7 Important Industrial Uses of Aluminum
Aluminum is a very important metal whose application and use is widespread industrially in engineering and product manufacturing. The industrial uses of Aluminum The industrial uses of Aluminum can be seen in the energy sector(electricity generation, transmission and distribution), home made utensils, cables for the oil and gas industry and several other uses as have been enumerated and explained below.
Industrial Uses of Aluminum
1. Aluminum is used in making cooking utensils because it is cheap, light and a good conductor of heat. The metal can be made more resistant to corrosion by anodizing, which produces a thicker and harder film of aluminum oxide on the surface of the metal.
2. It is used in making overhead electric cables because it is light and has good electrical conductivity.
3. Aluminum powder suspended in oil is used in paints, and for mirrors and cars because of its high reflectivity.
4. Aluminum is used in making alloys such as duralumin (a mixture of Al, Cu, Mg, Mn), aluminum bronze (a mixture of Cu, A1) and magnalium (a mixture of Al, Mg), which are stronger and harder than pure aluminum but train its properties of lightness and resistance to corrosion. These alloys are used in carts, ships, aircraft and the moving parts of machines.
5. Aluminum powder is used in the thermit process for welding together broken metallic parts of machines and equipment. For example, to weld together the broken ends of an iron rod, a mixture of aluminum powder and iron (III) oxide, known as thermit, is ignited. During this reaction, aluminum oxide and metallic iron are formed with the evolution of a large amount of heat. This heat melts the iron formed, which then welds together the two broken ends.
Fe2O1(s) + 2A1(s)→ A12O3(s) + 2fe(1)
If a chromium article is involved, chromium (III) oxide is used in place of iron(III) oxide.
Cr2O1(s) + 2A1(s)→ A12O3(s) + 2Cr(1)
Pure manganese and chromium can also be extracted form their oxides by this method.
6. Aluminum foils are widely used as packaging materials.
7. Aluminum ions, A13+, are used as coagulating agents. For example, aluminum tetraoxosulphate(VI) is used in water treatment plants to remove colloidal organic matter.
Forward Metals, an UK based aluminum supplier
The Properties of Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most versatile metals. It can be mixed with other elements to create specific properties – strength, durability, corrosion resistance and more.
Alloys are made for a variety of purposes, including auto racing. Many car manufacturers have moved from steel to aluminum in their vehicle bodies.
Lightweight
Aluminum (or aluminium, as it is spelled in some countries) is found naturally on Earth and it has 13 protons. It is a light metal, weighing less than half that of steel and it is one of the strongest materials on Earth. It is also non-toxic, resistant to corrosion and easy to recycle.
This makes it an ideal material for beverage cans, kitchen foil and foldable furniture. But it is also used in more complicated products, such as airplanes and automobiles. And it’s used to create lightweight armor for soldiers to wear in combat.
The reason that aluminum is so popular is because of its strength-to-weight ratio. It’s a metal that can be hammered into extremely thin sheets, but it can also be shaped or bent to suit specific projects. It is a good thermal and electrical conductor, and it’s able to resist corrosion thanks to its natural self-protecting oxide coating.
Because of its low weight and durability, aluminum is the preferred material for the exterior of many vehicles. It is lightweight, attractive and it helps to keep the vehicle cool. It is also easy to paint, and its corrosion resistance means that it can be left exposed to the elements for many years without rusting.
In addition, aluminum is a key component in electronics. It is used in the cases for smartphones, tablets and laptops, and it is especially useful because of its heat conductivity. It can also be used to make power lines because it is more durable than copper and doesn’t corrode easily. This is a major benefit in areas where electricity needs to travel long distances. It is also an excellent choice for building materials and is often used for structural components in buildings, bridges and vehicles.
Strength
Aluminum is a strong and durable metal, especially when alloyed with other elements such as magnesium, copper, and silicon. This combination increases its strength and resistance to corrosion, while also making it more formable and ductile. This allows it to be used in a wide range of applications, including construction, aircraft, and automotive production.
The corrosion resistance of pure aluminum is due to the formation of a protective oxide film on its surface. This barrier is able to resist pitting corrosion in most environments. In solutions with halide ions, however, aluminium is susceptible to etching and galvanic corrosion.
As a post-transition element in Group 13 of the periodic table, aluminum has a +3 oxidation state. This makes it bond readily with cations, primarily oxygen and any anion that offers a -3 state. This property allows it to passivate and resist corrosive attacks, particularly in the pH range of 0 to 4.
