We create metal objects at home: silumin - what it is and what it is used for. How to distinguish a high-quality mixer from a low-quality one? How to distinguish silumin from brass mixer

When buying a colored faucet, it is very difficult to determine by the shade of the surface what material it is made of. However, this difficulty is also present for buyers of chrome-plated, nickel-plated and other plumbing models, the color coating simply more reliably hides the source material. By weight, it is also not always possible to distinguish the base material of the mixer, since individual manufacturers have learned how to make stampings from alloys specially weighted with lead and other similar metals.

How to determine the quality of a color mixer and find out what it is made of?

First of all, you should pay attention to the accuracy and correctness of the shape of the parts. Brass products are made exclusively by casting, and most often by centrifugal casting. Due to this method of production, the number of possible casting defects (shells, cracks, surface irregularities) tends to a minimum, respectively, the quality of the mixer is very high. Even if a part of two halves is used for the mixer body, they must be machined, and it is impossible to find the joint under the coating. Cheap silumin mixers are made by stamping without subsequent machining, and the junction line of the stamps is perfectly visible even under the coating.

When choosing, you can also focus on the wall thickness (if the design of the model allows you to determine this). Cast blanks cannot be very thin-walled, this is contrary to the principles of the production method. Stamped parts, on the contrary, are made with a minimum wall thickness to save material.


The inside of the faucet is usually not galvanized and has the natural color of the original material. Therefore, the golden hue of brass on the inner surfaces will help the user determine the quality of the product, but there may be nuances here too - for example, the silumin alloy is given a color close to the color of brass with the help of additives.

So, when choosing a color mixer, you should pay attention to such details:

  • material color on internal surfaces;
  • product weight;
  • Wall thickness;
  • the presence of clearly visible joints of the halves of the parts.

If the product seems heavy, has a characteristic golden hue inside, the walls are smooth or with traces of machining and have a thickness of at least 1 mm, then you have a high-quality brass model in your hands.
If in doubt, it is better to compare several models from different price categories and ask the manager - savings in this matter can cause significant costs later, when a fragile silumin mixer causes a “flood” in the apartment.

On store shelves, products from silumin are increasingly coming across. It can be pans, pots, faucets and other items. This material is obtained artificially, the answer to the question is more detailed:silumin - what is ityou will find in the article below.

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Material Description

Definition silumin is easy to find on wikipediais an alloy based on aluminum with the addition of silicon. At the same time, the content of the additional component ranges from 4 to 22%, and the main part is aluminum.Silumin alloy compositionalso contains a small amount of impurities of other metals: copper, calcium, titanium, iron, zinc, manganese and others.

Since the maximum amount of silicon is up to 22%, outwardly it is easy to distinguish it from real metal. It is slightly darkened, therefore it resembles cast iron, but in fact only a person with experience will be able to recognize this material.

What is siluminin real life, and where does he meet?

The main properties of silumin

When comparing, the properties of silumin are equated to the properties of stainless steel, but the former has a lower mass.

About properties silicon aluminum alloy:

  1. Strength, resistance to wear and corrosion. The oxide film formed on the surface serves as protection against negative environmental factors.
  2. The density of the material is about 3 g/cm 3 .
  3. The ductility or fluidity of an alloy is an important property necessary for pouring complex configurations, which significantly reduces the cost of the casting process.
  4. Silumin melting pointis about 600 0 C, which is almost three times lower than the melting temperature of steel, and this also affects the quality of casting and the cost of work.

Based on the above indicators, products made from this material are increasingly in consumer demand.

How is silumin labeled

Marking of alloys is carried out based on the requirements of international standards of the ISO system:

  1. "AL 9" means: A - aluminum, L - foundry, 9 - the percentage of the additional constituent substance.
  2. “AK 15” is marked according to the same principle, only the letter “K” means “Silicon”.

The composition includes:

  • 90% main component (aluminum);
  • about 9% silicon;
  • manganese up to 0.5%;
  • titanium up to 0.1%;
  • copper up to 0.6%;
  • zinc up to 0.3%.

Marking is done as follows: for example, silumin alloy is- AK5 Ts8. A is aluminum, K is silicon in the amount of 5%, C is zinc in the amount of 8%.

Types of silumin


The material is classified into 3 types:

  1. Preecteutical. It is characterized by the fact that the silicon content is in the range from 4 to 10% of the bulk. This composition may also include additional elements: manganese, copper or magnesium.
  2. Type 2 - refers to more wear-resistant, while the silicon content is about 20%.
  3. Special alloys with the addition of impurities of other metals, such as zinc or titanium.

