As a more durable alternative to wood that is fire resistant and highly resistant to corrosion, aluminum flat bar is a durable, strong yet very lightweight option for many types of construction, manufacturing and fabrication.
What is Flat Bar?
The term aluminum flat bar can be a bit misleading as the bar can be thicker or thinner, but it is typically flat and it is always solid in nature. There is the option to have tubing that is similarly shaped to flat bar, but it will be hollow on the inside with a thicker or thinner wall, depending on the specific application.
The wall thickness of aluminum flat bar actually refers to the thickness of the piece itself. In other words, a ½ inch thick wall on flat bar would be a solid half inch of aluminum that may be two, three, four, six, or eight inches in width. It can also be designed to be custom widths for specific types of applications.
It is important to also not confuse aluminum flat bar with plate. Plate is larger and is produced typically through hot rolling, which alters the grain and the physical properties of the aluminum. Typically bar is considered easier to machine and work with than plate for construction and fabrication needs.
Automobiles, Marine and Construction
Some of the most common uses of flat bar are in the areas of construction, automotive, marine and aerospace. The high strength to weight ratio compared to the very high corrosion resistance, even to sea water, makes this a perfect alloy for these types of uses.
The flat bar is often found in the structural components of planes, vehicles and boats, even the very large vessels as well as the very small personal watercraft. In general, most alloys of aluminum flat bar are excellent options for welding, brazing and machining, which is not the case for some of the other alloys with comparable strength and corrosion resistance.
In construction, aluminum flat bar material may be used for the supporting elements in a building design. With the increase in the demand for “green” buildings and environmentally friendly building techniques the use of aluminum is on the increase as it can be fully recycled, it lasts a lifetime, and it can be produced with very low carbon footprint compared to many other types of manmade and natural construction material options.
