Aluminum is a flexible silver-white main group metal. It is a good conductor and particularly light in weight compared to other metals. Although it’s 60% lighter than iron, it is a strong and corrosion resistant material. Its flexibility makes it ideal for machining.
Properties of aluminum
Aluminum is a particularly strong but flexible material. Many times lighter in weight than other types of metal which is why it is widely used in the automotive and aircraft industries. Aluminum has a specific weight of 2,702 kilos per cubic meter. The melting and boiling point are 660°C and 2,467°C, respectively. Its hardness changes when heated thus making it a less suitable material for engines. It is not magnetic.
The material is resistant to all kinds of external factors because of a thin layer of oxidized aluminum which provides the metal protection from the elements and gives it a dull appearance. Thanks to its oxide layer, aluminum is stable in both water and air; further, this layer ensures that it remains rust free and non-flammable. Due to its electrical potential and current capacity, it’s widely used as a “sacrificial” anode to protect other metals from corroding. Consequently, aluminum is often employed in the shipping industry to prevent wear on parts underwater.
Aluminum winning
Compared to other types of metal, aluminum has only been used on a large scale for a relatively short time. The technique for obtaining usable aluminum was only discovered in 1886. Electrolysis was then used to separate aluminum from aluminum oxide. Aluminum is found in the earth’s crust, although it is difficult to detect since it’s not found in pure form which could explain why it was not discovered until relatively recently. Aluminum is not a very rare metal, but extracting does require a lot of effort. It can be found in very small quantities in clay but the costs and effort of extracting it are hardly worth it.
Bauxite ore is the largest source of aluminum which can be commonly found in Australia and Suriname. In order to extract aluminum, other substances in the bauxite ore have to be separated in a labor-intensive process that requires large amounts of energy. For these reasons, producing aluminum is not a very environmentally friendly endeavor; however, aluminum is 100% recyclable without compromising in quality. It can be melted down and saves costs; therefore, it is a cheaper material than other metals such as copper or bronze.
Application of Aluminum
Aluminum is widely used even in products where you would not expect it.
Home garden and kitchen equipment
Everyone knows aluminum from the roll of foil in the kitchen, but it’s present in other household items such as irons, pans, and cutlery. Additionally, it’s commonly used in packaging. It’s ideal for tent poles, folding seats, and tools due to being lightweight, sturdy, and rust-free. Aluminum can also be found in furniture such as sofas, cupboards, tables, chairs, and beds. Its application in cosmetic products is less obvious but it’s also present in antiperspirants. It makes the skin acidic so that bacteria is less likely to grow and create that nasty sweat smell.
Perfect for transportation
It’s unique combination of properties make aluminum a popular material for ships, yachts, rockets, airplanes, trains, bicycles and cars.
Flammable properties
In combination with mercury or salts of some electropositive metal, aluminum forms an amalgam destroying its oxide layer. Without this layer, aluminum reacts explosively in contact with liquid oxygen. It is precisely because of that property that it’s used in fireworks and rocket fuel.
Good conductor
Aluminum is an excellent conductor of electricity. It is therefore also used for lightning conductors, antennas, and power lines.
Strong building material
Durable and strong, aluminum lends itself well to all kinds of products in structural engineering. Think of doors, roofs, frames and facades, but also ladders and scaffolding.
Many machining techniques are possible precisely because aluminum is such a versatile material. Marvo offers various application techniques, such as milling, anodizing, and cnc workbench turning for precision work.