Did you know that aluminum and steel are two of the most powerful contenders in the current metal casting scenario? Countless manufacturers around the world depend on these alloy castings in their pursuit of producing corrosion-resistant parts and products that are light yet strong. Have a look at a comparison between both of these metals.
Strength
In terms of strength, steel is generally much stronger than aluminum. However, you can find certain aluminum alloys that are stronger that other kinds of steel alloys. Furthermore, since enough strength for operation is required for structural units and applications that are weight-bearing, manufacturers prefer steel alloy castings than aluminum ones for such purposes. While aluminum alloy castings can provide you with weight benefits, it needs to be diligently engineered to meet specific strength requirements.
Weight
When it comes to density, aluminum is nearly three times less dense than steel. For this reason, aluminum has more weight advantages compared to steel. Due to its low density, it can keep its overall weight low without compromising its stiffness and strength. This leaves us no reason to wonder why more manufacturers prefer aluminum alloy castings much more than steel alloys.
Cost
There’s a huge difference between steel and aluminum alloy castings in terms of cost. In case you’re not aware, their prices always fluctuate in both domestic and international markets. While aluminum is solely based on bauxite ore, steel is produced from iron ore. Although both of these sources are quite common and readily available in most areas, iron is less expensive to its source. It’s also important to note that it’s possible to recycle both aluminum and steel and that the recycling process isn’t as costly as the production process of their raw material.
Do You Need to Know More About Alloy Castings?
If you need more information about alloy castings, don’t hesitate to contact the leading comprehensive engineered product resource – Ferralloy, Inc. We offer total supply chain management to a diverse metalworking customer base across the globe.