Corrosion resistance
FERAN exhibits very good corrosion resistance, since the Aluminum layers offers cathodic protection to the Steel. This reduces or slows corrosion particularly at the slit edges of the strip.
The protective properties of the strip surface are particularly evident during a salt spray corrosion test: for example an aluminium layer of 50µm can withstand such a test for a duration of at least 400 hours. In fact rust only becomes apparent during this test after a period of over 1000 hours. Furthermore, elevated temperatures of up to 600°C have no impact on either FERAN’s appearance or its resistance to moisture corrosion. Discolouration or scale build-up does not occur.
Scale resistance
FERAN can be easily alitized: by heating FERAN (or a product made of FERAN) to a temperature in excess of 600°C the material develops a dark grey surface, which then provides excellent resistance to scale build-up in temperatures as high as 850°C. This behaviour is a result of the so-called inter-metallic bond between the clad Aluminum and Steel layers. This feature opens up a number of additional applications for the material.
Decorative appearance: matt or as rolled
FERAN is available with different surface finishes and provides a decorative appearance for a wide range of applications. The surface can be specially prepared for painting, coating or enamelling. The same procedures would be followed as for the treatment of regular Aluminum.
FERAN – the aluminum-steel cladding with a multitude of applications
Wickeder Westfalenstahl has been producing aluminum-clad steel strip for over 90 years. As far back as 1920, a patent was issued for cladding iron strip with aluminium – this is the predecessor of FERAN, a steel strip which is clad on either one or both sides with aluminium. This metal cladding combines the excellent formability and strength of steel with the physical and decorative properties of aluminium.
Today FERAN is used in multi-layer metal gaskets, heat shields, engine mountings, tube and hose clamps, quick-release connectors, power station cooling tubes, as well as in the lighting and household appliance industry (reflective panels in microwave ovens) and in heating apparatus (reflective panels for gas heaters).
Summary of advantages
› high strength and good formability, as well as low thermal expansion due to the steel
› good corrosion resistance in various media
› good resistance to oxidation and scaling
› high thermal and electrical conductivity
› excellent capacity to reflect heat
› thicker and pore-free Al layers when compared to immersion or electro-plating
› the strength of FERAN is several times greater than the equivalent gauge Aluminum sheet. This means that FERAN strip can be much thinner
› FERAN with 5% Al layers on either side is approximately 10% lighter than the equivalent gauge steel
› FERAN can be welded
Contact us for more details
Hans-Jürgen Gauger
Phone: +49 2377 917–764
Fax: +49 2377 917–768
hans-juergen.gauger@wickeder.de
Aluminum with Steel: the perfect combination of properties
How is FERAN manufactured?
After necessary preparation, the layers of Aluminum and Steel strip are fed together into the mill for cladding and cold-rolling.
The enormous pressure involved results in a firm bond between the materials. Subsequent heat treatment further strengthens this to an unbreakable bond between the layers. Cold rolling reduction to the finished thickness then adds cold working strength to the bonded strip. The principal advantage over electro-plating is the thicker and denser outer layer.
Since no new alloy is formed, FERAN responds to further processing as a homogenous material. This means that additional cold working (such as folding, crimping, trimming, stamping, profiling, pressing, stretching and deep drawing) will have no negative impact on the corrosion and scale resistance of the material.
