The Chemistry of Aluminum

So we use a niton gun at work but I really get to use it much. My question is how much does the chemistry of aluminum vary in each piece of cast, sheet or extrusion aluminum. I know semi wheels different from like car wheels but im not really sure the alloy responsible for that. I know its so the semi wheels can withstand more heat. At work im seperating different types of engine cast. Does the chemistry vary much from like a turbo to an oil pan? Can anyone give me as much aluminum information as possible?

Originally Posted by Horsepower126

So we use a niton gun at work but I really get to use it much. My question is how much does the chemistry of aluminum vary in each piece of cast, sheet or extrusion aluminum. I know semi wheels different from like car wheels but im not really sure the alloy responsible for that. I know its so the semi wheels can withstand more heat. At work im seperating different types of engine cast. Does the chemistry vary much from like a turbo to an oil pan? Can anyone give me as much aluminum information as possible?

Hello there! The chemistry can be dramatically different -from a functional point of view - between even quite chemically close aluminum alloys. For example the A356 cast alloy used for aluminum rims has different levels of silicon and magnesium than the 356 alloy used for cylinder heads. And the small amounts of chromium and copper in 6061 is what makes it the best aluminum for welding and strength for structural use (or heavy duty applications like the truck rims you noted) whereas 6063 doesn't weld as easy and will make a terrible rim, but both are extrudable. If you tried to extrude the A356 aluminum it would go immediately from not holding it's shape to shattering depending on temperature. The "aluminum alloy" wiki page has a good amount of background reading.

Thanks a lot do you know of any information online that would teach me the different types of aluminum like that? How did you learn all of this really? I need to spend more time with the niton gun at work and grasp a better understand of the different alloys involved in the chemistries of metals like aluminum, steel, and copper.

Originally Posted by Horsepower126

Thanks a lot do you know of any information online that would teach me the different types of aluminum like that? How did you learn all of this really? I need to spend more time with the niton gun at work and grasp a better understand of the different alloys involved in the chemistries of metals like aluminum, steel, and copper.

Have you tried the wiki page I recommended? Or the search function on this forum? Or the info packet you got when you signed up for this forum? Or the sticky threads at the top of the metals recycling section on this forum?