Did you know that you can extrude steel and not only aluminium?
As a manufacturing process, extrusion plays a crucial role in transforming steel billets and semi-finished casting products into specific profiled bars and shapes. This requires careful consideration of the properties of the chosen material. Among the many techniques for working with metals, metal extrusion stands out for its versatility, offering a means to achieve complex designs and tailor-made profiles.
Aluminium is a popular material for hot extrusion manufacturing due to its relatively low melting point compared to other metals and its malleability, meaning it can easily be deformed under pressure without breaking. However, aluminum may fall short in various scenarios in which other metals, such as steel and stainless steel, are better suited.
While it may be harder to extrude due to its hardness, in harsh environments, such as maritime applications or conditions with chemical exposure, stainless steel prevents material degradation better than aluminium does because it naturally has very high corrosion resistance.
Furthermore, in applications with higher strength and durability, like construction and heavy machinery, steel is generally a better material choice as it can withstand higher loads and stresses than aluminium.
Lastly, steel can maintain its strength at higher temperatures compared to aluminium, which tends to lose strength as temperatures rise. This makes steel a better choice for components that must operate under high-temperature conditions, such as in engine parts and industrial machinery.
Hot extrusion of steel and stainless steel involves high temperatures, with solid steel ‘billets’ or semi-finished castings being heated to around 1,100 degrees Celsius. A hydraulic press forces the hot metal through a shaped die, forming an extruded profile in one pass. Unlike hot rolling, extrusion doesn’t require large minimum production quantities to be cost effective, and it allows for the production both solid and hollow sections. This technology allows for the creation of hot extruded profiles from various steel types and grades, offering versatility from carbon steel to stainless steel, nickel base, or titanium alloys.
The Practical Applications of Stainless Steel Extrusions
Stainless steel extrusions are used across various industries, from medical to military and everything in between. The durability and natural corrosion resistance of stainless steel make it well-suited for tasks in challenging environments, and its distinctive appearance adds to its appeal for decorative purposes. Some common applications for stainless steel include:
- Elevator sills & door tracks
- Marine parts and products
- Decorative & functional architecture
- Food processing
- Surgical instruments
- Appliances
- Kitchen & bathroom fixtures
- Transportation of chemical liquids
- and many more
Ultimately, the choice between aluminium and steel extrusions depends on specific needs whether prioritizing design flexibility with aluminium or preferring steel and stainless steel’s durability and corrosion resistance, both metals serve different purposes.
The Many Benefits of Stainless Steel Extruded Profiles
Beyond durability and corrosion resistance, steel and in particular stainless steel have several other benefits:
- Hygiene: Stainless steel structural profiles and tubes feature a smooth, easy-to-clean surface and are widely used in applications such as food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical devices. Its corrosion resistance makes it a durable choice for industries where hygiene is crucial.
- Aesthetic Appearance: The easily maintained surface of stainless steel provides a modern look. Various finishes, including brushed, polished, and satin, offer versatility in achieving specific aesthetic effects, making stainless steel mullions, transoms, and structural profiles often the preferred choice of architects and artists.
- Strength-to-Weight Advantage: The high strength quality of steel and stainless steel allows for the creation of durable structures with reduced wall thicknesses, thus minimizing the overall weight of the building, facade, or structural element. This overall leads to reduced costs and modern designs.
- Structural safety: structures profiles in steel are the preferred over aluminium structures for buildings that require high safety standards and greater fire resistance.
- Long-Term Value: Stainless steel proves cost-effective when considering total life cycle costs, thanks to its maintenance-free nature and long-life expectancy. In today’s world, where sustainability reigns supreme, this characteristic of stainless steel is often the determining factor in material selection.
- Recyclability: Stainless steel is highly recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely without degradation of its properties. Recycling rates for stainless steel are very high, often above 80%, which is better than aluminium and carbon steel.
These diverse benefits underscore why steel and stainless steel extrusions are compelling choices for various applications. Although aluminium provides slightly greater design flexibility, steel and stainless steel are favored for their Hot Extrusion Technology superior strength and resistance, especially in medium to large-scale applications, and are often, in fact, better alternatives to aluminium sections.
We are a global producer and supplier of stainless steel structural sections and special steel profiles with a focus on innovation and advanced manufacturing technologies, Montanstahl meets the demand for tailor-made steel products.
Whether you’re in the medical, military, or architectural industry, our steel and stainless steel extruded profiles and components may be what you’re looking for.
Visit our hot extrusion web page to learn more and challenge us with your extrusion design!