Aluminum thin-walled pipe: characteristics, production

In the process of repair or construction, the final quality of the work depends on the choice of materials. Aluminum thin-walled pipe has many varieties. To correctly apply the product, you need to understand the features of each of its type. It is also important to understand the principle of installing thin-walled aluminum pipes. When observing the rules of installation and operation of the product, it is not difficult to create a durable and strong system that is safe in everyday life.

What is a thin-walled aluminum pipe?

The production of aluminum pipes is designed to meet the needs of maintaining the vital functions of residential buildings and buildings. There are a lot of varieties of such products. Each type has a certain set of characteristics and has its own scope.

Aluminum thin-walled pipe has a thickness of material up to 5 mm inclusive. It has such qualities as reliability, resistance to lowering of temperature, and also non-adherence to corrosion. Even in severe frosts such pipes will be able to maintain their integrity.

The production of aluminum pipes is governed by GOST 18475-82, 18482-79, 23697-79. Release of pipes from alloys occurs according to GOST 4784-97, 1131-76.

The positive quality of aluminum is good thermal conductivity, which is also taken into account when using products from it. The scope of the pipes extends from roof coating to pipeline fittings. Due to the softness of the metal, the products are easy to process.

Application area

According to their characteristics, aluminum pipes have a wide range of applications. It is rational to use this material in irrigation systems. This is quite admissible of its characteristics. Aluminum pipes are also used for sanitation, and in combination with titanium - for water.

Pipes made of aluminum with thin walls are widely used in ventilation systems. Often used products for connecting gas messages. Pipelines from aluminum are found in the chemical and oil fields. The use of products of this type is cost-effective and effective in the scale of large industries, and for private consumers it provides high reliability and quality of communications of various types.

Types of pipe sections

The production of aluminum pipes provides many spheres of consumption with the necessary types of products. Depending on the required requests, the pipes differ in cross-section.

The circular section is a hollow profile. Thin-walled round aluminum pipes are produced more often.

The rectangular section in the section has the shape of the corresponding figure. This is one of the typical types of products.

The square section is a hollow profile, the sides of which are equal to each other and are at right angles to each other. This is also a typical type of product.

The profile pipe has a section of arbitrary shape and is most often made to order.

For water supply, sewerage, drainage, gas communications, the round cross-section of pipes is most often used. In the case when the ventilation of the building is arranged, square and rectangular types of the product are sometimes used.

For production facilities or special equipment systems, profile pipes are made of aluminum.

Types of pipes for processing technology

The production of aluminum pipes involves various methods of processing products. There are pipes:

• Without heat treatment (hot pressed);
• Hardened (hardened at a temperature lower than recrystallization), are marked H;
• Semi-hardened - marking Н2;
• Annealed (hardened) - M marking;
• Not fully hardened - grade Т5;
• Artificially aged - marking T1;
• Aged naturally - brand T.

Technique of production of pipes

The aluminum tube is manufactured in three different ways.

The first option is a deformation of the aluminum wheel. This technology is characterized by hood, calibration, firmware at low temperatures.

The second way is to compact the material.

The third technology is the welding of aluminum sheet or strip. At the same time, hot release is used to eliminate the internal stress at the welding seams.

The profile of naturally aged and cold-worked with a wall thickness of up to 10 mm can be made without heat treatment. In the process of manufacturing non-standard pipes of round, oval sections, intermediate measurements of external diameter and thickness are made. For each object and substance transported through the pipes, aluminum is subjected to a certain type of treatment.

Type of internal and external surface

There are a number of defects, the presence of which on the final product is unacceptable. They can not be used in arranging the communications of the facility, since they can reduce the strength of the aluminum pipe.

The number of impermissible defects include:

• Stratification;
• Cracks;
• Shells;
• Non-metallic additives;
• Traces of ammonium nitrate, corrosion;
• Looseness;
• Saddles;
• Traces of burns on hardened pipes.

It is permissible for aluminum pipes to have the presence of non-decreasing strength phenomena:

• Traces of the matrix and annular corrugations provided that they do not exceed the permissible diameters;
• One fistula (a tubular strip on the welded seam due to gas emissions during welding) per 100 m of the pipe;
• Fingerprints for pipes not less than 3 m long. They can be present at both ends of the product.

Pipes from alloys

There are many options for manufacturing pipes from aluminum alloys with different metals. They are regulated by special quality standards.

The most popular alloy is the composition of the duralumin pipes. This is a very strong material. Its alloy consists of aluminum, copper, manganese and magnesium. There are also alloys of aluminum with titanium. They are used even for the construction of water pipes.

