Advantages of Aluminium Metal
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Aluminium Advantage |
Weldability
Aluminium can be joined/welded together easily as this metal has a good bonding property. Example 5083 alloy.
Non-Magnetic
Aluminium is paramagnetic, making this metal ideal for use in electrical, electronics, construction, railway, marine, spacecraft and submarines.
Specific weight
The specific weight of aluminium is 2.7 g/cm³, making this material lightweight, easy to handle, reducing transportation costs, reducing load capacity, and reducing the self-weight of products in automobiles, structures and buildings.
Soundproof
Aluminium has good noise reduction and soundproofing capacity, making it ideal for making windows, doors, ceilings, panels and shutters.
Odourless
Aluminium is impermeable, being odour and flavourless, making it one of the best metals for producing cookware, utensils, pans, food containers, pharmaceuticals, food and drink containers.
Recyclability and Reusability
Aluminium can be easily recycled and reused, saving about 95% of energy compared to the metal extracted from the earth. This metal only consumes 5% of energy for recycling, reducing the environmental impact. This metal is 100% recyclable.
Mechanical Properties
The tensile strength and hardness of metal improve at lower temperatures, while the brittleness property of the metal reduces.
Density
The density of aluminium is 2.7 g/cm³. The density of aluminium is low, making this metal best for lightweight applications such as automobiles, aerospace, construction and military.
Recyclability and Reusability
Aluminium can be easily recycled and reused again saving about 95% of energy as compared to metal being extracted from the earth. This metal only consumes 5% of energy for recycling, reducing the environmental impact.
Properties after recycling
The properties of aluminium metal do not change after recycling the metal.
Lightweight
It is a low-density, lightweight metal but has high strength. The strength-to-weight ratio of this metal is high. One of the best metals to be used in the sports, packing, aircraft industry, transportation, electronics, kitchen appliances, defence, bridges, food packing, sports equipment and automotive industries.
Corrosion Resistance
The material is highly resistant to corrosion, producing its own oxide layer that protects the components and parts of electrical and electronic equipment.
Machinability
Metal can be formed into different shapes and sizes by turning, milling, drilling, shaping, grinding, punching, boring, sawing, forming, groove cutting and welding.
Strong alloy
Aluminium's mechanical properties and strength can be increased by adding alloys such as copper, magnesium, nickel, and zinc to make aluminium alloys used in the automobile, marine, ship, and defence industries. Suspension, engine blocks, wheels and engine parts are components
High-Temperature Metal
Metal is reliable at high temperatures. It is one of the best metals for roofing and electric wires. At lower temperatures, metal does not become brittle, does not melt, and retains strength at high temperatures.
Melting Point
Aluminium has a lower melting point compared to other metals such as steel and cast iron.
Ductility
Flexible and used for making foils, containers, wire, tubes, aluminium profiles, rods and sheets, it has ductility and durability used for making lightweight beverage cans.
Malleability
The malleability of metal allows it to be drawn into thin aluminium sheets and wires.
Insulation property
Widely used to insulate food containers, aluminium foils are used for wrapping, retaining heat and reducing heat loss. This metal has good thermal insulation properties and can retain heat.
Environmental Friendly
It is an environmentally friendly metal with a lower environmental impact. Safe, easy to carry and handle.
Safety
Safe for cooking food, the material is used to manufacture kitchen utensils and pieces of equipment, such as utensils such as pans, cookers, vessels and plates.
Availability
The availability of metal on the Earth is high; in fact, it is the 3rd most abundant metal on the Earth's crust. It consists of around 8% of Earth's core mass.
High strength-to-weight ratio
Aluminium metal is lightweight weight having higher ultimate strength, making it a durable metal for high-load applications.
Good Conductor property
Balanced electrons have been a better conductor of heat, thermal conductivity and electricity. This enables the material to be used in wires for winding in transformers, generators, motors, alternators, electrical products and electronic equipment such as thermal radiators, motherboards, heat sinks, and air conditioners. Head cables are used to transmit high-voltage electricity.
Aluminium Metal Casting
High-quality thin aluminium casting/parts can be mass-produced using the High-Pressure Die-Casting process (HPDC). Complex parts such as engine covers, casing of pumps and gears. This metal has good mouldability.
Aluminium Forging
Aluminium alloy can be forged to produce components with high mechanical strength.
Aluminium Extrusion
Complex parts can easily be extruded in different shapes and sizes using the aluminium extrusion process. Example: Pipes, channels, rods, tubes, and angle sections (T, L and I).
Non-Combustible
Aluminium is a Class-A rated non-combustible material that does not cause fire hazards and is best for decking systems.
Plating
Aluminium can be easily plated, polished, powder-coated, and galvanised with silver, zinc, and chromium materials. This allows aluminium to be used for decorative and functional purposes, such as for cladding in construction, interior decoration, utensils and cards.
Energy
Energy used to produce an aluminium component/part consumes less energy due to its malleability, formability, ductility, and strength, but high-strength properties.
Application of Aluminium
Aluminium metal is non-magnetic and is widely used in electronic equipment such as laptops, smart watches, household appliances, transformers, refrigerators, radiators, conveyors, shipbuilding, powerlines, air conditioning and automobiles. Used in the cosmetic industry for packing, outdoor furniture, thermal insulation, grandstands, aluminium foil, and decking systems for terraces and balconies.
Cost
Aluminium is a less costly metal than copper.
Durability
The wear, tear, dents, warp, cracks, split, deformation, scratches and durability of this material are high; this metal can be used in any environmental condition.
Low maintenance and longevity
Aluminium is a low-maintenance metal, as it is corrosion-resistant and has higher longevity with proper powder coating and plating.
Appearance
The aesthetic appeal and texture of the metal are modern. Metal can be directly used without any colour, coating and plating in many applications such as windows and sliding doors.
Heat treatment
Heat treatment of aluminium metal improves metal properties of the metal. Mechanical properties of aluminium, such as compressive strength, shear strength, hardness property, toughness, reduced internal stress, and tensile strength, can be improved using a heat treatment process.
Secondary Manufacturing Processes
Aluminium castings, sheets, profiles and plates can be polished, brushed, anodised, electroplated, powder coated, sandblasted, dip-coated, painted and galvanised, easily giving the metal an aesthetic appeal and look.
Reflectivity
Aluminium has a reflectivity property; it reflects heat. It is widely used in buildings as a blind to reflect 80% sunlight.
For example, in the foundry, the heat suit's outer layer is made from aluminium as it reflects radiant heat and splashes of molten metal during the casting process and protects the operator wearing the aluminium suit.
Due to this reflective property, it is also used in the metal casting and welding industry as it reflects 95% of heat.
Application
Aluminium roofing, foils, head cables, frames, sliding doors, windows, electrical and electronic equipment.
Thermal & Electrical conductivity
Aluminium metal has good thermal and electrical conductivity, making it useful in producing automobile parts such as aluminium engines made from aluminium alloys, kitchen equipment, household equipment, aluminium windows, panels, profiles and sheets.