Although pure aluminum is soft and lacks strength, most commercial products are made from aluminum alloys. These alloys contain a variety of elements, such as silicon and iron, that improve the material’s appearance, fabricability, and strength. These alloys are also corrosion resistant and have a lower density than pure aluminum.
Alloys that have been heat treated to increase their strength can achieve strengths of up to 300 MPa. These alloys are strong enough for most structural applications and are highly ductile and weldable. They are also strong enough to resist stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and have excellent electrical conductivity. Examples of these alloys include 6063 and 7075.
Corrosion Resistant
Aluminum is highly corrosion resistant and can withstand many different types of environments. This quality is due to the metal’s ability to form a protective layer over itself. Alloys of aluminum are able to self-passivate, meaning that when they come into contact with water, the material quickly forms an oxide film that protects it from further corrosion.
Corrosion resistance is a key factor that should be considered when selecting the right metal for any kind of project. There are many different qualities that can make a metal more or less corrosion-resistant, including its composition, size, and shape. There are also a number of factors that can impact corrosion, including operating conditions, temperature, pressure, and fluid velocity.
As a material, aluminum is extremely easy to work with and machine. Manufacturers can often work with this material at speeds up to three or four times faster than they can with other materials such as steel and titanium. This makes it the ideal material for projects that require heavy machining and intricate shapes.
There are a number of different grades of aluminum, each with their own unique properties. Commercially pure aluminum (called alloy 1100) is one of the most common, and offers good tensile strength and corrosion resistance. This type of aluminum is able to be worked into a variety of products, from beverage cans and foil to piping and irrigation tubing.
Other grades of aluminum include 6063, which is commonly used in architecture and for marine crafts, and 7075, which is stronger than all other aluminum grades and is often used for aircraft manufacturing. Alloys like these are able to be machined well but may chip at the end of fast, hard cuts or when they are left to cool down for too long. Anodizing can help to improve the overall machinability of these alloys, and will provide them with greater corrosion resistance.
Easy to Weld
The industrial uses of aluminum cannot be overemphasized. Aluminum is easy to weld, especially with a TIG welding torch and proper shielding gas coverage. It is also relatively inexpensive and lightweight, making it a popular choice for a variety of projects. However, it is important to keep in mind that aluminum is soft and highly sensitive. It is also insulated by a tough layer of oxide, which must be cleaned away before welding can begin. This makes it prone to impurities and air pockets that can lead to poor quality welds.
Because of its low melting point and high thermal conductivity, aluminum requires higher heat input than other metals when welding. This creates a narrow window of temperature workability that can easily lead to burn-through. It is therefore important to use a higher travel speed when working with this material, especially when welding thin sheets of it.
Additionally, the aluminum’s tendency to conduct heat away from the weld puddle can cause it to shrink in volume after cooling, resulting in cracks and distortions in the weld area. This can be avoided by using a heat sink to absorb the excess heat.
It is also a good idea to use a larger wire diameter when welding aluminum. This will help prevent the weld tip from burning and make it easier to feed through your wire feeder system without snags or jamming. If possible, try to use a spool gun rather than a push-pull system.
Before welding, always thoroughly clean the surface of the aluminum with a wire brush designed specifically for this purpose. Using brushes that have been used for other metals can leave traces of those metals behind and adversely affect the quality of the welds.
Easy to Machine
Aluminum is among the most machinable metals, a fact that makes it a popular choice for CNC machining. It can be machined three or even four times faster than stainless steel. This faster machining speed can save a lot of time and money for the manufacturing industry. It also reduces the costs of labor and the need for costly anti-corrosion coatings. The quality makes aluminum a highly sort after metal in many manufacturing processes and makes the industrial uses of aluminum a germane topic in modern metallurgy.
In addition to being easy to machine, aluminum is also easier to maintain. It can be wiped down with clean water or a lint-free cloth to remove fingerprints and other stains. The aluminum will then dry naturally. For the more stubborn dirt spots, a rubbing alcohol solution can be used to remove them.
It is important to choose the right cutting tool for your job. General-purpose taps will technically work, but a tap designed specifically for aluminum will give you better results. These aluminum taps are designed with a higher rake angle, allowing them to cut through the material more quickly and with less heat. This will keep the workpiece cooler and extend your tool life.
It is also important to select a carbide endmill that is designed for aluminum. This will ensure that your tool is properly balanced and will not destroy the spindle on high RPMs. In addition, it is important to use a coolant with the proper viscosity to prevent excessive heat and friction that can damage the aluminum.
Lastly, be sure to use a harmonics tester on your tools so that you can determine their balance and RPM rating. This will allow you to fine-tune your process to get the best results. This will help you achieve a smoother finish on your parts and make them look great too.