Depending on the technical parameters, various castings are made in the production processes.

Alloy groups

Silumin alloysare divided into several groups. Such a distinction is made according to the purpose of the materials:

  1. AK 12 is a eutectic silumin, it contains silicon in the amount of 12%. During heat treatment, the casting does not harden and does not become hard during shrinkage. Parts made of this material are structurally designed for hermetically sealed low-load devices.
  2. Highly alloyed hypereutectic silumin is marked, for example, AK4M5. It belongs to the piston group, it is used when performing work with high-temperature conditions. It has high resistance to high temperatures and wear resistance. The use of this alloy for critical products operating under high loads. These are large and critical parts.

How to repair silumin products


Cracks or chips may appear on products made from this material during operation.How to glue silumin? To restore the appearance, you can apply epoxy glue. But at the same time, it should be borne in mind that under increased loads this product will not work.

Operation technology:

  1. Degrease the places for gluing and dry a little.
  2. Dilute the adhesive in the appropriate consistency and apply to the surface intended for gluing.
  3. Connect the parts of the product and make efforts, then leave for a day at rest.

Silumin repair by welding

It is wrong to think thatsilumin weldingis an easy process that anyone can do.When welding products, many questions can arise. The material heats up quickly, as a result of which an oxide film begins to appear. This phenomenon will not allow the parts of the product to connect. Therefore, the choice was made in favor of welding with argon, since it is this gas that provides protection from external negative factors during operations. The alloy will better restore and strengthen the structure.How to weld silumin?

Process description:

  1. Prepare electrodes for welding, tungsten non-consumable ones are suitable for these purposes. For welding products, it is recommended to use solders: HTS-2000, Harris-52 or ER 4043, designed for welding aluminum structures.
  2. Degrease the edges to be welded.
  3. To ensure reliable weldability, the part must be fixed in a rigid fixture.
  4. Before carrying out welding work, the surface should be heated up to 220 0 C. Steel spacers should be used to dissipate heat.
  5. Carrying out welding work. Alternating current is used for surface welding. The work is done manually.

After work, the products can be operated at reduced loads. Before the actualsilumin welding at homeIt is recommended to practice on samples.

Where is silumin used

The popularity of the use of silumin is by far the highest in the field of mechanical engineering and aircraft building. And this is not surprising, since the material is light and durable. For airplanes, it makes it easier to lift, and for cars, this affects the cost: the more weight, the lower the price.

Parts such as pistons, engines, body parts and cylinders are made from it. Slav is often used in the manufacture of weapons, for example, air rifles, including boxes for barrels and almost all components of these weapons. In the modern version, weapons made of silumin are light and comfortable to handle. The main disadvantage of structural elements is the fragility of the material, that is, with any slight impact, the product can crack or break. Silumin pans are light, but, again, fragile.

Silumin, application which has become popular for gas turbine generators consisting of plate heat exchangers - an excellent solution for equipping energy supply systems. The melting temperature allows the material to be used for these products.

Prices for products from silumin

Not only large enterprises of the metallurgical industry, but also private laboratories are engaged in the manufacture of silumin. Process improvement is constantly being upgraded.

  1. From the ore, metals are mined for the charge, it is possible to produce silumin from the ash that remains after the work of combined heat and power plants. The ash is recovered by the method of electronization and with the help of the element - cryolite. There are still many other impurities in the charge, which do not affect the quality characteristics of the alloy. The only thing is that iron affects the quality of the ligature, but if it is in the range from 0.8 to 1.5%, then this amount is allowed and is contained in the waste after the CHP, so the use of such slags for the manufacture of products has a beneficial effect on the environment.
  2. In nature, aluminum and silicon compounds are also found in bauxite ore, but, according to technology, alloys of these components are produced artificially, which improves the quality of finished products.

What is brass

The material looks like gold, but it is a combination of copper and zinc. To improve the performance properties, nickel, iron, tin, lead and other ingredients are added to the composition. Impurities are about 10%, and zinc from 30 to 35%.

Brass properties:

  • density 8500 kg/m 3 ;
  • melting point from 880 to 950 0 C;
  • easy to process;
  • wear resistance;
  • viscosity;
  • depending on the content of the predominant metal, it is thermally conductive or electrically conductive.

