Aluminum Profile Types: Shapes, Structures, and Applications
The main aluminum profile types include solid profiles, hollow profiles, semi-hollow profiles, and specialized shapes such as angles, channels, T-sections, tubes, T-slot profiles, heat sinks, and architectural profiles. The right type depends on the required strength, weight, connection method, function, and application. Understanding how these profiles differ makes it easier to select an aluminum extrusion that fits the design rather than choosing a shape based on appearance alone.
Aluminum Extrusion Process: How Aluminum Profiles Are Made
The aluminum extrusion process forces a heated aluminum billet through a shaped die to produce a continuous profile with a specific cross-section. The billet is heated until it becomes sufficiently soft and plastic for extrusion, but it remains solid rather than melting into a liquid. After the profile exits the die, manufacturers typically cool, stretch, cut, heat-treat, and finish it according to the required specifications.