The precision profiles of Mifa are available in various metal alloys. After all, the best possible end product starts with the right choice of material. Mifa specialises in custom aluminium extrusion profiles. However, know that Mifa can also use magnesium extrusion for the creation of metal profiles, depending on the purpose of the product.
We have the expertise and experience needed to select the right aluminium extrusion alloy for each product. For example, we supply our alloy extrusion profiles to companies in the industrial, automotive and suspension sectors, where special aluminium alloys are often selected for their high material strength and wear resistance.The formability of an alloy is often another guiding factor in choosing the right material for the aluminium profiles that will be produced.
Addtionally, Mifa has aerospace aluminium alloys that are especially interesting for aircraft, including the 6061, 6082, and 7075 alloy.
Aluminium extrusion profiles
Mifa supplies aluminium extrusion profiles in the most complex shapes. Our precision and freedom of form mean that designers can disregard virtually all restrictions and standards. Extrusion not only gives you freedom of form, it is also a very economical production technology. The reason for this, is that the costs of an extrusion mould are relatively low.
If required, Mifa can provide support in the design process and in choosing the right aluminium alloys. For more information on precision extrusion, download our free whitepaper here:
Advice on the right choice of material
For engineers, it is important to consider the properties of different types of alloys. Think of heat resistance, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, ductility and weldability. It is important to keep the application of the aluminium extrusion alloy in mind. This is because some alloys are more resistant to conditions such as extreme temperatures, while other alloys are more suitable against humidity or chemicals.
To determine which type is approprate for the application at hand, engineers should carry out several tests to find out which alloy is most suitable. Mechanical properties such as strength, hardness, ductility and corrosion resistance can be determined through testing.
Our engineers are always pleased to advise you on the best option for your product. We combine our expertise in extrusion and metal compositions with our customers’ product expertise to create the best possible product. That's how we've been successfully co-engineering with our customers for many years.
Take the aluminium door frame of the cockpit in an Airbus A350, for example. It is made of alloy 7020, which makes it not only very strong, but it also forms a nicely finished surface. For the Max-Planck Institute, we made a product that is used at CERN. The product is made of a 6060 alloy and has a wall thickness of 0.4 mm and a dimensional tolerance of just ±0.02 mm.
Help with choosing aluminium extrusion alloys
In order to get the best end result, the selection of the aluminium or magnesium alloy is of great importance. With more than 530 registered aluminium alloys, the choice can be overwhelming. We at Mifa offer a large proportion of these alloys and know what the best choice is for the task at hand.
That means that we have the expertise and experience needed to select the right composite for each product. Mifa extrudes the following aluminium and magnesium alloys as standard. Other alloys are available on request.
Aluminium alloys
| Alloy number | Specification |
| 6xxx family | Aluminium-magnesium-silicon profiles. This family is the most versatile alloy of today. All variants lend themselves well to heat treatment, forming, welding, and also feature outstanding resistance to corrosion. They are also fairly strong. |
| EN AW 6060 (Al MgSi) |
One of the most popular aluminium composites where strength is not a key issue. The 6060 is easily formable, has a very good surface, is suitable for most surface treatments, and can even be welded. The 6060 alloy can in fact be used for anything, but is commonly used when the product is used in view. Examples include interior components in aircraft, industrial applications, etc.
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| EN AW 6063 (Al Mg0.7Si) |
Almost identical to the 6060 alloy described above, but with its higher magnesium content the 6063 has better mechanical properties.
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| EN AW 6005A (Al SiMg(A)) |
Compared to the aluminium alloys set out above, the 6005A offers excellent mechanical properties, but performs less well regarding the surface condition.
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| EN AW 6061 (Al Mg1SiCu) |
The 6061 is an alloy commonly used in the United States. It has very good mechanical properties, but lacks the same surface properties and is more difficult to extrude than the other 6xxx variants. Slightly stronger than many other 6xxx variants (strength is between 6005 and 6082).
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| EN AW 6082 (Al SiMgMn) |
Very good mechanical properties and stronger than other variants of the 6xxx series. Harder to extrude, which means it cannot be used for complex profiles.
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| EN AW 6463 | Similar to the 6063, but offers the possibility of a very nice surface with reflecting properties. Also highly extrudable.
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| 7xxxx family | This family is mainly used in the aviation industry and features zinc as the primary alloying agent. The 7xxx is also supplemented with smaller amounts of magnesium and copper, making it easy to extrude and very strong. |
| EN AW 7020 (Al Zn4,5Mg1) |
Its strength makes it widely used in the aerospace industry. The 7020 stands out for its strength after welding, which returns to 80%. The aluminium restores itself, as it were. No other aluminium alloy has this quality. This makes it a particularly reliable choice for welded parts that need to retain their strength. Examples include structural parts and building constructions, but certainly also structural aerospace components. Mifa previously developed a part for a zeppelin with this alloy. After about three months of 'recovery', the part has recovered the desired 80% strength.