Manufactured products: wire, foil, rods, metal sheets, pipes, fittings. Jewelry, photo frames and badges are made from it. The cost of products is relatively low, and the service life is long, while the presentation is not lost.

Comparison of silumin and brass


Silumin or brass which is better?Compared to brass, silumin is a more brittle material, but in terms of price characteristics it is cheaper.

Faucets and valves made of silumin have a short service life, they quickly rust and, in the event of a technical accident, can quickly break down, which does not exclude flooding of the lower floors. Energy metering devices using elements of this material may also not withstand high pressure parameters and will quickly become unusable.

Silumin materialdoes not withstand high water temperatures, the life of water taps does not exceed a year, microcracks gradually form on them, which leads to a breakdown of the device.

For water supply systems, it is best to choose brass products, although they are more expensive, they can withstand hot water and high pressure.

How to distinguish silumin from brass?To distinguish these two materials, you should pay attention to the color of the product from which they are made: from brass - yellowish, and from silumin - white. Moreover, the weight of the first is heavier than the second.

Structural products from silumin can be chosen for other purposes, in cases where the main load falls on other elements.

Advice!When choosing mixers, it is better not to save money, personal safety and those around you depend on it.

Silumin products are in demand today, as they are inexpensive, and their appearance is quite aesthetic, but when choosing, it is recommended to have knowledge of their purpose.

The main difference between a shower faucet and a bathroom faucet is that it does not have a spout - a faucet, gander or spout. These are more compact products that are equipped with a hole for attaching a shower head and hose. Please note that not all faucets are equipped with a shower set - you can purchase them separately. The most popular mixers are lever and two-valve type.

Lever (one-armed) mixer

Foreign faucet manufacturers are targeting buyers for the lever switch, considering it to be cost-effective. But our users warn: lever mixers are short-lived. Even if you buy a faucet from a well-known and trusted company, its service life will be much lower than that promised by the warranty. Do you know why? It's all about the quality of our water. It is chlorinated and hard, moreover, rust often gets into the water supply, and ceramic cartridges are used for the manufacture of lever mixers, which are very sensitive to these parameters.

  1. Those who decide to choose a lever shower faucet should definitely take care of the main water filters. And you need to take not only "mud collectors" - filters for coarse cleaning, but also mesh, more expensive, designed for fine cleaning (from 3 to 5 microns). They will cost a lot - about 8000 rubles.
  2. Inside the lever mixer, ball or ceramic cartridges are installed. If the ball cartridge has become unusable, then the mixer can be safely thrown away - it cannot be repaired. A more reliable ceramic cartridge Ø 40 mm (the most popular diameter) in operation, which is easy to change in case of breakage. Therefore, for those who decide to choose a faucet with a lever for water supply, it is better to look for a model with a ceramic cartridge, rather than a ball one.

Shower mixer with taps (two-handed)

For our water, faucets with rubber gaskets would be more practical to maintain. But you are unlikely to find such models! More often come across two-valve models with a 180-degree tap rotation, where not rubber, but ceramic seals are used. If there were rubber gaskets, like the simplest bath faucets, there would be no problems with replacing the gaskets. But shower faucets have to choose between single-lever cartridges and swivel taps with ceramic plates.

What to choose?

If you choose between a one-handed and two-handed mixer, then it is preferable to purchase products of the first type. In the event of a breakdown, you can find accessories for them and replace the cartridge, but it will not work to repair a faucet with two taps and ceramic seals - you will have to look for a new shower faucet. The same problem with one-handed models with ballpoint cartridges.

Remember buy a lever mixer if you have filters installed for water purification.

To distinguish brass from silumin, you need ...

It is important to pay attention to the material from which the mixer is made. All experts unequivocally advise choosing brass faucets (a multicomponent copper-based alloy), but at the same time they warn: 90% of plumbing products in this category are fakes made of silumin (an alloy of aluminum with flint).

In appearance, it is difficult for a simple buyer to distinguish a brass mixer from a cheap counterpart from silumin, since the mixers are covered with chrome on top. Externally, the products are actually the same, so be guided by the following criteria:

  • First, ask the salesperson to show you some brass faucets. Take them in hand. If the mixer is made of high-quality metal, it is heavy and weighty - about 3 kg, if made of silumin - light.
  • Secondly, look into the inside of the mixer - for a brass product, it should be yellow and smooth.

