Aluminum – Metal for the Future Aluminum is one of the most abundantly present metals in the earth’s crust. Ductility, corrosion resistance, low density and conductivity are the main reasons why aluminum is so widely used. Aluminum is one of the most abundantly present metals in the earth’s Crust. It is considered to be quite a remarkable metal due to its light weight and ability to resist corrosion. Aluminum weighs less in terms of volume as compared to most other metals and this makes it easier to handle and cheaper to ship. It is also quite sturdy and its profiles can be made strong enough for most of its applications. It serves as an ideal material for uses requiring heat exchangers because it conducts heat better that most other metals. It is also a good conductor of electricity. Applications that involve explosive and combustible materials also support the use of aluminum because it does not emit sparks. Using it is also quite economically as the aluminum scrap value is quite high. Even at extremely high temperatures, aluminum does not burn easily or produce toxic fumes. One of the main advantages of aluminum is that it can be recycled indefinitely without any compromise on quality. Therefore Aluminum manufactures find it quite profitable to deal with this precious metal due to its high scrap value. The following are some of the most widely used applications of aluminum:
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Packaging: This is one of the most common end uses of aluminum, mainly because it is non toxic. It is used quiet often by the food packaging industry to keep food fresh and hygienic. It is used in the form of soft drink cans, foil containers, and foil wrappings. Another advantage of using Aluminum in packaging food is that it is impermeable and preserves the aroma and taste of eatables. Construction: Aluminum is used widely for construction purposes due to it durability and ability to resist corrosion. It is an excellent choice of material for windows, skylights, door frames and roofing because of its light weight and thermal efficiency. Aluminum also accepts finishes quite well and can be painted upon to achieve a particular effect for the sake of appearance.
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Transportation: Aluminum's matchless strength to weight ratio makes it a brilliant choice of material for the transport industry. The use of aluminum has increased quite significantly in the manufacturing of airplane, motorcycles and automobiles.
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Electrical uses: Even though Aluminum is inferior to copper as an electrical conductor it is still the first choice of material for long distance power lines because of its low density and its high cost efficiency. Because it is more ductile than copper it can be easily drawn into wires for power lines. The corrosion resistant properties of aluminum also add to the reasons y it is the perfect choice for long distance power lines.
The benefits of using aluminum are defiantly a boon for manufacturing companies. The fact that aluminum companies are prospering is also proof of its superiority as metal. Aluminum has numerous other end uses and like all the above uses, they relate back to the properties of the metal.