Description

Aluminum pipe tubes are hollow metal tubing made from pure aluminum or aluminum alloys through extrusion, belonging to the category of non-ferrous metal tubes. This material is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, and can be strengthened through heat treatment, but its corrosion resistance needs to be improved through surface treatments such as anodizing and electrophoretic coating.

Classification of Aluminum Pipe Tubes:

1. Diverse Shapes: Common shapes include round aluminum tubes, square aluminum tubes, and patterned aluminum tubes, as well as custom-made aluminum shaped tubes based on molds.

2. Manufacturing Processes: Divided into seamless aluminum tubes and ordinary extruded aluminum tubes. Seamless aluminum tubes have no weld lines, making production more difficult but suitable for special processes such as bending.

3. Precision Grades: Divided into ordinary aluminum tubes and precision aluminum tubes. Precision tubes usually require further processing such as cold drawing and precision finishing after extrusion.

4. Thickness: Based on wall thickness, divided into ordinary aluminum tubes, thin-walled aluminum tubes, and thick-walled aluminum tubes. Thin-walled aluminum tubes are lighter, while thick-walled aluminum tubes have stronger pressure resistance.

5. Material Properties: Available in pure aluminum tubes and alloy aluminum tubes, such as 6061 alloy for high strength and 3003 alloy for good rust resistance.

Features of Aluminum Pipe Tubes:

1. Lightweight: Aluminum pipe tubes have a density approximately one-third that of steel and copper, significantly reducing structural weight and benefiting weight reduction in aerospace, automotive, and home appliances.

2. Corrosion Resistance: Spontaneously forms a dense Al₂O₃ film in the atmosphere, resisting corrosion from the atmosphere and various media (such as concentrated nitric acid and organic acids); however, it is susceptible to chloride ion and alkaline solutions, often requiring surface strengthening processes such as anodizing and electrophoresis.

3. Excellent Thermal and Electrical Conductivity: Thermal conductivity 129–165 W/(m·K) (approximately 60% of copper), electrical conductivity approximately 30–40% IACS, suitable for radiators and heat exchange tubes.

4. High machinability: Aluminum pipe tubes are easy to extrude, bend, cut, and weld (mainly argon arc welding/laser welding; some alloys are prone to intergranular cracking), suitable for complex cross-sections (round tubes, square tubes, irregularly shaped tubes).

5. Moderate strength: Pure aluminum tubes (such as 1A50) have low strength (σb ≤ 137 MPa); alloys such as 6061, 2A12, and 7075 can achieve tensile strengths of 200–570 MPa after heat treatment, but are generally lower than high-strength steel or copper alloys.

6. High recyclability: Environmentally friendly throughout its entire life cycle, with recycling energy consumption only about 5% of that of primary aluminum.

Applications of Aluminum Pipe Tubes:

Aluminum pipe tubes have a wide range of applications, permeating almost every aspect of our lives, mainly covering core areas such as building decoration, transportation, refrigeration equipment, product packaging, and industrial electronics. Aluminum pipe tubes, with their lightweight, corrosion resistance, ease of processing, and good thermal conductivity, have replaced traditional copper or steel pipes in many applications.

Aluminum pipe tubes are very common in building and home environments, primarily due to their durability and aesthetic appeal.

1. Building Structures and Decoration: Aluminum pipe tubes are widely used in the manufacture of door and window frames, curtain walls, balcony railings, handrails, and ceiling materials. Their lightweight nature and ability to be finished in various colors make them both stylish and safe.

2. Domestic Plumbing Systems: Aluminum pipe tubes are used in water supply, irrigation, gas transmission, and fire protection piping. Their corrosion resistance and non-toxicity make them suitable for transporting domestic water and gas.

3. HVAC Systems: Aluminum pipe tubes are widely used in the condensers, evaporators, and connecting pipes of home air conditioners and refrigerators. Currently, aluminum accounts for over 90% of the components in mainstream refrigerators, making it a primary application area for replacing copper with aluminum.

In the transportation sector, aluminum pipe tubes are a key material for achieving lightweighting, helping to reduce the weight and save energy in vehicles.

1. Automotive Manufacturing: Used in automotive air conditioning systems, braking systems, fuel systems, and battery water-cooling plates for new energy vehicles, contributing to improved fuel economy and safety.

2. Aerospace: In aircraft and rockets, aluminum pipe tubes are used to transport fuel, oxidizers, and hydraulic systems. Their lightweight and high-strength properties help reduce overall weight and improve carrying efficiency.

