Material Comparison
Chart compares aluminum to roll-formed steel and copper extrusions, as well as molded plastic, wood, and vinyl; Competitive Materials Spotlight publication.

Alloys
International alloy designations; Alloys Spotlight publication.

Extrusion Process
Process overview, billet, dies/tooling, extrusion operation, aging, packaging, environmental characteristics, complete with diagrams and photos.

Designing
Extrusion Design and Performance Reliance Guide; design concerns and alternatives; Design Spotlight publication.

Dies & Tooling
Die and tooling descriptions, specifications, and characteristics.

Tolerance
Specific standards and recommendations.

Finishes
Liquid paints (coating specifications comparison chart), powder coatings, anodizing, mechanical finishes, and chemical finishes; Anodizing Spotlight and Coatings Spotlight publications.

Resources
Additional resources can be found in:
•  Publications
•  Links of Interest
•  Business Information
•  Glossary
•  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
•  Technical Question & Answer*

*This service is intended to aid designers, specifiers, purchasers, and other end-users of extruded profiles. Questions are submitted to Greg Lea, a consultant to the extrusion industry in the areas of alloy selection, process improvement, troubleshooting, and standards development. Greg has been in the aluminum extrusion business for more than 15 years with extensive experience in process optimization. He has co-authored five ET papers of which one won Best Paper Award at ET '08, and he is actively involved in ASTM B07 and AEC Technical Services committees, as well as the ET Foundation.