The corrosive nature of water and saltwater dictates the use of special materials for shipbuilding, off-shore drilling platforms, and more. Due to its many beneficial properties, marine-grade aluminum is eminently suitable for building seafaring vessels and structures, as well as the machinery and components used within them.

What is Marine-Grade Aluminum?
Even though pure aluminum has a high natural resistance to corrosion compared to many other metals, the constant exposure to water and moisture in marine applications warrants additional protection. When alloyed with other metals like magnesium, aluminum develops an even higher level of corrosion resistance that can tolerate constant contact with water and saltwater. These specially treated aluminum alloys are known as marine-grade aluminum.

What are the Benefits of Using Aluminum in Marine Applications?
Marine-grade aluminum is specifically developed to make it ideal for use in marine environments. As such, it possesses a number of properties required in these applications. Some of these properties include:

Superior corrosion resistance
Lightweight with a high strength-to-weight ratio
Compatibility with a variety of fabrication processes
Wide availability in sheets, extrusions, and plates
Properties of Aluminum for Marine Applications
There are many grades of marine aluminum, each differing slightly in its properties due to the alloy materials that are included.