Tag: aluminum trivia

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10 Benefits of Aluminum

10 Benefits Of Aluminum

What are the benefits that aluminum can provide?

  1. Lightweight
  2. Strong and durable
  3. Resilient and malleable
  4. Thermal conductivity
  5. Electric conductivity
  6. Non-combustible
  7. Non-magnetic
  8. Non-corrosive
  9. Recyclable
  10. Cost

 

If you were to look for products such as aluminum profiles in the Philippines, you would eventually find a lot of other aluminum products are used for construction and a lot of other applications in various industries. This material is one of the most suitable building materials because of its high strength-to-weight ratio. But that is not the only thing that makes aluminum such a good material.

On its own, aluminum extrusions are extremely versatile. Its properties make it one of the most used materials in the world. Aluminum products are known for a number of benefits that make it stand out from the rest as one of, if not the most suitable building material for almost any application.

Listed in this article are the numerous benefits that aluminum provides!

 

 

Lightweight

Lightweight

Aluminum is one of the lightest metals out there. Comparing it with the likes of iron, steel, and copper, it would weigh only 1/3rd of their weight! This makes aluminum easier to handle, transport, and less expensive to move around!

 

 

Strong and Durable

In the Philippines, aluminum profiles are made to be as strong as needed in various applications. Its lightweight does not pose any downside when it comes to how strong it is. Another thing worth considering is that aluminum applications in cold environments provide an advantage—as the temperature gets lower, aluminum becomes stronger!

 

 

Resilient And Malleable

Resilience and Malleability

Along with being strong and lightweight, aluminum is also one of the more flexible metals. Its flexibility can let it bend from heavy loads but go back to its normal state afterward! It can also spring back from the shock of a relatively strong impact.

Aside from absorbing impacts, aluminum is also known for its high malleability. It is way more elastic than steel, giving it more versatility—specifically in the shapes that it’s able to be formed into. Aluminum is fairly easy to cut and form to different shapes and sizes, making it one of the more workable metals in use.

 

 

Thermal Conductivity

Aluminum is considered one of the most ideal metals for applications that require it to exchange heat. Aluminum ranks only second to copper when it comes to which metal has the highest thermal conductivity. It is most commonly used as a heat sink material because of it being cheaper than copper.

 

 

Electric Conductivity

Along with aluminum being lightweight and resistant to rust, it is also a very good conductor of electricity! This makes it one of the premier materials that are used in high-voltage overhead power lines that go through long distances.

 

 

Non-Combustible

Aluminum as a material does not burn. In extremely high temperatures, it becomes more elastic and malleable and it also does not exude any kind of toxic fumes.

 

 

Non-Magnetic

Aluminum does not have a magnetic charge. This makes it useful for high-voltage applications, particularly in electronics where magnetic fields are utilized and/or sensitive magnetic devices are included.

 

 

Non Corrosive

Non-Corrosive

Aluminum is one of the metals that is protected by its own naturally occurring oxide films— making it unable to rust. This protective measure can be enhanced even further by the process of anodizing or any other kind of finishing technique.

 

 

Recyclability

Just like steel, aluminum is a material that can be recycled again and again, without losing its characteristics. This gives aluminum a very high scrap value. Not only that—its recyclability also pins it as one of the options for sustainable development and construction!

 

 

Cost

Cost

In most cases, aluminum alloys and products should be a lot cheaper than steel. Although both of them boast recyclability and sustainability as a construction material, aluminum retains its position as the less expensive metal because of its strength to weight ratio.

 

 

Why Aluminum is Such a Good Material

With all of the benefits that aluminum provides, it’s no wonder that aluminum is one of the most popular building material. It doesn’t stop there however because it’s also used in many various industries!

One of the most popular industries where it is applied in the automotive industry. The great strength to weight ratio of aluminum makes it ideal as either frame or as doors and hoods of most cars! Other than the automotive industry, the aeronautic industry also utilizes aluminum to its utmost limits! Focusing on its lightweight and incredibly durable properties, aluminum makes up some of the key components of airplanes, enabling it to fly.

But the one thing that would probably propel aluminum as one of the best materials out there, is the fact that it is incredibly sustainable. Even though numerous cycles of recycling, it will still retain the characteristics that make it unique and versatile while also not causing damage to the environment.

In other words, being a material that is perfect for sustainable construction and development is the best benefit that it has!

