There are various shapes and grades for aluminum that you can always find. The grade and pipe that you choose are largely dependent on the work that your intent to use it for. Knowing your purpose for the metal you are buying will help you in narrowing down to a specific grade of aluminum pipe. This article contains a quick reference to some of the hints that will help you choose the right aluminum pipe for the work ahead.
Consider the workability and the formability of the metal grade. This is when it comes to the fashioning parts using mechanical deformation. It is an important aspect so that you do not get stuck ahead of your project when things do not work as you would have wished for the same. You also need to be intentional to know if you would want to consider the weldability of the aluminum metal. There are grades that are easily weldable, and others may not be good at welding, and so you have to be true to your factors so that you are never stuck in your project once you start. Moreover, you may want to consider if the machinability of the aluminum alloy is good enough. Some may be good when in hard temper, while others may be perfect in the annealed condition.
You also need to find out about corrosion resistance and if it is something that you would want to have at the back of your mind. Some are excellent in that while other alloys are poor in the corrosion resistance feature. It is up to you to know what exactly you want and be aware of these features way before you buy the alloy. No one likes disappointment and so avoid presenting yourself into one. Heat treatment is also a factor that you should never ignore. Some will respond well to a heat treatment while others do not respond well to the same. An example of one that responds is the aluminum alloy 6061. You also need to consider the amount of strength that the specific metal has. Some can be used for high-strength or high-pressure applications, high mechanical strength, while others are of medium strength to high strength. It is perfectly in order to know what you are looking for early.
Finally, each of the aluminum alloys has its typical use application where it works best and brings excellent results. Some are good for aerospace applications, others in structural applications and general fabrication, some in marine applications, food and chemical equipment to general fabrication, architectural applications, and finally, in general machining and metal spinning. All these are applications for these aluminum grades, and depending on your application or need, you will be able to find and identify one that perfectly fits that job. You have to ensure you are keen on the properties they have so that you will get the results that you intend at the end of the project without any of the difficulties in the journey.