What are the uses and classifications of aluminum sheets?

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Aluminum sheets refer to rectangular plates made by rolling aluminum ingots; they are classified into pure aluminum sheets, alloy aluminum sheets, thin aluminum sheets, medium-thick aluminum sheets, and patterned aluminum sheets. 　　Aluminum sheets refer to aluminum materials with a thickness ranging from over 0.2 mm to below 500 mm, a width of over 200 mm, and a length of up to 16 m; those with a thickness of less than 0.2 mm are considered aluminum materials, while those with a width of up to 200 mm are classified as strips or bars (of course, with the advancement of larger equipment, aluminum sheets with a maximum width of 600 mm are also becoming more common). 　　Uses of aluminum sheets: 1. Lighting fixtures; 2. Solar reflectors; 3. Building exteriors; 4. Interior decoration: ceilings, walls, etc.; 5. Furniture and cabinets; 6. Elevators; 7. Signages, nameplates, and luggage; 8. Interior and exterior decorations for vehicles; 9. Interior decorations such as picture frames; 10. Home appliances: refrigerators, microwave ovens, audio equipment, etc.; 11. Aerospace and other fields, such as China’s large aircraft manufacturing, the Shenzhou spacecraft series, satellites, etc.; 12. Machining of mechanical parts; 13. Mold manufacturing; 14. Coating for chemical/insulation pipes; 15. High-quality ship plates. 　　In aluminum alloys, the grade holds significant meaning; the 7075T651 aluminum plate grade will be used as an example below. The first 7 denotes the aluminum and aluminum alloy group – aluminum-zinc-magnesium series alloys. Aluminum and aluminum alloy groups are divided into nine major categories. Among them, aluminum and aluminum alloys of series 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are the most common, while those of other series are used less frequently in practical applications. 　　Category 1: Series 1 – Industrial pure aluminum.
Category 2: Series 2 – Aluminum-copper alloys.
Category 3: Series 3 – Aluminum-manganese alloys.
Category 4: Series 4 – Aluminum-silicon alloys.
Category 5: Series 5 – Aluminum-magnesium alloys.
Category 6: Series 6 – Aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys.
Category 7: Series 7 – Aluminum-zinc-magnesium-copper alloys.
Category 8: Series 8 – Other alloys.
Category 9: Series 9 – Reserve alloys.

Maintenance and care
The specific steps for cleaning aluminum sheets are as follows:
1. First, rinse the surface of the sheet with plenty of clean water.
2. Gently wipe the surface with a soft cloth soaked in detergent diluted with water.
3. Rinse the surface again with plenty of clean water to remove any dirt.
4. Check the surface; if there are areas that haven’t been cleaned properly, clean those areas thoroughly using detergent.
5. Rinse the surface with clean water until all traces of detergent are removed. 　　Note: Do not clean the hot surface (when the temperature is above 40°C), as rapid evaporation of moisture can damage the paint on the surface! It is particularly important to use the right type of detergent; a basic rule is to use neutral detergents. Avoid using strongly alkaline detergents such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or sodium carbonate, as well as strongly acidic detergents, abrasive detergents, and those that can dissolve the paint.