Most Common Uses of Aluminum in Metal Industries

Aluminum is the third most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, and the third most abundant element overall.

No other metal can compare to Aluminum when it comes to its variety of uses. Uses of aluminum may not be immediately obvious; for example, did you know aluminum is used in the manufacturing of glass?

Aluminum is incredibly popular because it is:

• Lightweight
• Strong
• Resistant to corrosion
• Durable
• Ductile
• Malleable
• Conductive
• Odorless

Aluminum is also theoretically 100% recyclable with no loss of its natural properties. It also takes five percent of the energy to recycle scrap aluminum then what is used to produce new aluminum.

The most common uses of aluminum

Transportation

Aluminum is used in transportation because of its unbeatable strength to weight ratio. Its lighter weight means that less force is required to move the vehicle, leading to greater fuel efficiency. As aluminum is not the strongest metal, alloying it with other metals helps to increase its strength. Its corrosion resistance is an added bonus, eliminating the need for heavy and expensive anti-corrosion coatings.

While the automobile industry still depends heavily on steel, the drive to extend fuel potency and reduce co2 emissions has led to a much wider use of aluminum. Specialists predict that the average aluminum content in a car can increase by 60% by 2025.

High-speed rail systems like the Shinkansen in Japan and the Maglev in Shanghai also use aluminum. The metal allows designers to reduce the weight of the trains, cutting down on friction resistance.

Aluminum also known as ‘winged metal’ because it is ideal for aircraft; again, due to being light, strong and flexible. In fact, aluminum was used in the frames of Zeppelin airships before airplanes had even been invented. Now a day, modern aircraft use aluminum alloys throughout, from the fuselage to the cockpit instruments. Even spacecraft, like space shuttles, contain 50% to 90% of aluminum alloys in their parts.

Construction

Buildings made with aluminum are just about maintenance free due to aluminum’s resistance to corrosion. Aluminum is additionally thermally efficient, that keeps homes warm in winter and cool in summer. Add the actual fact that aluminum contains a pleasing finish and might be curved, cut and welded to any desired form, it allows modern architects unlimited freedom to make buildings that may be not possible to make from wood, plastic, or steel.

The first building in which aluminum was widely used was the empire state Building in new york, built in 1931. Today, aluminum is often utilized in the construction of high-rise buildings and bridges. The lighter weight of aluminum makes it easier, faster and more convenient to work with. It also helps reduce other costs. A building made of steel would need abundant deeper foundations due to the added weight, which might drive up construction costs.

Notable modern buildings made of aluminum include the Bank of China headquarters in Hong Kong and Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre in London.

Electrical

Although it's just sixty-three of the electrical conductivity of copper, aluminum’s low density makes it the best choice for long distance power lines. If copper was used, support structures would be heavier, more numerous, and costlier. Aluminum is additionally significant ductile than copper, enabling it to be shaped into wires much more easily. Lastly, its corrosion-resistance helps shield wires from the elements.

In addition to power lines and cables, aluminum is employed in motors, appliances, and power systems. TV antennae and satellite dishes, even some led bulbs are made from aluminum.

Consumer goods

Aluminum’s look is the reason it's used frequently in consumer goods.

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and flat screen TVs are being made with an increasing amount of aluminum. Its look makes fashionable tech gadgets look sleek and complicated while being lightweight and durable. It's the proper combination of type and performance that is essential for consumer products. More and more, aluminum is replacing plastic and steel elements, because it is stronger and harder than plastic and lighter than steel. It also allows heat to dissipate quickly, keeping electronic devices from overheating.

Apple uses preponderantly aluminum components in its iPhone and MacBooks. Alternative hi-end electronics brands like audio manufacturer Bang & Olufsen also heavily favor aluminum.

Interior designers enjoy using aluminum as it’s simple to form and appears nice. Furniture items made of aluminum include tables, chairs, lamps, picture frames and decorative panels.

Of course, the foil in your kitchen is aluminum, as well as pots and frying pans that are frequently made of aluminum. These aluminum merchandise conduct heat well, are non-toxic, resistant to rust, and are easy to clean.

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