A copper-aluminum pipe is used quite often. It is not just an alloy of these two materials, but a combination of strong metallic bonds of the inner copper and outer aluminum layers. Such a product is used in heating and ventilation systems. The two-layered connection of materials makes it easier to design and gives strength, resistance to the influence of pressure in the system. A distinctive feature of copper-aluminum pipes is non-adherence to corrosion. Due to the special behavior of copper, aluminum is used for such pipes using special fittings.

Duralumin pipes

More popular than copper-aluminum thin-walled pipes are duralumin pipes. They are resistant to deformation, corrosion, ease, flexibility, and ease of installation. This aluminum thin-walled tube is called D16T and it happens with an internal diameter of 7 mm and a wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The letter "T" in the marking indicates that the material was subjected to hardening and natural aging. The smallest size of the produced variety of these products is aluminum thin-walled pipe D16T 7˟0.5 mm.

The disadvantages present in this type of product are the poor resistance to electrochemical destruction, the inability to directly join the duralumin pipes with cast iron and steel. Their cost is quite high. However, the main positive qualities overlap with all restrictions.

Equipment for bending pipes

During the installation of pipes they have to be bent, giving the system the desired shape. In order not to deform the internal diameter of the product, it is necessary to work with a special equipment called a pipe bender. They come in the following forms:

1. Crossbow benders. Used for products of a certain diameter.
2. Spring tools. Aluminum tube is round thin-walled most often bends without deformations by this device.
3. Segment type. Pulls the pipe around itself, giving it the required bend.
4. Dorn benders. Well cope with the task, when it is necessary to flatten pipes with a very small radius at home.

According to the variants of the drive, this equipment is divided into 3 types:

• Manual, which are used to change the shape of small diameter pipes;
• Hydraulic will help to bend the products up to 3 inches in a section;
• Electromechanical make it possible to produce a flattening with high accuracy.

Methods of bending aluminum pipes

It is simply enough to produce the flattening of aluminum thin-walled pipes at home using several methods.

The first way is to use a special machine. She is given the required angle of bending. Then a pipe is inserted into the vice, and the lever is reduced to the desired radius.

The second method involves the use of the machine Volnova. The pipe is inserted between the rollers. One end of it is attached with a clamp. The handle turns the bracket. The roller will move after reaching the required level of bending.

The third technique uses a spring. It is selected in accordance with the diameter of the pipe. The wire is attached to the spring. Inside the pipe is started, and the bending process is performed. It's better to do this on a video. With the help of a wire, the product is removed from the equipment. The spring will help to avoid deformation of the product diameter.

How to bend a pipe without a special tool?

In the arsenal of home tools, it is not always possible to find special equipment for bending pipes. If you need to perform this operation, you have to do with improvised means. The aluminum pipe, the GOST of which does not allow the deformation of the cross-section of the product, will require special actions.

To flatten aluminum, a gas burner is required. The pipe should be fixed in a vice, and at the bending point it is heated. This action can be performed when the temperature of the material reaches the level when the sheet of paper brought to it will be smoked. In the case of carrying out this action with a square tube, it will be necessary to resort to using a rubber kyanki and two supports. Before the procedure, sand is poured into the pipe. It is clogged with wooden stakes. The action is slow, but the result is good.

Even special aluminum pipes can be bent by hand tools. In the bending point, you must install a tight spring, tie it with a wire. Inside, sand or water is also poured (if this is a winter period, and the work is carried out in the cold).

These are simple enough, but effective methods.

Welding of thin-walled pipes

The best way to connect metal structures is welding. It should be carried out in accordance with GOST 10704-91 with the help of gas or electric arc. Aluminum thin-walled pipe is connected in this way only by experienced specialists. If the diameter of the product is more than 40 mm, welding is carried out in stages. The first layer should be stepped, and the second one - continuous.

Initially, the dots are soldered through one, and then they connect the missed places. After the first stage, the product is inspected for defects. When they are identified, errors are eliminated immediately.

Welding on subsequent layers is slow. In this case, the pipe should be turned.

The final result should have a smooth smooth seam, smoothly turning into metal. The junction in this case is stronger than even the material itself. Therefore, the reliability and durability of the connection by welding are guaranteed.

Understanding the principle of production, as well as the characteristics and features of this type of communication, such as an aluminum pipe, thin-walled, you can correctly apply the product in the repair of a small room and industrial complexes. Understanding the rules of installation and handling of the presented product, it is permissible to assemble the construction at home even without the help of special equipment.