Choosing the Right Aluminum Plate for Your Project

There’s a lot to think about when selecting aluminum sheets or plates for an upcoming project. As you know, each new project will have unique requirements, which may mean you’ll need to find a different type of aluminum for every task. Here’s how to choose the right aluminum plate based on your project.

Strength and Durability

Perhaps the first thing most people think about when looking for the right aluminum plate is the alloy’s strength. If you are planning to use aluminum in heavy-duty applications, it would be beneficial to find stronger, more durable aluminum. However, a higher level of strength might be unnecessary if you require aluminum plate for another purpose.

Corrosion Resistance

Some alloys have natural corrosion resistance while others do not—as you may imagine, it is more costly to work with the former. Consider the environmental conditions surrounding the end-use of your product. If, for example, the aluminum will have an outdoor application, you may want to use an alloy that is naturally resistant to corrosion to prevent headaches in the future.

Machinability

When you need aluminum that can be easily machined and formed, your options become limited, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Make sure you have a good sense of the level of customization you’re after with your aluminum plates and find an alloy that suits it. Otherwise, even a material that checks all your other boxes may end up being more trouble than it is worth.

Cost

Finally, the importance of considering cost cannot be overstated. There are many types of aluminum alloys to choose from, and they come in at different price points. Therefore, it’s a matter of compromising where you can to find an alloy that fits within your budget while meeting the needs of your project. Of course, the best aluminum plate and sheet materials will cost a little extra, but that added price is more than worth it.

Now that you know the factors to keep in mind when choosing the right aluminum plate for your project, you’ll have no trouble obtaining ideal results!