Duralumin vs. Aluminium — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 7, 2024
Duralumin is an aluminum alloy known for its strength and hardness, whereas aluminum is a soft, ductile, and highly conductive element.
Difference Between Duralumin and Aluminium
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Duralumin, a notable aluminum alloy, incorporates copper, magnesium, and manganese, enhancing its strength and hardness significantly compared to pure aluminum. On the other hand, aluminum is a lightweight, silver-white metal, prized for its corrosion resistance, ductility, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity.
While duralumin is extensively used in aerospace, automotive industries, and other applications requiring strong, lightweight materials, aluminum serves a broader range of uses including packaging, construction, and electrical applications due to its excellent conductivity and non-toxicity.
The manufacturing process of duralumin involves heat treatment that increases its strength, but this treatment can make it less malleable and more difficult to work with than aluminum. Whereas, aluminum can be easily formed, welded, and machined, making it highly versatile for various industrial applications.
Duralumin's enhanced properties come at the cost of decreased electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion compared to pure aluminum. Aluminum, while softer and less strong than duralumin, maintains its superior conductivity and natural corrosion resistance, making it ideal for electrical and outdoor applications.
In terms of cost, the complex production and alloying process makes duralumin generally more expensive than aluminum, which is widely available and easier to extract and process. This cost difference influences the choice between the two materials based on the specific requirements of an application.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Aluminum alloy with copper, magnesium, manganese
Pure element
Properties
High strength, less malleable
Soft, ductile, highly conductive
Uses
Aerospace, automotive industries
Packaging, construction, electrical
Manufacturing
Requires heat treatment
Easily formed, welded, machined
Conductivity
Lower than aluminum
Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
Cost
Generally more expensive
Relatively cheaper, widely available
Compare with Definitions
Duralumin
Aluminum Alloy.
Duralumin is an alloy made primarily from aluminum with the addition of other metals for strength.
Aluminium
Versatile Industrial Uses.
Due to its properties, aluminum is used in a wide range of products from packaging to buildings.
Duralumin
High Strength.
Duralumin's strength makes it ideal for structural components in aircraft and automobiles.
Aluminium
Elemental Metal.
Aluminum is a soft, ductile metal with a silver-white appearance.
Duralumin
Heat Treatment.
The strength of duralumin is enhanced through a heat treatment process.
Aluminium
Corrosion Resistance.
Aluminum naturally forms a protective oxide layer, making it resistant to corrosion.
Duralumin
Less Malleable.
Compared to pure aluminum, duralumin is harder and less easy to shape.
Aluminium
Electrical and Thermal Conductivity.
Aluminum's high conductivity makes it ideal for electrical wiring and components.
Duralumin
Used in Demanding Applications.
Duralumin's durability and light weight make it suitable for high-performance applications.
Aluminium
Widely Available and Economical.
Aluminum is abundant and easier to process, making it a cost-effective material choice.
Duralumin
Duralumin (also called duraluminum, duraluminium, duralum, dural(l)ium, or dural) is a trade name for one of the earliest types of age-hardenable aluminium alloys. The term is a combination of Dürener and aluminium.
Aluminium
Variant of aluminum.
Duralumin
An alloy of aluminum that contains copper, manganese, magnesium, iron, and silicon and is resistant to corrosion by acids and seawater.
Aluminium
A light, silvery metal extracted from bauxite, and a chemical element (symbol Al) with an atomic number of 13.
Duralumin
(metallurgy) An alloy of over 90% aluminium, 4% copper and traces of manganese, magnesium, iron and silicon, widely used in the aircraft industry.
Aluminium
(countable) A single atom of this element.
Duralumin
An aluminum-based alloy which is both light and strong, containing 4 per cent of copper and 0.5 per cent of magnesium and smaller amounts of iron, manganese, and silicon. It hardens with aging at room temperature.
Aluminium
(slang) Aircraft or other machinery made partially or wholly of aluminium.
Duralumin
An aluminum-based alloy
Aluminium
Same as aluminum, chiefly British in usage.
Aluminium
A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
Common Curiosities
Is aluminum resistant to corrosion?
Yes, aluminum naturally forms a protective oxide layer that resists corrosion.
What is duralumin?
Duralumin is an aluminum alloy known for its enhanced strength and hardness.
Can duralumin be used in electrical applications?
Due to its lower conductivity, duralumin is less suited for electrical applications compared to pure aluminum.
How does the cost of duralumin compare to aluminum?
Duralumin tends to be more expensive due to its complex alloying and manufacturing process.
Can duralumin be recycled like aluminum?
Yes, duralumin can be recycled, but the process might be more complex due to its mixed alloy composition.
How does aluminum differ from duralumin in terms of electrical conductivity?
Aluminum has excellent electrical conductivity, whereas duralumin has lower conductivity due to its alloy composition.
Why is duralumin preferred in the aerospace industry?
Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes duralumin ideal for aerospace applications where weight is a critical factor.
What makes duralumin harder than aluminum?
The addition of metals like copper and magnesium increases duralumin's hardness and strength.
Are there specific applications where aluminum is preferred over duralumin?
Aluminum is preferred in electrical, packaging, and applications requiring excellent corrosion resistance.
Why is aluminum widely used in construction?
Its strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance make aluminum ideal for construction applications.
Is aluminum easy to work with?
Yes, aluminum's softness and ductility make it easy to form, weld, and machine.
How do the properties of duralumin and aluminum influence their use in automotive manufacturing?
Duralumin is used for parts where strength is crucial, whereas aluminum is chosen for its light weight and corrosion resistance in automotive bodies.
How does heat treatment affect duralumin?
Heat treatment significantly increases duralumin's strength but can reduce its malleability.
What are the environmental impacts of mining aluminum?
Aluminum mining can have significant environmental impacts, but recycling aluminum substantially reduces its environmental footprint.
What role does magnesium play in duralumin?
Magnesium enhances the strength and hardness of duralumin through the alloying process.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
