gas and condenses on the sheet material or component suspended in the chamber. Different gas and metal combinations create different colours. Why use PVD coatings? • PVD coating is harder and more corrosion resistant than the coating applied by the electroplating process • PVD coatings do not tarnish or discolour. • They have reasonably high corrosion resistance and doesn't suffer UV radiation so easy. • PVD coatings are more environmentally friendly than traditional coating processes such as painting or electroplating • It gives a low friction film for protection • PVD coating can be used on various materials, including aluminium, iron, porcelain, stainless steel and some types of PVC. Stainless steel is the material most recommended for PVD coating and can result in a wide range of colours, surface patterns and finishes. Stainless steel will normally fade and oxidize over time when exposed to the environment. • Benefits of PVD coating • Once it has been PVD coated, it: • • Will be not so prone to oxidize, tarnish or discolour in harsh sun, humid environments or salt water • Will be impervious to extended UV light exposure with no cracking, flaking or discolouration • • Applications • There is widespread use of PVD coloured stainless steel in the architectural and industrial design industry, such as for stainless steel curtain walls, cladding and profiles on buildings including casinos, hotels, shopping centres, railway stations, airports and high-end retail stores. It is also used for products including fuel injection systems, injection moulding tools and plumbing fixtures.At the smaller end of the scale, PVD coated materials can be used for anything from lighting fixtures, display cases and furniture, to handles, door furniture and taps. The PVD process can also be used on metal jewellery, achieving stunning colours. More..
Aug
What is 1050 aluminium?
Aluminium alloy 1050 is a popular grade of aluminium for general sheet metal work. It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance. It is high ductile and highly reflective with a bright finish. More..
Aug
What is 5005 aluminium?
Basic properties 5005 is an aluminium alloy with good resistance to atmospheric corrosion. It is commonly used in architectural and decorative applications. It also has the low density and excellent thermal conductivity common to all aluminium alloys and is the most commonly used grade of aluminium in plate and sheet form. Applications 5005 aluminium sheet is often preferred when the material will be anodised and used in an architectural application like sills, flashings, sills and curtain walls. Architects often specify 5005 grade for anodised aluminium architectural metal work. If the application does not require good aesthetics, 5052 or 6061 alloys are acceptable substitutes for 5005 aluminium. More..
Aug
What is 5754 aluminium?
5754 aluminium is an alloy in the wrought aluminium-magnesium family (5000 or 5xxx series) and is closely related to the alloys 5154 and 5454. As a wrought alloy, it can be formed by extrusion, rolling and forging but not by casting. Basic properties Aluminium 5754 has excellent corrosion resistance especially to seawater and industrially polluted atmospheres. It possesses a higher strength than 5251 which makes it highly suited to flooring applications and is the grade used for tread plates. It has excellent weldability although its brazability is poor. Its anodising quality gives excellent anodising properties. Applications 5754 is typically used for tread plates, shipbuilding, vehicle bodies, fishing industry equipment, food processing, nuclear structures, pressure vessels, piping and tubing (for hydraulic application), boiler making and road poles. More..
Aug
What is 6063 aluminium?
6063 is an aluminium alloy which contains magnesium and silicon as the alloying elements. It is a medium strength alloy commonly referred to as an architectural alloy. It is normally used in intricate extrusions and is the alloy of choice for aesthetic applications. More..
Aug
What is 6082 aluminium?
What is 6082 aluminium? 6082 aluminium, known as a structural alloy, is in the wrought aluminium-magnesium-silicon family (6000 or 6xxx series). The addition of a large amount of manganese controls the grain structure which in turn results in a stronger alloy; it has the highest strength of the 6000 series alloys. Basic properties In plate form, 6082 is the most commonly used alloy for machining. It is a relatively new alloy and has replaced 6061 in many applications. Although it can be difficult to produce thin walled, complicated extrusion shapes in alloy 6082 and its extruded surface finish is not as smooth as others in the 6000 series, it has excellent corrosion resistance. Applications 6082 is typically used in highly stressed applications, such as bridges, cranes and trusses. It is also used for foils, radiator tubes, printing plates, boiler making, kitchenware, chemical and food industry equipment containers, automotive trim, light reflectors, beer barrels and milk churns. More..
Aug
What is brass?
Brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of which can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. Brass is typically used for decorative purposes due to its resemblance to gold. More..
Aug
What is bright annealed stainless steel?
Bright Annealing (BA) is produced by annealing (heat-treating) steel using a controlled atmosphere furnace. This heat-treatment gives the steel a reflective, mirror-like appearance but it may also result in some imperfections and cloudiness. More..
