Aluminum is one of the most abundant metallic chemical elements on the planet and in the earth’s crust, it is considered one of the most versatile metals on the periodic table thanks to its chemical and physical properties. It is lightweight, durable, malleable, and resistant to corrosion. This metal is widely used in the aerospace, transportation, and construction industries.
- It is a non-corrosive metal
- Easily machined and cast light but durable
- Non-magnetic and non-sparking
- Good conductor of heat and electricity
Here we present the most important aluminum properties. You can also learn about all the uses that this metal has by clicking here.
Aluminum properties
Physical properties
Aluminum is a light gray metallic element and is part of the non-ferrous metals. It is mostly in the solid state and has a density of about 2.7 kg/m3. Its melting point is 660 °C, while its boiling point ranges from 2519 °C. It is a good electrical and thermal conductor.
It is extremely light and malleable, thanks to its low density it is perfect for numerous industrial applications.
Chemical properties
Its atomic nucleus is made up of 14 neutrons, 13 protons and 13 electrons. Aluminum can be dissolved in bases and acids, as well as being reactive when in contact with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.
The aluminum has anticorrosive properties However, when it is in a state of corrosion, a dark grayish layer is generated on it that can be removed.
It is a light weight metal
Aluminum is considered one of the lightest metals because it has a specific weight of 2.7 gr/cm3, this is specifically one third of the weight of steel. This property is very advantageous due to the fact that it reduces the cost of its manufacture and production.
In addition, it gives it great versatility and many applications. For example, this characteristic is important for use in the construction of light vehicles. This allows vehicles or aircraft to reduce their weight and move easily. This also reduces noise and improves comfort levels.
Absorbs sound and impacts very well
Aluminum is a metal capable of absorbing sound very well and therefore it is used above all for the manufacture of ceilings. It is also a material that is applied to car bumpers thanks to its ability to absorb impacts.
Aluminum is an excellent sound absorber and is used for roof construction. It is also used in automobile bumpers due to its shock absorption properties.
Where does it come from and how is it extracted?
this metal It is the third most abundant element on the planet. However, it is never found in a totally pure state, since it is obtained through the bauxite mining.
The large bauxite reserves are found in countries such as Brazil, Jamaica, Venezuela and Australia, as well as several countries on the African continent.
Aluminum is obtained through two industrial procedures known as the Bayer Process, based on refining bauxite to obtain alumina, and the Hall Héroult, which transforms alumina into aluminum basically through the use of electrical energy.
Approximately two tons of alumina are required to obtain one ton of aluminum, while two tons of bauxite are needed to obtain one ton of alumina.
Where on the planet does it abound?
Aluminum is very common on the planet and is easily located in the earth’s crust In fact, it makes up 8% of the lithosphere, it is also present in vegetation, rocks and even in some animals.
There is evidence that this metal is very abundant in the southern part of the moon.
Main mechanical characteristics
It is known for being a very light, malleable metal and for having a long life, as it is highly resistant to corrosion.
It is also ductile and can be forged relatively easily, in addition to having a high resistance to compression and tension.
Functions in the human body
The human body contains small amounts of aluminum, approximately between 35 mg. and 50mg.
This metal is distributed in the body as follows: 50% is present in the lungs, a quarter in the soft tissues and the rest in the bones.
Medical studies express that a high presence of aluminum can cause liver and kidney diseases, in addition the absorption of aluminum dust can cause serious problems in the lungs.
There is also other research aimed at the existence of aluminum in the body -in high doses- can affect Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.
Benefits in technology
Aluminum is frequently used in the telecommunications industry for the manufacture of antenna and satellite parts.
It also has many applications in the automotive industry, since this metal is used to manufacture most vehicle parts and components because of its light weight.
It is a corrosion resistant metal.
Aluminum is characterized by naturally generating a thin protective layer of oxide upon exposure to the environment that protects it from corrosion. This makes it useful for applying to cabinets, aluminum fixtures, and cars.
Benefits in society
Aluminum is one of the most important metals on the planet, as well as being widely used by man throughout history.
Its use is practically universal, since it is widely used in various industrial applications.
Aluminum is widely used in the construction industry, since from this metal doors, windows, and various structural elements can be created for homes and buildings.
Likewise, aluminum is used for the manufacture of electrical appliances due to its light weight, great resistance and very low cost.
It is a fairly ductile material.
Aluminum is considered to be a fairly ductile material and its main advantage is that its melting point and density are low. This means that the metal can be processed with multiple techniques, which allows the creation of various aluminum-based products such as sheets, tubes, rods, wires and more accessories.
It is a recyclable metal
One of the advantages of aluminum over other metals is that can be used on several occasions and without the loss of its properties physical.
This particularity represents significant economic savings, since this aluminum recycling process requires little energy consumption, in contrast to obtaining primary aluminum, since large amounts of electrical energy are used.
The metal that is recycled is melted again and secondary aluminum is obtained from this process.
It is used for alloys
Aluminum is often combined with other metals to add further strength.
The metals used for this purpose are magnesium, copper, manganese, zincand silicon, even titanium and chrome are also used.
Foil
One of the most frequent uses is aluminum foil. They are sheets of metal of a minimum thickness, which is used in the pharmaceutical industry and in the kitchen of homes.
Aluminum can also be used to preserve canned and tetra brik foods.
Aluminum industry
aluminum too has a place in the electrical industry, as it is a good conductor, it can even compete with copper for being a very cheap metal, however, certain physical conditions make it less competitive.
It is widely used in the construction finishing industry, for example, it is applied to aluminum windows, aluminum accessories such as doorknobs, and much more.
Table on the properties of aluminum
| PROPERTY | METRIC | UNITS | ENGLISH | UNITS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.5e3 – 2.9e3 | kg/m^3 | 156 – 181 | lb/ft^3 |
| production force | 3e7 – 5e8 | Pennsylvania | 4.35 – 72.5 | ksi |
| Tensile strength | 5.8e7 – 5e8 | Pennsylvania | 8.41 – 79.8 | ksi |
| Elongation | 0.01 – 0.44 | % Pressure | % Pressure | |
| Hardness (Vickers) | 1.18e8 – 1.48e9 | Pennsylvania | HV | |
| Impact resistance (without notches) | 1.9e5 – 2e5 | J/m^2 | ft.lbf / in^2 | |
| fracture toughness | 2.2e7 – 3.5e7 | Pa/m^0.5 | 20 – 31.9 | ksi/in^0.5 |
| Young’s modulus | 6.8e10 – 8.2e10 | Pennsylvania | 9.86 – 11.9 | 10^6psi |
| maximum service temperature | 120 – 210 | °C | 248 – 410 | °F |
| melting temperature | 475 – 677 | °C | 887 – 1.25e3 | °F |
| insulator or conductor | Good | Driver | Good driver | |
| specific heat capacity | 857 – 990 | J/kg °C | 0.205 – 0.236 | BTU / lb.°F |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion | 2.1e-5 – 2.4e-5 | strain/°C | 11.7 – 13.3 | µstrain / °F |
| insulator or conductor | Good driver | °C | Good driver | °F |
| electrical resistivity | 2.5e-8 – 6.5e-8 | °C | 2.5 – 6.5 | °F |