What is so special about aluminum?
We love to promote aluminum fencing’s many benefits. It can withstand harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, and abrasive sandy air. It doesn’t rust or corrode like other metals. It’s long-lasting and can be recycled. It’s low maintenance for homeowners and property managers.
But why? What makes aluminum so special? It almost sounds like miracle material when all its benefits are listed like that.
So, let’s take a look behind the fencing and focus on aluminum. We’ll learn how aluminum fencing is made, why it’s so tough, and how it helps you.
What is the aluminum alloy used in aluminum fencing?
Aluminum fencing uses a very strong and durable alloy designated 6005-T5. That’s a manufacturing designation that essentially tells you what kind of alloy it is. The T5 at the end tells you it’s been heat treated, meaning it’s especially strong.
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements with at least one of the ingredients being a metal. Basically, you melt two or more metals together; when they cool, the new material will have different properties than the originals.
If that sounds basic, that’s because it is. Ever heard of the Bronze Age? The Bronze Age is an archaeological period that started six thousand years ago! Early civilizations smelted copper and Tin together to form bronze, which was the hardest, strongest, and most durable material at the time. It allowed ancient civilizations to create new, stronger tools and weapons. It also became a new medium for art.
That ancient principle stays true even today. Our aluminum fencing is actually around 98% aluminum, with around 1% being silicon and less than 1% being magnesium. There is an additional 0.5% of trace elements like chromium and iron.
That 2% may not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference!
How is aluminum fencing made?
An aluminum supplier measures out the right proportions and then smelts them together. The Silicon and Magnesium form Mg₂Si, which is distributed throughout the aluminum. This dispersed compound acts like rebar in concrete; it reinforces the material it is in.
Remember those trace amounts of Chromium and Iron? Even in such small amounts, chromium increases the alloy’s resistance to corrosion. Iron prevents impurities from forming, preventing the alloy from becoming brittle.
The new alloy goes through a heat treatment (remember the T5 at the end of the designation?) called artificial aging. Artificial aging is a fairly complex chemical process. But in essence, this heart treatment disperses the Mg₂Si throughout the material. It also encourages the Mg₂Si to bond with the microstructure of the aluminum, further strengthening it.
After that, the alloy is complete, and it can be supplied to the fencing manufacturer. Then, it’s just a matter of cutting, treating, and assembling it into fencing panels.
How does this aluminum alloy help me?
Your aluminum fence has a minimum ultimate strength of 35,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). That means you would need to apply 35,000 pounds of pressure to permanently deform and deeply dent the material.
For context, a crocodile has a bite force of 3,700 psi. That would hurt you and me, but you would need ten times that to break an aluminum fence.
Use this incredible material to protect your home, keep your furry friends safe, and enhance your home’s curb appeal.
Sure, you could go with a wooden, picket fence. But those only last 10-20 years and require routine maintenance. Harness the strength of industrial-grade aluminum and enjoy a low-maintenance fence for up to 50 years!
