Performance and Application of Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet

Selection of Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet:

Marine grade aluminum sheet can be divided into deformed aluminum alloy and cast aluminum alloy according to different manufacturing processes. Because marine grade aluminum sheet has special requirements on strength, corrosion resistance and weldability, aluminum marine grade is mostly aluminum-magnesium alloys, aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys and aluminum-zinc-magnesium alloys. Among them, the 5-series aluminum-magnesium alloys are the most widely used on ships. So what are the characteristics of the 5 series marine aluminum alloys?

Aluminium Marine Grade–5 Series Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet:

The 5 series marine grade aluminum sheet mainly has three types: 5083 aluminum sheet, 5086 aluminum sheet and 5456 aluminum sheet. The 6 series alloys undergo intergranular corrosion in seawater, so they are used in the upper structure of the ship. The disadvantage of the 7 series alloy is that it has poor corrosion resistance, so the scope of use is limited. Taken together, the 5 series marine grade aluminum sheet is currently the most widely used and most promising marine grade aluminum product.

5083 Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet:

5083 aluminum sheet can be regarded as a representative product of 5 series marine grade aluminum sheet, the state of it including O, H111, H112, H116, H321, etc., The composition of 5083 aluminum sheet alloy are:
Al: balance Si: ≤ 0.40, Cu : ≤ 0.10, Zn: ≤ 0.25
Mn: 0.40 to 1.0 Ti: ≤ 0.15 chromium Cr: 0.05 to 0.25 Fe: 0 to 0.400,
5083 aluminum alloy shows medium strength, corrosion resistance and good formability and high fatigue resistance, generally used as the main structure of the hull. Others such as 5052, 5086, 5454, 5456, etc., are also used in hull structures or pressure vessels, pipes, hulls and decks.

Selection of Thickness of Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet:

Generally speaking, the thickness of the marine grade aluminum sheet is determined by the hull structure, the ship’s specifications and the location of use. From the perspective of lightweight hull, the aluminum sheet is generally used as much as possible, but the depth of corrosion of the sheet during use time should also be considered. Therefore, the plates commonly used in marine aluminum plates have a thin plate of 1.6 mm or more and a thick plate of 30 mm or more. There are also some special sizes for the use of plates according to the shipyard contract. Such as the anti-slip aluminum tread plate used on the deck.

Market of Marine Grade Aluminum Sheet:

From the development of marine grade aluminum sheet, at present, many domestic aluminum sheet manufacturers have begun to focus on the development of 5 series, 6 series marine grade aluminum plate, increase scientific research efforts, expand production scale, and enter the high-end manufacturing market, such as the market of marine aluminium plate.
With the development of innovation and production capacity, the 5 series marine grade aluminum sheet will usher in greater development opportunities and provide a broad space for the transformation and upgrading of aluminum processing.