Understanding the Different Types of Sheet Metal Materials

Sheet metal helps create numerous commercial and industrial products for construction, vehicles, appliances, architecture, and more. Learning about the different types of sheet metal allows you to make a more informed decision about which ones you may need. Some of the most common types of sheet metal include copper, galvanized steel, stainless steel, hot-rolled steel, and aluminum, but there are others.

Copper Sheet Metal

Copper makes the perfect choice for wiring and electrical needs because of its good conductive properties. Copper also serves as an aesthetic preference, so commercial and industrial businesses use it to create sinks, gutters, electronics, plumbing products, and vehicle parts. 

Copper sheets also offer a fantastic benefit because they don’t have enough iron in them to rust. Copper is easy to manipulate and becomes stronger when you add other elements to it. Copper sheets come in a variety of thicknesses and can take on different hues.

Galvanized Steel vs. Stainless Steel

While galvanized and stainless steel both come in metal sheets and have some similar uses, they differ in some ways. Galvanized steel works great for vehicles, construction, and electronics, while you’ll find stainless steel in appliances and many commercial kitchens. Continue reading to learn what you should know about these two materials:

• Galvanized Steel: Its two subtypes include hot-dipped, metallic-coated sheets and electro-galvanized sheets. Galvanized steel is often easier to manipulate than stainless, but stainless works better for structural needs.
• Stainless Steel: It has some elasticity and anti-corrosion abilities. Some subtypes of stainless steel include martensitic, austenitic, and ferritic. It resists temperature, lasts a long time, and looks attractive. 

Other steel classifications include hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel. The high heat allows commercial and industrial clients to have flexible options for its uses. Cold-rolled steel typically results in a stronger product and makes an ideal option for commercial building and storage construction.

Aluminum Sheet Metal

Aluminum remains one of the most common types of sheet metal because it is lightweight yet strong. It also resists corrosion, and you can recycle it after the end of each use. Uses for aluminum metal sheets include commercial cookware products, appliances, and electronics.

Food and beverage manufacturers use aluminum for packaging their products, while vehicle manufacturers utilize it to create car, van, and truck bodies. Aluminum makes a car weigh less and is essential for various car parts. You can also find aluminum in gutters, roofing systems, and siding.

Adding alloys to aluminum increases its tensile strength. Aluminum ranges from 40 to 690+ MPa, and aluminum sheet metal often costs less than stainless steel options. It also has malleable and conductive properties, making it popular for countless industrial and commercial needs.

Commercial Sheet Metal Design and Fabrication Services in Amarillo, TX

Allen’s Tri-State Mechanical works with many types of sheet metal and offers excellent sheet metal products for commercial and industrial jobs. Contact us today for more information. You can call us at (806) 376-8345 to learn more about our precision sheet metal fabrication services.