 

 

Key Takeaway

Aluminum is one of the most versatile materials in the world. Its uses extend from your typical construction projects to cars, airplanes, and a whole lot of other industries that look to utilize its many benefits!

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6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Aluminum

6 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Aluminum

What are the things that you probably didn’t know about aluminum?

  1. It is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust
  2. It used to be considered more precious than gold
  3. It takes a long time to decompose
  4. It can be recycled an almost unlimited number of times
  5. It was highly prevalent during World War II
  6. Other interesting facts

 

 

Aluminum was discovered during the early 1800s, but did you know that it wasn’t until 1825 that it was finally fabricated as a usable material? In fact, it took until the middle of the 19th century before the first production process for aluminum was established.

Experts in the industry, as well as aluminum profile suppliers in the Philippines and other countries, consider this metal as one of the “youngest,” but in reality, aluminum silicates were used as early as 5,300 B.C. Ancient Persians used aluminum silicates to make their cooking vessels and even made use of aluminum oxide clays for first aid, to dye fabric, and to tan hides.

In addition to these facts, here are six more things you probably didn’t know about aluminum:

 

 

It Is the Most Abundant Metal in the Earth’s Crust

According to the University of Wisconsin, aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust, accounting for about eight percent of its total weight! In addition, it is also the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen and silicon.

While aluminum is indeed abundant, it is rarely found in its true form. Instead, it is usually found in combination with other materials in the form of an ore called bauxite. And despite the overwhelming amount of aluminum that is present on Earth, there are no known life forms that make use of it for their biological function.

 

 

It Used to Be Considered More Precious Than Gold

It Used to Be Considered More Precious Than Gold

During the mid-19th century, aluminum was considered a precious metal. In fact, because there was still no established way to extract pure aluminum from the earth, it was said to be even more precious than gold!

As the story goes, Emperor Napoleon III had aluminum plates and cutlery that were reserved for his most honored guests, leaving his lesser important guests to eat on “lowly” gold dinnerware. In addition, the capstone of the famous Washington Monument is actually made of solid aluminum; it was even the largest amount of aluminum ever cast at the time of its construction.

 

 

It Takes a Long Time to Decompose

One thing about aluminum that many people probably don’t know is that it takes a long time to decompose. Aluminum is a metal, and just like many other metals and metal alloys, it only starts to decompose after a minimum of 80 to 100 years. Usually, though, aluminum cans and other aluminum products will only fully degrade after a few hundred years.

 

 

It Can Be Recycled an Almost Unlimited Number of Times

Aluminum does not have any limitations as to how many times you can recycle it which makes it the perfect material to reuse and recycle. Because aluminum is recycled by melting it down into a liquid form and then cast and molded into new objects, it allows the metal to be melted down again and again without fail.

At the end of every recycling process, the aluminum metal that is produced will be good as new again. Through this highly-efficient recycling process, even if mines and processing plants were to suddenly stop making new aluminum, there will still probably be enough of it to supply the worldwide demand.

 

 

It Was Highly Prevalent During World War II

It Was Highly Prevalent During World War II

This valuable metal was used in the construction of ship infrastructure, aircraft, and millions of mess kits during World War II. There were even “aluminum foil drives” implemented in the United States during this time in order to contribute to the war effort. This included an offer of free movie tickets in exchange for aluminum foil balls.

 

 

Other Interesting Facts About Aluminum

Aside from those already mentioned above, here are some things about aluminum that are fascinating to know about!

  • In his 1865 science-fiction novel, Journey to the Moon, writer Jules Verne describe a space rocket made with aluminum.
  • A single Boeing-747 can contain up to 147,000 pounds of aluminum.
  • Space shuttles were launched in the 1980s with rocket boosters that used aluminum oxide.
  • On its own, aluminum is quite weak so it is combined with other metals to give it more strength. And out of the hundreds of aluminum alloys available, seven are most commonly used in the manufacturing of the metal.

 

 

Key Takeaway

Aluminum has become one of the most widely used and abundant metals today. Thanks to the various advancements in its production process, it has become an important component of numerous items, from soda cans to truck frames and aircraft parts.

So now that you are all caught up with all of these interesting aluminum facts, hopefully  you have gained a better insight about this revolutionary material the next time you drop by your aluminum profile supplier here in the Philippines for your next projects.