Aug
What is Galvanizing and why?
What is Galvanizing and why? Without protection, steel rusts due to atmospheric conditions and the degree of rust depends on the environment of the product. Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to iron or steel in order to prevent rust and corrosion. The coating effectively becomes part of the steel as the zinc is bonded metallurgically to it. Cleaning Galvanizing can only occur if the steel’s surface is chemically clean. It is essential that it is free from dirt, grease and scale before the process can begin. The common practice is to degrease first then rinse in cold water to avoid contaminating the rest of the process. The steel is then dipped in hydrochloric acid to remove any rust and mill scale. After further rinsing, the components will then commonly undergo a fluxing procedure by dipping in a flux solution. This removes the last traces of oxide and allows the molten zinc to wet the steel. Galvanizing When clean iron or steel is dipped into molten zinc (usually at around 450°C) a series of zinc-iron alloy layers are formed by a metallurgical reaction between it and the zinc. The initial rate of reaction is very rapid and the main thickness of coating is formed during this period. Subsequently, the reaction slows down and the thickness of the coating is not increased significantly even if left in the bath for a longer period of time. The typical immersion time is about four or five minutes but it can be longer for heavy pieces that have high thermal inertia or where the zinc coating needs to penetrate internal spaces. Post Treatment Post galvanizing treatments can include air cooling or quenching in water. Conditions in the galvanizing plant such as air quality, temperature and humidity won’t affect the quality of the galvanized coating but are critically important for good quality painting. A paint or a powder coating can be applied for aesthetic reasons or for additional protection where the environment is extremely aggressive. Chemical coatings and other barrier systems might also be applied to minimise the occurrence of wet storage stain. Galvanizing is a versatile process and products ranging in size from nuts and bolts to long structural sections can be treated this way. It is both economical and environment. More..
Aug
What is grade 201 Stainless steel?
Type 201 is an austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese stainless steel that was originally developed to conserve nickel, as nickel prices were increasing. The nickel is replaced by the addition of manganese and nitrogen. Austenitic steels are those which contain between 16 and 26 percent chromium and up to 35 percent nickel. More..
Aug
What is grade 304 Stainless steel?
Stainless steel grades 304 and 304L are also known as 1.4301 and 1.4307; A2 stainless steel and 18/8 stainless steel. The latter is because it typically contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is the most versatile and widely used grade of stainless steel More..
Aug
What is grade 316 Stainless steel?
Stainless steel 316 and 316L are an austenitic grade, also known as 1.4401 and 1.4404. Grade 316 is second only to 304 in commercial importance and accounts for about 20% of all stainless steel produced. It is often referred to as marine grade steel. More..
Aug
What is grade 430 Stainless steel?
Grade 430 stainless steel is by far the most popular of all straight chromium stainless steels which combines good heat and oxidation resistance up to 1500°F (816°C) and good corrosion resistance with good mechanical properties. More..
Aug
What is HIPS Sheet?
The acronym for High Impact Polystyrene; a versatile, tough, rigid plastic material with high impact strength. It can be guillotined, punched or sawn easily and is available in a wide variety of colours. It is an economical material that is easy to machine and fabricate, giving it endless uses. HIPS is commonly specified for low strength applications when price, impact resistance and machinability are required. It is frequently used to machine pre-production prototypes. More..
Aug
What is stainless steel?
What is stainless steel? Stainless steel is a steel alloy of iron and chromium (minimum 10.5%). It also contains varying amounts of carbon, silicon and manganese to create different grades for different purposes. Other elements such as nickel, titanium, copper and molybdenum may be added for useful properties such as increased corrosion resistance and enhanced formability. More..
Aug
What is the difference between steel & stainless steel?
Used materials in the world. About 1.3 billion tons is produced each year. The boom in India and China has caused a massive increase in the demand for steel in recent years. It is used in architectural fabrications, economic and a lot more. More..
Aug
Why recycle aluminium?
Producing aluminium from raw materials is an expensive and complex process. However, it has the ability to be melted down and reformed without losing any of its quality; its atomic structure is not altered during melting. In fact, aluminium can be recycled over and over again with 100 percent efficiency and only 5 percent of the energy used to make new aluminium is needed. In theory, there could be a time when we have mined all we need and can just keep re-using the aluminium we already have. Aluminium scrap has a high market value as the energy needed for primary production is stored in the metal itself and consequently, in the scrap too. More..
Aug
Benefits of Anodised Aluminium
The process of aluminium anodising adds a layer of oxidation to aluminium extrusion products. The anodising process actually enhances the properties of aluminium, unlike iron or carbon steel where oxidation creates a layer of rust or corrosion. More..
