Extrusion of Aluminium

Use of aluminium extrusions is increasing both within the building and the automotive sector. Parallel to an increasing market is increasing demands for productivity, tighter dimensional tolerances, and better and more reproducible surface quality.

SINTEF offers core competence within most of the major extrusion processing steps, starting from casting of billets to surface treatment of the final extruded product. We work in close co-operation with our industrial partners on the following tasks:   • Billet microstructure and homogenisation. • Mathematical modelling of direct chill casting of extrusion ingots. • Testing of extrusion parameters and bearing channel dynamics in small scale extrusion press. • Modelling of material flow and behaviour of the section during the extrusion process. • Surface generation. • Recrystallisation control, precipitation and aging. • Quantitative and qualitative characterisation of the extruded surface with respect to both visual and functional properties. • Surface treatment, such as response to etching and anodising, corrosion, and adhesion.

SINTEF offers core competence within most of the major process steps in extrusion of aluminium Applications of this core competence • Modelling of shape variations in aluminium extrusion • Buckling of extrusions • Precipitation hardening and microstructure characterisation of aluminium alloys Open projects: • NorLight Surface Science • NorLight Heat Treatment Fundamentals SINTEF's contact person: Trond Aukrust