General Applications of Aluminum
18-02-2021
General Applications of Aluminum
Aluminum (Al), also spelled aluminium chemical element, a lightweight silvery-white metal of main Group 13 (IIIa, or boron group) of the periodic table. Aluminum is the world’s most abundant metal and is the third most common element, comprising 8% of the earth’s crust. The versatility of aluminum makes it the most widely used metal after steel.
This metal is widely used in the aerospace, transportation, and construction industries. Below are some of the key characteristics of Aluminum:
The uses of aluminum are varied and diverse. Today it is used in commerce, transportation, and other industries. Some of its applications are well known, while others are not so obvious. Apart from consumer products, the metallic element is also used in glass creation.
Applications of Aluminum
The properties of the various aluminum alloys have resulted in aluminium being used in industries as diverse as transport, food preparation, energy generation, packaging, architecture, and electrical transmission applications.
Some examples of the areas where aluminum is used are given in the following sections
Power Lines
Its lightweight makes it ideal for use in power lines and electricity. Aluminum is generally preferred because of its low density. A kilogram of aluminum conducts double the charge compared with the copper of the same amount.
Today it is used in long-distance power lines and high voltage electrical transmission. If copper is used, companies have to create costly support structures. Aluminum doesn’t require these expensive units. Copper is less ductile than aluminum. It cannot be drawn into wire easily. Aluminum’s corrosion is another plus. The metallic element is also used in satellite dishes.
Marine Applications of Aluminium
Aluminum plate and extrusions are used extensively for the superstructures of ships. The use of these materials allows designers to increase the above waterline size of the vessel without creating stability problems. The weight advantage of aluminum has allowed marine architects to gain better performance from the available power by using aluminum in the hulls of hovercraft, fast multi-hulled catamarans, and surface planning vessels.
Lower weight and longer lifecycles have seen aluminum become the established material for helidecks and helideck support structures on offshore oil and gas rigs. The same reasons have resulted in the widespread use of aluminum in oil rig stair towers and telescopic personnel bridges.
Package
One of the most popular uses of aluminum is the packaging. Trays, foils, bottle caps, and cans are usually made of this metallic element. It is also used for thermos, utensil lids, and storage boxes. It is also applied as a foil container, bottle tops, and foil wrappings. Aluminum is preferred because it keeps food clean. The metal’s properties keep food safe from harmful elements in the environment.
Because of this, aluminum is widely used in the industry. This metallic element is corrosion-resistant. Compared to iron, aluminum oxide is not destructive. It is protective. The metal is impermeable. It doesn’t affect the taste or smell of food packaging. Most importantly, the metal has no toxic elements.
Cars and Transportation
Aircraft carriers have aluminum components. It is also used in boats and other sea-faring vessels because it is light. Railway carriages also use it. Aluminum can be found on cars for aesthetic and thermal purposes. It’s cheaper than other metals so manufacturers prefer it.
Car parts like wheel spacer bars, transmission housings, hoods, suspension components, and engine blocks are usually built of aluminum. The metal is also used in impellers, alternator housings, air filler adapters, mirrors, and brackets. Car ornaments also rely on aluminum.
The element is vital to transportation because of its weight/strength ratio. Aluminum is light; in vehicles, this translates to less energy required for motion. It isn’t as strong as steel. But it can be alloyed with other metals to increase its strength.
Construction
Aluminum is necessary for construction. The metal is used in practically all elements: skylights, building bridges, shutters, ladders, and railings. The element is present in rods, doors, stampings, wiring, bars, tubing, sheets, pipes, casting, and scraps. Aluminum is applied in a wide array of industrial applications. Staircases are sometimes made of aluminum too. The metallic element is found in many buildings. They are low maintenance. The lightweight is also used for gutters.
Aluminum (Al), also spelled aluminium chemical element, a lightweight silvery-white metal of main Group 13 (IIIa, or boron group) of the periodic table. Aluminum is the world’s most abundant metal and is the third most common element, comprising 8% of the earth’s crust. The versatility of aluminum makes it the most widely used metal after steel.
This metal is widely used in the aerospace, transportation, and construction industries. Below are some of the key characteristics of Aluminum:
- Non-corrosive
- Easily machined and cast
- Lightweight yet durable
- Non-magnetic and non-sparking
- Good heat and electrical conductor
The uses of aluminum are varied and diverse. Today it is used in commerce, transportation, and other industries. Some of its applications are well known, while others are not so obvious. Apart from consumer products, the metallic element is also used in glass creation.
Applications of Aluminum
The properties of the various aluminum alloys have resulted in aluminium being used in industries as diverse as transport, food preparation, energy generation, packaging, architecture, and electrical transmission applications.
Some examples of the areas where aluminum is used are given in the following sections
Power Lines
Its lightweight makes it ideal for use in power lines and electricity. Aluminum is generally preferred because of its low density. A kilogram of aluminum conducts double the charge compared with the copper of the same amount.
Today it is used in long-distance power lines and high voltage electrical transmission. If copper is used, companies have to create costly support structures. Aluminum doesn’t require these expensive units. Copper is less ductile than aluminum. It cannot be drawn into wire easily. Aluminum’s corrosion is another plus. The metallic element is also used in satellite dishes.
Marine Applications of Aluminium
Aluminum plate and extrusions are used extensively for the superstructures of ships. The use of these materials allows designers to increase the above waterline size of the vessel without creating stability problems. The weight advantage of aluminum has allowed marine architects to gain better performance from the available power by using aluminum in the hulls of hovercraft, fast multi-hulled catamarans, and surface planning vessels.
Lower weight and longer lifecycles have seen aluminum become the established material for helidecks and helideck support structures on offshore oil and gas rigs. The same reasons have resulted in the widespread use of aluminum in oil rig stair towers and telescopic personnel bridges.
Package
One of the most popular uses of aluminum is the packaging. Trays, foils, bottle caps, and cans are usually made of this metallic element. It is also used for thermos, utensil lids, and storage boxes. It is also applied as a foil container, bottle tops, and foil wrappings. Aluminum is preferred because it keeps food clean. The metal’s properties keep food safe from harmful elements in the environment.
Because of this, aluminum is widely used in the industry. This metallic element is corrosion-resistant. Compared to iron, aluminum oxide is not destructive. It is protective. The metal is impermeable. It doesn’t affect the taste or smell of food packaging. Most importantly, the metal has no toxic elements.
Cars and Transportation
Aircraft carriers have aluminum components. It is also used in boats and other sea-faring vessels because it is light. Railway carriages also use it. Aluminum can be found on cars for aesthetic and thermal purposes. It’s cheaper than other metals so manufacturers prefer it.
Car parts like wheel spacer bars, transmission housings, hoods, suspension components, and engine blocks are usually built of aluminum. The metal is also used in impellers, alternator housings, air filler adapters, mirrors, and brackets. Car ornaments also rely on aluminum.
The element is vital to transportation because of its weight/strength ratio. Aluminum is light; in vehicles, this translates to less energy required for motion. It isn’t as strong as steel. But it can be alloyed with other metals to increase its strength.
Construction
Aluminum is necessary for construction. The metal is used in practically all elements: skylights, building bridges, shutters, ladders, and railings. The element is present in rods, doors, stampings, wiring, bars, tubing, sheets, pipes, casting, and scraps. Aluminum is applied in a wide array of industrial applications. Staircases are sometimes made of aluminum too. The metallic element is found in many buildings. They are low maintenance. The lightweight is also used for gutters.