3. Marine and Rail: Specific series of aluminum alloy tubes are used in ship welded components, subway and light rail systems, and pressure vessels requiring strict fire protection, such as liquid tank trucks and refrigerated containers.

Role in Everyday Products and Industry

Beyond large-scale engineering projects, aluminum pipe tubes also play an important role in everyday consumer goods and precision industries.

1. Product Packaging: Toothpaste, hand cream, ointments (such as erythromycin ointment), pigments, pet food, and even cigars often use aluminum pipe tubes for packaging because of their excellent sealing properties, which isolate oxygen and light, extending shelf life.

2. Electronics and Heat Dissipation: Aluminum tubes are commonly used in the heat sinks of electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones, utilizing their good thermal conductivity to prevent overheating; they are also used in battery casings and wire and cable conduits.

3. Industry and Chemical Industry: Used for conveying corrosive media (such as concentrated nitric acid, acetic acid, etc.), pure water, and in the manufacture of heat exchangers, automated equipment components, and mechanical structural parts.

Product Details and Specification

Product	Aluminum Pipe Tube
Standard	ASTM/ JIS/ GB/ DIN/ BS/ GOST
Thickness (mm)	Thin	0.15-2.0
	Conventional	2.0-6.0
	Middle	6.0-25.0
	Thick	25-200
	Super thick	>200
Status	F XX	Free processing
	O XX	Annealed
	H XX	Work hardening
	W XX	Solid solution heat treatment
	T XX	Heat treatment
Surface	Polyester spraying, power spraying, fluorocarbon spraying, PE film, Mill, Bright, Polished, Hairline etc.
Application	Lighting /Solar reflective sheet/Building appearance/Interior decoration: ceiling, wall/Furniture, cabinets/Elevator/Signs, nameplates, luggage/Interior and exterior decoration of automobiles/Interior decorations: such as Frame/household appliances: refrigerators, microwave ovens, audio equipment/Aerospace aspects/Machining parts processing/Mold manufacturing/Chemical industry/heat preservation pipe coating/High-quality ship board

Features of aluminum product series

Composition	Grade	Property
Pure Aluminum (>99%)	1XXX	No less than 99% aluminum. Excellent corrosion resistance, high thermal and electrical conductivity, low mechanical properties and excellent machinability
Al-Cu	2XXX	Good strength, being the ideal material for manufacturing parts, but the corrosion resistance is weaker
Al-Mn	3XXX	Also known as rust-proof aluminum
Al-Si	4XXX	Commonly used as welding materials, commonly used as building materials. After anodized surface treatment, it will appear dark gray.
Al-Mg	5XXX	Hardened aluminium alloy, suitable for marine climates
Al-Mg/Si	6XXX	Good formability, weldability, machinability and relatively good corrosion resistance
Al-Zn	7XXX	Commonly used in aircraft fuselage structures, mobile equipment and other high-strength parts
Al-Others	8XXX	Good electrical conductivity

COMMON AL & AL ALLOY COMPARISION TABLE

Type/Standard	GB	ASTM	BS	JIS	NF	DIN	GOST
Industrial Pure Al	1A99	1199				A199.99R	A99
	1A97					A199.98R	A97
	1A95						A95
	1A80		1080(1A)	1080	1080A	A199.90	A8
	1A50	1050	1050(1B)	1050	1050A	A199.50	A5
Anti-rust Al	5A02	5052	NS4	5052	5052	AlMg2.5	Amg
	5A03		NS5				AMg3
	5A05	5056	NB6	5056		AlMg5	AMg5V
	5A30	5456	NG61	5556	5957
Hard Al	2A01	2036		2117	2117	AlCu2.5Mg0.5	D18
	2A11		HF15	2017	2017S	AlCuMgl	D1
	2A12	2124		2024	2024	AlCuMg2	D16AVTV
	2B16	2319
Forging Al	2A80			2N01			AK4
	2A90	2218		2018			AK2
	2A14	2014		2014	2014	AlCuSiMn	AK8
Super Hard Al	7A09	7175		7075	7075	AlZnMgCu1.5	V95P
Froging Al Alloy	ZAlSi7Mn	356.2	LM25	AC4C		G-AlSi7Mg
	ZAlSi12	413.2	LM6	AC3A	A-S12-Y4	G-Al12	AL2
	ZAlSi5CulMg	355.2					AL5
	ZAlSi2Cu2Mgl	413		AC8A		G-Al12(Cu)
	ZAlCu5Mn						AL19
	ZAlCu5MnCdVA	201
	ZAlMg10	520.2	LM10		AG11	G-AlMg10	AL8
	ZAlMg5Si					G-AlMg5Si	AL13