Aug
Ferrous and non-ferrous
Ferrous and non-ferrous The word ferrous is derived from the Latin word ferrum, meaning "iron". Quite simply, ferrous metals contain iron where as nonferrous do not. Ferrous metals can contain small amounts of other metals or elements to give the required properties. They are magnetic and do not have much resistance to corrosion. Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron, they are not magnetic and are generally more resistant to corrosion than ferrous metals. Ferrous Metals Ferrous metals are iron and steel, and their variants. They are strong, tough and easy to machine, but are prone to rusting and corrosion. • Mild Steel has a carbon content of between 0.1% and 0.3% and an iron content of 99.7% to 99.9%. It is used for engineering purposes and as the least expensive of all steel, it is the most common used. Mild steel is weldable, it’s very hard and very durable. • Carbon steel contains 0.6% to 1.4% carbon and 98.6% to 99.4 % iron. It is generally used to make industrial tools, machinery, drill bits and knives. • Stainless Steel is iron with varying additions of nickel, chromium and other metals depending on the grade and its end use. It is better defended against corrosion and used in thousands of applications. • Cast Iron contains between 2% and 6% carbon and 94% to 98% iron. It is very strong but at the same time, brittle. It is used to manufacture heavy items including engine blocks and manhole covers. • Wrought Iron is almost 100% iron. It is less popular than it once was but is still used for decorative items such as railings. • Ferrous metals are the most recycled materials in the world. In 2008 alone, 1.3 billion tons of steel were produced, 500 million tons of which was made from scrap materials • Non Ferrous Metals • Non-ferrous metals are many and diverse, and include rare and precious metals. They have wide range of mechanical properties and material characteristics resulting in a vast array of uses across all industries and commercial uses. • Aluminium is an alloy of aluminium, copper and manganese. It is very lightweight and can be easily worked, and available in a range of grades depending on end-use • Brass is a combination of copper and zinc. It is generally used for decorative purposes due to its resemblance to gold. • Copper is a naturally occurring metal. As it conducts heat and electricity, it is commonly used for wiring, tubing and pipe work. • Gold is most famously used for jewellery and as an investment in the form of bars or bullion. It is also used as an electrical connector, as a thread and even as food decoration. • Lead is a heavy and very soft metal which is often used in roofing and to make pipes. • Nickel is a silvery-white metal. It is often used as an alloying agent with other metals and historically was used to make cheap coins. • Silver is another natural substance, used mainly for decorative jewellery and ornaments. It is also used to solder different metals together. • About half of all Tin produced is for solder, when it is combined with lead. It is also used to plate other metals and as an alloy • Titanium is another silver-coloured metal and was discovered in Cornwall. It is another common ingredient as an alloy but it mostly used for refinement in to titanium dioxide; an intensely white pigment used in plastics, paints and toothpaste • Zinc is mostly used for galvanisation; applying a protective zinc coating to iron or steel to prevent rusting. It is also a common alloy. More..
Aug
Hot rolled vs cold rolled steel
Hot rolling steel is a process which involves rolling steel at a high temperature (typically over 1700° F), which is higher than the steel’s recrystallization temperature. When steel is heated above the recrystallization temperature, it can be formed more easily. It can also be made in much larger sizes. Hot rolled steel is generally cheaper than cold rolled steel as it is often manufactured without any delays in the process. Cold rolled steel on the other hand needs to be re-heated. More..
Aug
Kitchen splash backs
Kitchen splash backs provide a dramatic visual effect to your kitchen while protecting it from cooking mess. Using stainless steel sheets to make a backsplash can be cheaper than tiling and much easier to install. Unlike ceramic or stone tiles, metal is non porous. More..
Aug
Things to Know Before You Purchase a Metal Cut Service
A metal cut service is incredibly delicate. This is because when it comes to buildings, metal is one of the most required parts ad raw materials. Cutting metal to the appropriate size can be tricky, especially if you’re not careful of the following: More..
Aug
Reinforced metals pros and cons
In construction and other areas, metals are very vital as their weight ensures support for other materials. Reinforced metals are some of the most popular metals used in construction today. Like other materials, they have their advantages and disadvantages i.e. their pros and cons. More..
Aug
How to save cost and still get quality metal cuts
Metals are vital parts in the construction of homes, automobiles, infrastructures etc. Get quality metal cut is thus the need of every building contractor, structural engineer and automobile maker. That something is quality does not mean you have to break the bank before one can afford it. That also applies to metal cuts. While quality may mean spending a little more, there are still techniques of getting quality while reducing cost. More..
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