Sheet Metal Material Selection Sheet metal material selection process is a crucial part of product design. It affects part design, cost, manufacturing process and part performance. In this article we will discuss sheet metal materials their advantages and limitations. Sheet metal material selection process can be divided into two parts. 1. Selection of Sheet Thickness 2. Type of Material
Following Factors affect the selection of sheet thickness and type of material.
Required Product Strength
Weight Constraints
Cost Constraints
Required Corrosion Resistance
Assembly Process
Material Availability
Sheet Thickness Sheet metal materials are available in standard sheet thickness. Enclosure sheet thickness depends on product size, weight and loads acting on it. Structural simulation is performed to calculate required sheet thickness.
Sheet Metal Material Various sheet metal material grades are available in the market. Sheets are manufactured using hot rolling or cold rolling operation. Type of rolling operation also affect sheet metal properties Material selection is done based
on product requirements. This article covers commonly used sheetmetal materials.
CRCA (Cold Rolled Close Annealed Steel) CRCA is cheapest available sheetmetal material. It is highly prone to corrosion. After annealing oil is applied on CRCA sheet to improve corrosion resistance for short duration (2 to 3 weeks).
Superior Surface Quality
Good Strength
Excellent Weld-ability and Dimensional accuracy
Low Cost
Deep Drawn and Extra deep drawn grades are also available
Limitations Of CRCA Material
Highly prone to corrosion
Final finish cost is high
High weight
Galvanized Iron (GI) Steel GI sheets are Zinc coated CRCA sheets. Zn coating improves the corrosion resistance. GI sheets are available in ordinary (O), drawing (D), deep drawing (DD), extra deep drawing (EDD) grades. Advantages Of Galvanized Iron Sheets
Superior Surface Quality
Good Strength
Excellent Dimensional accuracy
Deep Drawn and Extra deep drawn grades are also available
Better corrosion resistance compared to CRCA sheets.
Limitations of GI Sheets
Not recommended if welding is used as assembly operation.
High Weight
Higher cost compared to CRCA sheets
Aluzinc Steel Aluzinc is Aluminium and Zinc coated steel sheets. AlZn coating improves corrosion resistance. Its micro-structure consists of approx. 80 % aluminium and 20 % zinc‐rich phase with a thin inter-metallic layer. Aluminum in aluzinc coating provides additional aluminium barrier. Whereas zinc‐provides sacrificial protection against corrosion at cut edges. Advantages of Aluzinc Steel Sheets
High Corrosion resistance and Strength
Superior Surface Quality and Excellent Dimensional accuracy
Deep Drawn and Extra deep drawn grades are also available
Limitations of GI Sheets
Welding is not recommended on Aluzinc sheets
High Weight
Higher cost compared to CRCA and GI sheets
Aluminium Aluminium is second most widely used metal in the world. It is available in various grades. Commonly used Aluminium grades is sheet metal industry.
5052-H32 : Good Formability, commonly used sheet grade
Stainless Steel Sheets (SS) SS is a corrosion resistant alloy steel containing more than 10.5% chromium. Stainless steel offers good corrosion resistance due to naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide film formed on the surface of the steel. Commonly used stainless steel grades in sheet metal industry:
SS-304
SS-304-L
SS-304-H
SS-316
Advantages Of Stainless Steel
Excellent corrosion resistance
Ease of fabrication
Food grades are available
Good Weldability Limitations of stainless Steel Sheets
High Cost
Limited finish options are available
Summery Properties
CRCA
GI
Aluzinc
Aluminium
Stainless Steel
Strength
Good
Good
Good
Low
Very Good
Weight
High
High
High
Low
High
Corrosion Resistance
Low
Low
Good
High
Very High
Weldability
Very Good
NR*
NR*
Good
Very Good
Cost
$
$
$$
$$
$$$
Note : NR* = Not Recommended : Welding on pre coated sheets will remove coationg on welded area. That results in reduction in corrosion resistance.
Visit https://www.centurysteelkuwait.com for other products like SS Round Tubes suppliers in Kuwait, Stainless Steel Sheet & Plates suppliers in Kuwait , Stainless Steel Square Tubes suppliers in kuwait, Stainless Steel Fittings suppliers in Kuwait, Aluminium Sheets suppliers in Kuwait, SS Round Tubes wholesaler in kuwait, Stainless Steel Sheet & Plates wholesaler in Kuwait ,Stainless Steel Square Tubes wholesaler in kuwait, Stainless Steel Fittings wholesaler in Kuwait, Aluminium Sheets wholesaler in Kuwait.
Sheet Metal Material Selection
Sheet Metal Material Selection Sheet metal material selection process is a crucial part of product design. It affects part design, cost, manufacturing...