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| EN AW 7022 | Very strong aluminium composite, although the 7075 is even stronger. The material strength means that it is not possible to make hollow profiles with this alloy.
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| EN AW 7075 (Al Zn5,5MgCu) |
Its strength makes it widely used in the aerospace industry. Excellent mechanical properties and good resistance to metal fatigue. This is one of the most widely used aluminium alloys for heavy load-bearing structures. The material strength means that it is not possible to make hollow profiles with this alloy.
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| 1xxx family | The purist commercially available aluminium alloy with a purity of + 99%. This makes it highly resistant to corrosion, but it is best known for its electrical conductivity. |
| EN AW 1070 | The only variant that Mifa carries as standard from this series is the 1070. Because of its electrical conductivity, it is almost invariably chosen for many electronic applications.
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| 3xxx family | With the addition of manganese as the main alloying component, this alloy becomes a lot stronger than the 1xxx series but remains highly formable. |
| EN AW 3003 (Al Mn1Cu) |
One of the purest commercially available aluminium alloys. The main alloy component is manganese, which makes the 3003 alloy about 20% stronger than the 1xxx series. This alloy is mainly used in the automotive industry for building coolers.
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Magnesium alloys
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Alloy number |
Specification |
| AZ 31 | The extreme lightness of magnesium, combined with its high strength, makes it a very attractive aluminium alloy variant. Extruding magnesium remained problematic for a long time, but in the last two decades and more specifically the last few years there has been a striking development that makes magnesium a fully-fledged extrusion product. AZ31 contains a small proportion of aluminium, which gives it better mechanical properties and makes it more resistant to corrosion.
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| AZ 61 | The AZ61 alloy has similar properties to the AZ31, but the addition of a higher aluminium content provides increased corrosion resistance and greater material strength. The material strength means that it is not possible to make hollow profiles with this alloy.
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Would you like to learn more about the different alloys offered by Mifa? Download our free whitepaper here.
Surface treatment for each metal composite
An extruded aluminium profile is generally given a surface treatment, e.g. to improve the corrosion resistance or to improve or eliminate other product characteristics. The right treatment is often vital to the application.
Mifa Surface Treatment is a specialist in surface treatments. With all the facilities under one roof, Mifa is extremely well equipped for the entire process: from the choice of alloy to prototyping, and from production to post-processing (CNC milling, surface treatment, etc.).
A common problem for fabricators and designers, is that due to the large range of surface treatments available, they do not know which treatment is most suitable for their aluminium alloy. At Mifa, we believe it is our job to proactively help engineers and designers make the right choice for their extruded aluminium alloys.
Engineers and designers often don't know which treatment offers the best combination of desired properties (such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, or shine) at the lowest cost in a specific situation. Our specialists are happy to assist you with this. At Mifa, we offer three types of surface treatments for our alloy extrusion profiles, including anodizing, passivating, and applying polymer layers.
Anodizing
Aluminum profiles can be optimized through anodization. Anodization is an electrochemical process that transforms aluminum into aluminum oxide (Al2O3) under controlled conditions. At Mifa, we apply various anodization techniques to aluminum profiles, with different coatings being available:
- GLISSCOAT®;
- HART-COAT®;
- Coating based on technical anodization.
Passivation
Corrosion can be prevented by passivating the workpiece surface. The created conversion layer also serves as an ideal base for various types of paint. This layer has stable resistance and is electrically conductive. Benefits can be listed as follows:
- Increased resistance to corrosion;
- Suitable as a base for (wet) coatings;
- Stable electrical conductivity due to consistent resistance.
Ask our specialists which surface treatment is most suitable for the aluminium alloy of your profile(s).
Applying polymer layers
We can apply various types of polymer coatings to our aluminium extrusion alloys. The options we offer are TUFRAM®, LECTROFLUOR®, and NEDOX®. Each polymer coating has its own benefits. For instance, TUFRAM® coatings protect aluminum components from wear, corrosion, and the adhesion of materials. LECTROFLUOR® coatings provide excellent resistance to chemical and corrosive effects.
For more information about our surface treatments, as well as details on the most appropriate surface treatment for a specific aluminum alloy, please contact Mifa Surface Treatment. Our experts are happy to assist you.
Would you like to know more?
If you are not sure which aluminium extrusion alloys are best for your product or profile, or if you would like to consult one of our engineers (entirely free of obligation), then feel free to fill in the contact form. We will reach out to you as soon as possible.
