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Aluminium Adv and Disadv in Shipbuilding

Aluminum alloys are commonly used in shipbuilding due to their light weight, strength, and corrosion resistance compared to steel. Some key advantages of aluminum include it being over half the density of steel, allowing for increased cargo capacity or speed. Aluminum also has high strength-to-weight ratio and better durability at low temperatures. However, aluminum has a lower melting point than steel and requires special welding and insulation processes. It must also be insulated from steel to prevent galvanic corrosion.

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Ankit Maurya
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811 views8 pages

Aluminium Adv and Disadv in Shipbuilding

Aluminum alloys are commonly used in shipbuilding due to their light weight, strength, and corrosion resistance compared to steel. Some key advantages of aluminum include it being over half the density of steel, allowing for increased cargo capacity or speed. Aluminum also has high strength-to-weight ratio and better durability at low temperatures. However, aluminum has a lower melting point than steel and requires special welding and insulation processes. It must also be insulated from steel to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Uploaded by

Ankit Maurya
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Aluminium alloys are tested & graded by classification society surveyors in the same

manner as mild steel.


Advantages:
1)Light weight. Its density is 2.72 t/cum as compared to7.84 t/cum for Steel. Saving
in deadweight, leading to more cargo carrying capability. A lot of vessels now have
their superstructures made of aluminium. This has lead to lowering of centre of
gravity. Therefore improved stability

2)Lower hull weight requires less power for propulsion or more speed for the same
power. Many fast ferries,hovercrafts & catamarans have their entire hull built
of aluminium alloy.

3) Aluminium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal.


Stregth wise comparable to steel. Also it is comparatively more durable at lower
temperatures than steel. Steel becomes brittle at low temperatures, forming cracks
which rapidly propagate. Aluminium does not have this disadvantage, which makes it
useful as a tank material on LPG and LNG carriers.

4) Aluminium has high corrosion resistant properties. Aluminum oxidizes


quickly, and the resulting surface coat of aluminum oxide resists further
corrosion, by air, water, and chemicals. This protective coating is clear, colorless,
and non-staining.

5)Aluminium is non magnetic. Non existence of induced magnetism benefits the


ship’s compass & other such equipment.This quality is particularly useful in warships
making them immune to magnetic mines.

6) Aluminum is 100% recyclable without losing any of its natural characteristics.


7)Aluminum can be easily colored by anodization, and holds paint extremely
well. Aluminum can be finished in various ways.

Disadvantages :

1. Aluminum requires special processes to be welded.


2. It is abrasive to tooling, or more accurately, the aluminum oxide coating
that forms upon it is.
3. It is more expensive than steel.
4. Aluminium has
low melting
point (659
5. 0
6. C) as compared
to
7. steel(1500
8. 0
9. C). In normal
conditions this
temperature is
10. sufficiently
high. However
in case of fire
the aluminium
11. structure
could melt &
collapse.
Therefore fire
protection
12. regulations
are more
stringent in these
vessels.
Aluminium
13. bulkheads on
passenger
vessels are to be
insulated to a
fire
14. resistant
standard
equivalent to
steel bulkheads.
Machinery
15. casings must
be made of steel
& lifeboat davits
should not
16. be made of
aluminium alloy
components.
4. Aluminium has low melting point (659 0C) as compared to steel(1500 0C). In
normal conditions this temperature is sufficiently high. However in case of fire
the aluminium structure could melt & collapse. Therefore fire protection
regulations are more stringent in these vessels. Aluminium bulkheads on
passenger vessels are to be insulated to a fire resistant standard equivalent to
steel bulkheads. Machinery casings must be made of steel & lifeboat davits
should not be made of aluminium alloy components.

Aluminium has to
be insulated from
steel to prevent a
galvanic cell
being set up and
bimetallic
corrosion taking
place. If not, it
will act as an
anode and get
wasted away in
the galvanic
reaction,
protecting the
steel.
5. Aluminium has to be insulated from steel to prevent a galvanic cell being set
up and bimetallic corrosion taking place. If not, it will act as an anode and get
wasted away in the galvanic reaction, protecting the steel.

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