By the way, the Chinese craftsmen have learned to make silumin mixers very similar to their brass counterparts. Therefore, there is another criterion that will help determine the material of the mixer:

  • All brass products are made by casting, only after that they are machined. Therefore, there is not a single joint inside the brass mixer, the surface is smooth, there are no roughnesses. Silumin faucets cannot be made by casting. This alloy is very brittle, all joints and roughness will be visible on it. Carefully inspect the mixer. We noticed joints, roughness, recesses - this is not brass in front of you.
  • There is another clue - labeling. Brass is marked with the letter "L", silumin - "AL". This information can be found in the technical data, where the material of the product is indicated.
  • Brass faucets are made without any frills, frills and "flowers". The manufacturing technology does not allow to "bend" the copper alloy, like powder silumin.

Thus, in order to distinguish brass from silumin, you need to carefully consider and “feel” the product, familiarize yourself with the documents for the mixer.

Finally

As for the price of mixers, it varies from 1,000 to 60,000 rubles. The differences depend on the material the faucet is made of and where you get it from. In dubious places, you will buy a “branded” mixer for 1000-2000 rubles, but no one will give you a guarantee in work. It is better when buying such things to contact specialized stores.

  • You will find good reviews about expensive German (Hansa, Grohe), Italian (Fari, Fiori), Polish (Ferro), Czech (Imprese) faucets.
  • Emivi (Italy), Vidima (Bulgaria) and Mixxen (Spain-China) are praised from the middle price category.
  • Of the budget (cheap) options, pay attention to the mixers Rossinka (Russia-China), Santekhpribor (Russia), Ukrsanlit (Ukraine).

So, there are several hypostases in metallurgy. Today, attention to silumin. The presence of silicon in it is read from the name. Taken "C" from the scientific name. In the table, it is written as silicon. It is added to aluminum mainly for hardening.

The maximum silicon content in silumin is 15%. Therefore, outwardly it is difficult to distinguish from pure metal. Silicon has the same whitish color. There is a slight blackout, more reminiscent of. True, attention to this nuance is paid, as a rule, only by professionals, buyers.

The density of the silicon component of silumin is higher than that of aluminum, equal to 3.2 grams per cubic centimeter. This means that the weight of silicon is greater. However, on the scale of a 15% master alloy, silicon does not significantly affect the weight of aluminum. The alloy remains light and light. The total density of the material does not reach 3 grams per centimeter cubed.

Silumin properties

Aluminum "Silumin" compared in properties with stainless steel. The hero is lighter than her. This is one of the few differences and an absolute plus. For the rest, material silumin almost as strong and resistant to corrosion. The alloy is protected from destruction by an oxide film that forms on the surface in oxidizing environments, that is, in the presence of oxygen.

The specific strength of silumin is its ratio to density. For an alloy of aluminum with silicon, the indicator is close to 15. He usually does not exceed 17.

The difference is insignificant, while the mass of materials is different. Considering that the specific strength shows how reliable the structure will be for a given weight, silumin wins.

Silumin also wins in plasticity. The alloy easily repeats the most complex shapes, filling them evenly. Eventually, silumin casting simplifies, and therefore reduces the cost of production processes.

That is why they staked on the combination of aluminum and silicon. From silumin, they make budget versions of many household products. Some of them are low-grade, and some are inferior to prototypes only in . Why such a difference?

Silumin properties has depending on the mouth of the alloy and compliance with its production. The material has 5 main markings. These are: AL2, AL3, AL4, AL5 and AL9.

However, by the numerical designations, one can guess that there are others. Each has pros and cons. Not everywhere the composition of silumin is limited to aluminum and silicon.

Sometimes, manganese and magnesium are added. Sometimes, they do not mix anything, but simply do not get rid of the impurities that were originally present in the mixture. In this case, metal silumin turns out dirty , , .

So there are complaints about the quality of the alloy and its suitability for a particular pan. However, there are industries where manufacturers do not play such games with silumin. The risks are too great. Instead of angry reviews of housewives, you can run into human and government reprimands.

The use of silumin

Application of silumin I also found it in the fields of mechanical engineering and aircraft building. The bet on aluminum-silicon alloy is made due to its lightness. For air, it is the key to lifting into the sky, maneuverability.

For ordinary cars, weight becomes one of the pricing categories. You have to pay extra for weight. In addition, massive ones break the road surface. Concern for its quality makes industrialists and motorists use silumin for the production of engine parts, pistons, cylinders and housings.

