Gain a practical understanding of aluminium metallurgy and surface behaviour to solve quality and processing challenges with confidence.

This course provides a combined foundation in aluminium metallurgy and surface technology, enabling you to understand your product’s properties, how they have been created during processing, and how to identify the root causes of metallurgical and surface-related problems.

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How can it help? Who is it for? Course details Sample agenda Travel tips

How this course can help.

This intensive 3-day training course combines aluminium metallurgy and aluminium surface technology into one practical learning experience. You will develop a clear understanding of how aluminium production, alloy systems, microstructure, thermal treatments, deformation and annealing mechanisms influence material behaviour and performance.

In addition, the course covers aluminium surface generation, cleaning, pretreatment, anodising and coating through practical workshops and case studies. As a result, you will gain the skills to identify root causes of metallurgical and surface-related defects, solve problems more quickly, and improve product quality with confidence.

This course is recognised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) as Professional Development.

Who's this course for?

Aluminium Metallurgy: Structure & Surface Essentials is ideal for professionals working in technical roles across the aluminium industry.

In particular, the course benefits:

  • Process and Production Engineers
  • Metallurgists and Materials Engineers
  • Quality, Technical and R&D Engineers
  • Engineers or Metallurgists moving into aluminium from other industries, such as steel

The course is designed for graduates in an Engineering or Materials discipline. However, experienced professionals will also benefit if they want to refresh their knowledge or broaden their understanding of aluminium metallurgy and surface technology.

Course Details

This is a 3-day, in-person aluminium training course. However, bespoke and live online versions are available on request.

Throughout the course, lectures are combined with interactive discussions, workshops and case studies. In addition, we limit delegate numbers to encourage discussion and ensure direct access to the tutors. As a result, you gain maximum value from both the technical content and the practical sessions.

This course contains the following modules:

Introduction to Aluminium.
  • Aluminium production and usage
  • Overview of alloy systems and applications
  • Common manufacturing methods
Aluminium Microstructure & Metallurgy Fundamentals.
  • Aluminium crystal structure, alloy systems and phase diagrams
  • Casting and solidification microstructures
  • Strengthening Mechanisms
  • Microstructure evolution during processing
Testing & Materials Characterisation.
  • Chemical composition
  • Mechanical properties and formability
  • Microstructure: intermetallic particles, grain structure and texture
  • Fractography and failure analysis
Testing & Materials Characterisation Workshop
  • Case-study on characterisation of cast aluminium
  • Hands-on introduction to sample preparation and optical microscopy
  • Grain size assessment (including sample anodizing and recommendations for data processing)
  • Scanning electron microscopy of secondary phases in the microstructure.
Thermal Treatments.
  • Homogenisation and preheat
  • Solution heat treatment
  • Artificial ageing
Thermal Treatments Workshop.
  • Follow-on from the case-study of the cast aluminium
  • Defining a homogenization cycle and applying to the material
  • Differential scanning calorimetry to assess the effectiveness of the heat treatment
Deformation and Annealing Mechanisms.
  • Deformation and microstructure
  • Recovery and recrystallisation
  • Control of grain structure
Deformation and Annealing Workshop.
  • Follow-on from the case-study of the homogenized aluminium – after mechanical processing.
  • Assessment of mechanical properties using the Instron Loadframe.
  • Hands-on practical assessment of the changes to the microstructure using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Aluminium surfaces.
  • Surface characteristics
  • Surface generation during processing
  • Factors affecting surface properties
  • Quality requirements and inspection
  • Common product defects
Surface cleaning.
  • Objectives of surface cleaning
  • Cleaning types and reaction mechanisms
  • Critical control parameters in production
  • Evaluation of surface cleanliness
  • Common issues and remedies
Surface pretreatment.
  • Typical requirements
  • Pretreatment developments
  • Formation mechanisms
  • Automotive pretreatments
  • Application techniques
Anodising.
  • Purpose of anodising
  • Mechanism of anodising
  • Influence of processing parameters
  • Anodising types and applications
  • Common issues and remedies
Surface coating.
  • General characteristics
  • Adhesion properties
  • Coating chemistry
  • Performance testing
  • Coating modifications
Surfaces Workshops.
  • Case study of surface defects on aluminium sheet
  • Hands on experience on various surface related characterisation techniques, including surface roughness, FTIR surface chemistry and oxide thickness analysis, optical microscopy and low kV SEM, etc.
  • Case study learning on how to identify root cause of surface defects.
Q&A Session.
  • Interactive session with Innoval’s experts
  • Wrap-up

Sample Agenda

Day 1

09:00 Introduction
10:00 Microstructure & metallurgy fundamentals 1
10:45 Break
11:00 Testing and characterisation
11:45 Break
12:00 Testing and characterisation workshop 1
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Microstructure & metallurgy fundamentals 2
15:00 Testing and characterisation workshop 2
15:45 Break
16:00 Thermal treatments 1 (Homogenisation)

Day 2

09:00 Thermal treatments 2 (Solution Heat Treatment)
10:00 Thermal treatments 3 (Artificial Aging)
10:45 Break
11:00 Thermal treatments workshop
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Defomation & annealing mechanisms
14:00 Deformation and annealing workshop
14:45 Break
15:00 Aluminium surfaces
16:00 Surface cleaning 1

Day 3

09:00 Surface cleaning 2
10:00 Surface defect case study workshop 1
10:45 Break
11:00 Surface pre-treatment
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Anodising
14:00 Surface defect case study workshop 1
14:45 Break
15:00 Surface coating
16:00 Final Q&A and wrap-up

Travel Tips

The course will be held at Innoval’s offices in Sheffield / Rotherham.

Innoval Technology Limited
Unit 9, Selden Way
Rotherham
S60 5AA
England

Our offices are within our parent company’s UK head office, and you will see signage for Danieli on the front of the building.

By plane.

The closest airports to the venue are:

  • Manchester Airport (~1 hour 30 mins)
  • Leeds Bradford Airport (~1 hour 10 mins)

You can fly into London (Gatwick) or London (Heathrow) and travel by train to Sheffield (~4 hours).

You may also wish to consider Birmingham International Airport, as our trip to Jaguar Land Rover on the last day takes place in Birmingham.

By train.

The venue is a 15 minute car journey from Sheffield train station.

By car.

On-site parking is available at the venue, and electric charging bays are available on a first-come-first served basis.

Local taxis.

We recommend the following local taxi companies:

Accomodation.

We recommend the following local hotels:

We have a corporate rate agreement with both of these hotels. When making the reservation, quote Danieli UK Holding Limited, to ensure you take advantage of this benefit.

Interested?

Reserve your place, register interest, ask an expert, or get more information. Spaces are limited so book now to avoid missing out!

Download the course guide

Payment & cancellation.

Payment information.

We’ll send you an invoice shortly after receiving your registration form. The invoice will contain our bank details.

Please make sure your course fees are paid ahead of the course start date. We can’t fully confirm registrations until we’ve received your payment. We reserve the right to withhold the joining links and training materials if we do not receive your payment or PO ahead of the course start date.

Need to cancel?

We'll refund any fees, less a 10% handling charge, for a cancellation received in writing 14 days ahead of the course start date. For any cancellations after this and for non-attendance, we will charge the full rate. However, you're very welcome to send substitute delegates.