Why is “Seamless” better than “Structural” extruded aluminum for firefighting applications?
Although they may look the same, structural and seamless tube are two distinctly different products. The two products are extruded by two different techniques. “Seamless” is extruded from a hollow billet by the die and mandrel process or from a solid billet on a piercer press. In either case, the wall of the extruded tube never separates as the shape is extruded. This results in a uniform structure with predictable strength throughout. Structural tubing, on the other hand, is produced by a bridge die or port hole die. The mandrel that makes the inside diameter of the tube is supported by webs. As the metal passes through the die it is separated by the webs. As the metal exits the die a mechanical bond, or weld, is created. The grain structure is often different where the weld seams are located. The weld seams run down the entire length of the tube. The seams can often be seen after anodizing. The seams take on a different color than the surrounding metal. When viewed on end, the seams
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