Alternately, you might already have a product that is made of aluminum and simply be curious about the electrical properties of this common metal. The electrical properties of a material might be an essential design consideration for your project, depending on the specific application you're working on.

Is aluminum die casting parts a good conductor for electrical current?

In its most basic form, electricity can be described as the physical phenomenon that occurs when electric charge moves through a conductor. The movement of electrons from one atom to another, which results in a chain reaction that we refer to as an electric current, is what this refers to from the perspective of the subatomic world.

Good conductors of electricity are materials that have atoms that make it simple for electrons to move through them, whereas poor conductors of electricity are materials that make it difficult for electrons to move through them. Insulators are another type of material that can be identified by the fact that the atoms within it do not permit the free flow of electrons.

In terms of the electrical conductivity of known metals, Aluminum die castings comes in at position four overall. The first and third spots on this list are occupied by the precious metals silver and gold, respectively, both of which are far too costly to be considered for the majority of regular applications. Because of this, we are able to assert that aluminum holds the position of being the second most conductive material that is currently available, only behind copper.

According to the information provided in our article titled "Aluminum Grades," there are numerous distinct aluminum alloy die casting alloys, which are categorized as grades or series, and each of these alloys will have a distinct level of electrical conductivity. When it comes to electrical conductivity, Aluminum alloy die casting alloys with a series number in the 1XXX, 6XXX, or 8XXX range perform the best overall.


In what kinds of applications does aluminum die casting parts serve as a conductor of electricity?

When most people think of materials that can conduct electricity, copper is probably the first material that comes to mind. Copper being an excellent material choice for a wide variety of uses makes this response completely understandable. However, aluminum has also been utilized for a significant amount of time in the power industry.

Since the end of the Second World War, the use of aluminum as a conductor in the infrastructure of utility grids has increased significantly. Aluminum has significant advantages when it comes to weight and cost, despite the fact that copper has a better conductivity per volume. A conductor made of aluminum weighs approximately one-half as much as its equivalent made of copper. Aluminum is the material of choice for electrical transmission and distribution conductors due to the advantages listed above.

Aluminum's superiority to copper in terms of its conductivity-to-weight ratio has, in recent years, led to an increase in the use of aluminum alloy die casting as an alternative to copper in the electrical wiring of homes, aircraft, buildings, and appliances.

Aluminum is the material of choice for manufacturing electric busbars these days, which are necessary for the process of distributing electrical power to various circuits contained within a structure. This is a common practice in situations in which the size of the component is not a concern; however, the weight or cost of the copper may be.

Does the Finishing of Aluminum Have an Effect on Electrical Conductivity?

When it comes to the electrical conductivity properties of aluminum, the surface finish that a product made of aluminum has can have a significant impact on how the metal behaves. In order to comprehend this, we need to take into consideration the natural oxide layer that develops on the surface of the aluminum.

Because of this oxide layer, aluminum has excellent resistance to corrosion, which is a quality that is frequently sought after. However, the layer of aluminum die castings oxide is an insulator and does not allow the flow of electricity through it. Take into consideration the fact that the oxide layer on an aluminum product's surface becomes significantly more robust after receiving an anodizing surface treatment. An additional effect of anodizing is that it creates an electrical barrier between the surface metal and the underlying metal.

Powder coating is another type of surface finish that is commonly used for aluminum casting factory products. The electrical conductivity of the aluminum alloy die casting product is altered as a side effect of this process, which also imparts on the surface of the product a layer that is protective and decorative. The final product will not become insulated because it will still have some degree of conductivity, but it will not be as conductive as bare aluminum casting factory because the degree of conductivity will be reduced.

You can read our article titled "Anodizing vs. Powder Coating" if you are interested in learning more about the differences and similarities between these two processes used to finish die casting aluminum surfaces.

The final word

In general, aluminum is a great option for products that need superior electrical conductors; in fact, it is replacing copper in many applications because it is a better conductor of electricity than copper. Because of its low cost and exceptional conductivity-to-weight ratio, it is quickly becoming the material of choice for an ever-expanding range of applications in which effective electrical conduction is essential.