What is an alloy?

What is an alloy?
An alloy is simply a mixture of metals melted together to form a new metal with characteristics distinct from those metals from which it is made.

What is an Aluminum Alloy?
An Aluminum alloy is an alloy primarily of pure aluminum, mixed with different alloying elements that give rise to an entire range of materials, each of which is designed to maximize a particular characteristic such as strength, ductility, formability, machinability, or electrical conductivity.

Do the different alloys have a different color or aspect?
No, they are aesthetically interchageable.

Is it necessary to specify the alloy?
Only if there is some physical characteristic of the alloy that will have some bearing on the success of the project (such as corrosion resistence) is it necessary to specify the actual alloy. Generally, the fabricator will purchase the material on the basis of shape or form, and it will arrive with the most commonly available and least expensive alloy present locally.
If there is any question of the integrity of the material in any way, the designs must be approved by an engineer, but you will be able to accept substitutions of alloys with confidence that the resulting product will be aesthetically acceptable.

What is Temper? This is the quality of metal that describes it’s ability to spring back after it is flexed - in effect, the stiffness. It doesn’t have anything to do with how hard the metal is. Soft temper means that when it is bent, it stays bent, and it doesn’t take much force to do it. Hard temper means that when it is bent, it springs back flat, and it takes a lot of force to put a kink into it. There are several degrees of temper; Soft, 1/4 Hard, 1/2 Hard, 3/4 Hard, and Hard. All metals are subject to temper, and it is a quality of the product that is imparted at the mill. It has no impact on hardness, color, machinability or weldability. However, bending (kinking) and heating to a high temperature can remove the temper and soften the metal at that point. This is called annealing.

Sterling Fence Inc. handles Jerith Aluminum Ornamenal fence of which most models are made of an hs35 alloy which adds strength in both the posts and pickets.

Jerith Aluminum Ornamental Fence, strength

Sterling Fence Inc. sells Jerith aluminum ornamental fence, Is it strong? Yes. The Jerith product with its HS 35 alloy aluminum has a greater bending strength than many of the steel products available. And it has the toughest powder coating that we have ever seen. Sterling Fence Inc. has used the Jerith product for 35 years and has seen how it holds up. This is why we use it.