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ABSTRACT
This article focuses on flat product rolling: plates, sheets and aluminum sheets. These "half-products" are generally reprocessed by customers. The technologies of rolling and finishing, as well as the tools are similar to those used for other metals. However, the rolling of aluminum has its own specificities, such as its finishing in extremely thin sheets (a few mm) or in very thick sheets (200 mm). This article does not recall the fundamentals of rolling; it describes the main manufacturing stages of a sheet, from the preparation of the alloy in the furnace and the casting of plates up to finishing operations such as leveling and final annealing, and including the two essential stages of hot and cold rolling.
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Read the articleAUTHOR
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Patrick DENEUVILLE: Research Expert at Alcan CRV - Engineer École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées - Doctor authorized to direct research
INTRODUCTION
Aluminum and its alloys are mainly used in applications requiring lightness, aesthetics and/or durability. Its main qualities can be summarized as follows:
lightness (density ∼ 2.67) combined with a wide range of mechanical properties (from very soft to very hard);
shine and clear appearance;
good corrosion resistance.
The wide range of alloys and their properties make them the material of choice for many applications.
This article deals mainly with the manufacture of flat products: aluminum plates, sheets and foils. These are "semi-finished products" which are generally reprocessed on the customer's premises.
As with other metals, aluminum can also be rolled into rounds or profiles. The manufacturing principle is the same, but with rolls whose geometry is adapted to the target profile.
In Europe, for example, demand for flat aluminum products in 2008 totaled 4.8 million tonnes, compared with 0.5 million tonnes for rolled sections (essentially wire for subsequent drawing).
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