Aluminium can be easily processed using pressure both when it's hot and when it's cold. It can be rolled, pulled and stamped. Aluminium doesn't catch fire, it doesn't need special paint and unlike plastics it's not toxic. It's also very pliable so sheets just 4 microns thick can be made from it, as well as extra thin wire. The extra-thin foil that can be made from aluminium is three times thinner than a human hair. In addition, aluminium is more cost effective than other metals and materials. Since aluminium easily forms compounds with other chemical elements, a huge variety of aluminium alloys have been developed. Even a very small amount of admixtures can drastically change the properties of the metal, making it possible to use it in new areas. For example, in ordinary life you can find aluminium mixed with silicon and magnesium literally on the road, i.e. in the aluminium alloy wheels, in the engines, chassis and other parts of modern automobiles. As for aluminium zinc alloy, chances are you might be holding it in your hands right now as it's this alloy that's widely used in the production of mobile phones and tablet PCs. In the meantime, scientists keep developing new aluminium alloys. The modern construction, automotive, aviation, energy, food and other industries would be impossible without aluminium. In addition, aluminium has become a symbol of progress: all cutting edge devices and vehicles are made from aluminium. (link to the Uses section)
FAQs
What is aluminium made of? ›
Bauxites are the most common raw material in aluminum production. They are mainly made up of aluminum oxide mixed with some other minerals. If the bauxite contains more than 50% aluminum oxide, it's considered as high quality. However, there is a lot of variation in bauxites.
What kind of metal is aluminum? ›Aluminum a soft silvery metal with the chemical symbol Al. Aluminum is a light-weight, malleable, and ductile metal. It is non-magnetic, has a low density, and is highly conductive. Aluminum is also very durable and highly resistant to corrosion.
What is aluminum in simple words? ›aluminum. noun. alu·mi·num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm. : a silver-white malleable light element that conducts electricity and heat well, is highly resistant to oxidation, and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust see element.
Is aluminum 100% metal? ›Pure aluminum is a soft, silvery-white, ductile and non-magnetic metal that belongs to the boron group and identified by the atomic number 13, because its atoms contain 13 electrons and 13 protons. To be considered pure aluminum, the metal needs to consist of 99% aluminum.
How is aluminum naturally made? ›Aluminum isn't naturally found in the Earth's crust. It comes from bauxite, which has to be processed to get aluminum.
Is aluminium found naturally? ›Natural abundance
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust (8.1%) but is rarely found uncombined in nature. It is usually found in minerals such as bauxite and cryolite. These minerals are aluminium silicates.
Each year, the world produces around 390 million tonnes of bauxite rock, and 85% of it is used to make aluminum. Bauxites are rocks composed of aluminum oxides along with other minerals and are the world's primary source of aluminum. After mining, bauxite is refined into alumina, which is then converted into aluminum.
Is aluminium different from aluminum? ›In American English, this element is called aluminum, while in British English it's more commonly referred to as aluminium. The two names refer to the same chemical element. In scientific writing and academia, both aluminum and aluminium are commonly used and considered correct names. Go Behind The Words!
Where is aluminum mined? ›The world's largest economic bauxite resources occur in Guinea, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam and Jamaica. In Australia, bauxite is mined from established open-cut operations at Weipa in Queensland, Gove in the Northern Territory and the Darling Range in Western Australia.
Why is aluminum so cheap? ›Because aluminum so easily joins up with other elements, it's almost impossible to find in a pure state. You have to mine material containing aluminum (the most used mineral is called bauxite), then extract it.
Can aluminum rust? ›
While aluminium doesn't rust, it does corrode. The aluminium oxide coating is highly resistant and renews itself if damaged keeping the metal relatively safe from corrosion. But some factors can cause the coat to become unstable, thus exposing the metal.
What is stronger than aluminum? ›Stainless steel is heavier and stronger than aluminum. In fact, aluminum is around 1/3 the weight of steel. Even though stainless steel is stronger, aluminum has a much better strength to weight ratio than stainless steel.
Is aluminium a metal or plastic? ›Yep. Aluminum is definitely a metal. In fact, it's the most abundant metal in Earth's crust. Not only that, but it's the second most abundant material in Earth's crust after silicon.
Why is aluminum a poor metal? ›In comparison to other metals like gold, silver, and copper, aluminium is a poor heat and electricity conductor. Aluminium has strong conductivity for electricity and heat because it has three electrons in the free state, but its conductivity is lower than copper since it is less dense.