The production process of aluminum plate is a complex and delicate process that begins with an aluminum ingot and ends in a number of key steps to make aluminium plate of the desired specifications and properties.
Manufacturing of aluminum plate product:
- Ingot heating and homogenization: Aluminum ingots need to be heated before hot rolling to increase their plasticity and reduce deformation resistance. At the same time, for some aluminum alloys, especially hard aluminum alloys, ingots also need to be homogenized to eliminate or reduce the composition and organization of the unevenness.
- Hot rolling: the heated aluminum ingot is rolled in a hot rolling mill to form a hot rolled slab of a certain thickness. During the hot rolling process, the aluminum ingot is gradually deformed into a plate of the required thickness through multiple passes of undercutting and lubrication cooling.
- Cold Rolling: After cooling and cutting of the hot rolled aluminum sheet, it enters the cold rolling stage. Cold rolling results in aluminum plate that are straighter in shape, have a smoother surface, and are thinner and more uniform in thickness than hot rolled aluminum strip coil. During cold rolling, the thickness, straightness and surface quality of the plate are controlled by adjusting the underpressing rate and lubricating and cooling conditions.
- Heat Treatment: Depending on the final performance requirements of the aluminium plate, heat treatment processes such as annealing, quenching and aging may be required. These treatments can adjust the hardness and strength of the aluminum plate and improve its organization and properties.
- Finishing: After rolling and heat treatment, aluminum plates require finishing processes, including shearing, straightening, calendering and packaging. These processes can ensure that the dimensional accuracy, surface quality and appearance of aluminum plate in line with the requirements.
In order to improve the corrosion resistance, appearance and decorative properties of aluminium plate, surface treatment may be required, such as anodic oxidation, spraying or polishing. These treatments can enhance the performance of aluminum plates and meet the needs of different industries and applications.
Quality control and inspection is an integral part of the entire production process. Aluminum plates are subjected to stringent quality control and testing, including testing of physical and chemical properties, inspection of surface quality, measurement of dimensions and thickness, and evaluation of mechanical properties. These inspections and tests ensure that the final aluminum sheet meets high standards of quality.
To sum up, the production process of aluminum plates is a process that involves multiple steps and complex processes. From the preparation of aluminum ingots to the fabrication, surface treatment and quality control and testing of aluminium plates, each step is critical and together they determine the final performance and quality of the aluminum plate.