Increasingly, the alloy is used by gunsmiths. So, silumin welding became the main phase of the production of air rifles such as Cuno Melcher, Umarex, Stalker, Crosman and Walther.

From an alloy of aluminum with silicon, these are made, at a minimum, receivers, and sometimes all rifle assemblies. In the new version, they have become lighter and easier to handle.

Silumin - composition strong, but fragile, and this is the main disadvantage of the material. it is not desirable to drop from it. The rifle has to be carefully placed on the ground, leaned against a tree.

The car can go for a solid repair after a small blow. The pan, thrown by negligence, cracks. The probability, of course, is not 100 percent, but should be kept in.

Despite certain risks, silumin melting ordered for gas turbine generators. They consist of plate heat exchangers.

Silumin melting point at 670 degrees allows this application of the material. But you can't let aluminum-silicon alloy into space. Rocketry requires metals that can withstand thousands of degrees of heat.

Silumin production

Buy silumin offer not only large metallurgical enterprises, but also small laboratories. The latter are conducting experiments to improve the production of the alloy.

The standard way to obtain it is to mix aluminum with silicon and melt them together. Metals for charge are mined from ore. Let's look at the "Bank of Patents" and find out that you can get silumin, also on the basis of the ash remaining at the country's thermal power plant as a waste product.

Ash from brown can be recovered. All you need is an electrolyzer and. In the presence of the latter, the reaction takes place. It is no secret that in addition to silicon with aluminum in the ash there are a lot of other components.

It is interesting that they almost do not affect the quality of the alloy, they are not significant. Too much iron in the ashes. However, its presence in silumin is allowed as a ligature. Ferrum according to GOSTs is allowed in the amount of 0.8-1.5%. Approximately so much is in the waste of thermal power plants.

If industrialists adopt a new method of producing silumin, a longstanding controversy will be eradicated. It consists in the duet of aluminum and silicon prescribed by nature.

Elements are initially nearby, for example, in ore. However, industrialists first spend on isolating each separately, in order to then spend again on their fusion into silumin.

Working with ash will simplify and reduce the cost of production, and at the same time, will serve the benefit of the environment. A small suspension in the air from the operation of a thermal power plant pesters residents of many cities.

Silumin price

Silumin price in granules - about 80 per kilo. If you take a semi-finished product, for example, a pig, you will give 130-180 rubles. For most brands of alloy is the same. Another issue is the finished product.

Here it can differ significantly from the cost. So, a silumin cauldron with a diameter of about 30 centimeters costs more than 1,000 rubles. A single-lever mixer made of aluminum alloy with silicon is estimated at about 1,500.

For a hydraulic distributor made of silumin, they ask about 8,000 rubles. For a gas meter they give in the region of 2,000-3,500. For 4,000 you can buy a vibration pump, and for 45 rubles - a tip for it.

In general, almost everything that can be made from metal is made from silumin. So, it does not hurt to remember the name of the material, and to study its strengths and weaknesses.

In the process of choosing a mixer, it is recommended to pay attention not only to its functionality, but also to the material from which it is made. Among the wide variety of products, silumin mixers are in particular demand. The cost of these plumbing fixtures is more attractive compared to brass counterparts. The appearance of silumin devices also meets the current requirements of customers. However, when choosing such products, buyers should remember that they have their drawbacks.

Silumin is a material that is obtained by combining aluminum with silicon. It has excellent casting properties. Distinguishing a silumin mixer is very simple - just pay attention to the weight of the product. this species is light in weight.

Advantages and disadvantages of silumin mixers

The popularity of silumin mixers is very high. Some of the positive features of this product include:
    resistance to corrosion in a humid atmosphere;high strength, wear resistance;favorable cost of products;modern look.
Faucets made of their silumin are distinguished by their original appearance. A wide variety of models will allow you to choose the most suitable model for any sink, bath or bidet. Like more expensive models, silumin devices differ in the way they open. Two-valve devices are considered classics. Single-lever models are no less in demand - the main element allows you to adjust the pressure of cold and hot water.

Before you buy a silumin mixer, it is important to remember that devices of this type have certain disadvantages. For example, even a slight jump in water pressure in the system can cause a crack to appear on the surface of the case. In addition, silumin corrodes much faster than traditional brass. Silumin is not entirely durable - devices of this type quite often require premature replacement.

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