Heat from a fire can cause aluminum to:

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Multiple Choice

Heat from a fire can cause aluminum to:

When metal is heated, its response depends on its melting point. Aluminum has a relatively low melting point—about 660°C (1220°F). In a fire, temperatures easily exceed this, so aluminum will transition from solid to molten metal, causing a loss of strength and structure. Its good thermal conductivity means heat travels quickly into the material, so exposed sections can reach the melting point rapidly and fail as the metal becomes liquid. Spalling is a concrete-specific failure, not something aluminum undergoes. Cracking can occur from thermal stresses, but the most immediate and dramatic outcome with sufficient heat is melting. Elongation or expansion can happen with heating, but melting is the primary risk in a fire.

When metal is heated, its response depends on its melting point. Aluminum has a relatively low melting point—about 660°C (1220°F). In a fire, temperatures easily exceed this, so aluminum will transition from solid to molten metal, causing a loss of strength and structure. Its good thermal conductivity means heat travels quickly into the material, so exposed sections can reach the melting point rapidly and fail as the metal becomes liquid. Spalling is a concrete-specific failure, not something aluminum undergoes. Cracking can occur from thermal stresses, but the most immediate and dramatic outcome with sufficient heat is melting. Elongation or expansion can happen with heating, but melting is the primary risk in a fire.

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