As one of the important materials for modern industrial production and processing, aluminum discs are widely used in various industries, including construction, aerospace, automobile manufacturing, electronic appliances and other industries. There are many production methods, including rolling, drawing, casting, etc. This article will introduce the production process of aluminum discs in detail.

Material selection of aluminum discs

The production materials of aluminum wafers need to have good tensile properties, oxidation resistance, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and good processing properties. At present, in terms of material selection of aluminum discs, aluminum alloy has become the mainstream choice. It is superior in mechanical properties and stamping processing and is widely used.

Commonly used aluminum alloys include 1050, 1060, 1100, 3003, 3004, 5052, 6061, 7075, etc. In addition, there are additives such as Mg, Si, Zn, etc. to improve the strength and corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys.

Aluminum disc manufacturing process

1. Rolling method

The rolling method is one of the main methods for producing aluminum discs. The principle of sheeting is to process the aluminum alloy billet in a hot state through multiple processes such as heating, rolling, and stretching. Specific steps are as follows:

  • ① Raw material preparation: The production of aluminum discs usually uses aluminum alloy billets or molten aluminum as raw materials, and is extruded or cast.
  • ②Heating: Heating the aluminum alloy billet to a suitable temperature (usually between 450℃-550℃) to improve its plasticity and reduce its strength.
  • ③Rolling: The heated aluminum alloy billet is rolled on the roller table of the rolling machine, plastically deformed and formed into the required thickness with rollers, thereby forming the shape of the aluminum disc.
  • ④ Stretching: Stretch the aluminum discs that have been made through stretching equipment to improve their microstructure and increase their strength and plasticity.
  • ⑤ Cooling, cutting, and inspection: The processed aluminum wafers are cooled, cut, and inspected to ensure their quality.
Aluminum disc production process
Aluminum disc production process

2. Stretching method

The stretching method is to stretch aluminum alloy blanks through a series of mechanical devices to produce aluminum discs. This method has a short process flow and high production efficiency, and is suitable for producing wafers of various specifications. Specific steps are as follows:

  • ① Raw material preparation: The production of aluminum discs usually uses aluminum alloy billets or molten aluminum as raw materials, and is extruded or cast.
  • ②Heating: Heating the aluminum alloy billet to a suitable temperature (usually between 450℃-550℃) to improve its plasticity and reduce its strength.
  • ③ Stretching: The heated aluminum alloy billet is stretched through the stretching equipment. During the stretching process, it is plastically deformed to form the shape of the aluminum disc.
  • ④ Cooling, cutting, and inspection: The processed aluminum wafers are subjected to process steps such as cooling, cutting, and inspection to ensure their quality.

3. Casting method

The casting method uses molten aluminum as raw material and produces aluminum discs through centrifugal casting or die casting. Specific steps are as follows:

  • ① Raw material preparation: Heat the aluminum alloy block until it melts, and the melt will be poured into the molding machine.
  • ② Forming: Molten aluminum is formed in a molding machine through centrifugal pouring or die casting to form the shape of an aluminum disc.
  • ③Cooling, cutting, and inspection: The formed aluminum discs must be cooled, cut, and inspected to ensure their quality.

Aluminum disc surface treatment

Aluminum wafers have a variety of surface treatment methods to improve their brightness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, etc. Currently, oxidation, spraying, etc. are commonly used.

  • Oxidation: Oxidation is a commonly used method in surface treatment of aluminum wafers. It can form a metal oxide film on the surface of aluminum wafers, thereby improving its corrosion resistance and wear resistance. At the same time, the color will also change, and the surface will show metallic luster or other colors. Oxidation methods mainly include electrolytic oxidation and chemical oxidation.
  • Spray coating: Spray coating is a method of covering the surface of aluminum wafers. The spray coating material can be various chemical materials or metallic coatings. After the surface of the aluminum disc is sprayed, it can provide more color choices and higher finishing effects, and can also improve corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

In general, there are many options for the production process of aluminum wafers, and manufacturers can choose suitable production methods and surface treatment methods according to different use environments and needs. To achieve high-quality aluminum wafer production, good control and management of raw materials and processing techniques are required.