What Makes Aluminum Poles Better than Steel Poles?

 Landscape designers, electrical engineers, and outdoor lighting designers often have two options for the material of lighting poles: aluminum or steel. Traditionally, steel has been the number one material of choice for poles due to its high durability, strength, and ease of fabrication. However, its popularity is receding nowadays as aluminum is becoming increasingly popular. There would be a lot of businesses around you offering aluminum tent pole replacement because it is such a common element of our lives. You might wonder what sets aluminum apart from its competitors like steel. 

When you are buying poles, there are a lot of things to consider. First of all, you assess your costs and requirements. Then, you analyze which is better in terms of added benefits like longevity, weather resistance, appearance flexibility. While steel is a stronger material for poles, a lot of people choose aluminum. Aluminum provides better features than steel poles. Often, we see aluminum light poles and aluminum flag poles in places such as government offices, sports stadiums, schools, hotels, airports, conference centers, and shopping malls. Even when you’re on a hiking trip, you’d come across tent poles made up of aluminum.

Let us look closely at some of the benefits that aluminum offers to the customers:

1. Environment-friendly

When it comes to the larger picture, aluminum has a very pressing advantage over steel. It is a 100 percent recyclable metal. Poles made up of aluminum can be recycled without compromising the quality of the material.

Besides, recycled aluminum is significantly less expensive than raw aluminum. And recycling residential street light poles does not require high levels of energy. Given that energy consumption is a major contemporary environmental concern, this is another compelling reason why businesses prefer aluminum poles over steel poles.

As we are upgrading our lives, it’s important to associate with the green movements to help our environment. Therefore, aluminum gives an environmental-friendly option of material for making poles than iron or steel. Moreover, aluminum is the most plentiful mineral in the earth's crust and has not been used efficiently. If sustainability and environmental conservation are important to you as a business, there is no better choice than aluminum poles.

2. Lightweight

Another advantage of aluminum is that it is both robust and light. An average aluminum pole would weigh less than half the weight of a steel pole of the same size. For instance, a 6-meter aluminum pole would weigh around 90 pounds while a 9-meter long one would weigh around 190 pounds. The aluminum poles are light and can easily be installed by two people without the use of heavy machinery and much hassle.

Additionally, the lightweight aluminum poles also save you some money. Lighter poles help reduce transportation, storage, and installation costs.

3. Higher Ductility

Aluminum is a more ductile and elastic metal than steel. Aluminum can be easily expanded whereas a piece of steel may not be as ductile. 

Aluminum poles are constructed from a single seamless profile, which eliminates the need for welding seams, which is not achievable with steel. So, aluminum poles are a single component, rather than many portions welded together. Moreover, unlike steel, aluminum does not require to be painted as it has a natural luster and does not corrode, which is another benefit. However, they can be painted if necessary to provide the desired aesthetics.

4. Corrosion-resistant

Aluminum pole manufacturers generally use marine-grade aluminum, which instantly forms a protective oxide layer. As a result, the poles are highly corrosion resistant and have a longer life. Due to this natural corrosion resistance, aluminum poles don’t need any further surface treatment. These poles will serve you longer without demanding regular maintenance.

Steel, on the other hand, must be galvanized and painted to preserve it from corrosion, not to forget additional maintenance expenses. Therefore, a steel pole would last fewer days as compared to an aluminum pole. 

Aluminum poles are popular these days as they are inexpensive, incur lesser implied costs, are more malleable, lighter in weight, and can be recycled easily.