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Aluminum |
An aluminum is a soft and ductile metal that is silvery white in colour. The fusion of hydrogen with magnesium results to development of natural aluminum, which is very stable. It serves divergent purposes of numerous industries, especially for moulding and casting processes. Owing to its essential features like easy heat transfer, high strength, remarkable flexibility, effective output, Aluminum is highly acclaimed for the rotational moulding process by the manufactures.
Advantages of Aluminum:
Aluminum is 100% recyclable without any loss of its natural qualities. The recycled aluminum is known as secondary aluminum, which still retains its physical properties of corrosion resistance, durability, softness, lightweight, ductility, electrical and thermal conduction, etc. The secondary aluminum is produced in a broad range, which is put into use accordingly. It suits the divergent industrial requirements. Another important use of secondary aluminum is for the process of extrusion.
Characteristics of Aluminum:
Aluminum possesses amazing physical and chemical characteristics. Below discussed are some of its properties that result in its high industrial demand.
Physical Characteristics:
- Aluminum is soft, durable, lightweight, ductile and malleable metal.
- It is easily machined, cast, drawn and extruded.
- It is either silver or dull gray in colour.
- Its appearance depends upon its surface roughness.
- It does not burn, explore or ignite easily.
- It is absolutely nonmagnetic.
- It is a good thermal and electrical conductor.
- It is also capable of being a superconductor.
- Aluminum film serves as a good reflector of light.
- Its atoms are arranged in a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure.
- It has a stacking-fault energy of approximately 200 mJ/m2
- The yield strength of pure aluminum is very less as compared to that of aluminum alloys.
- The density and stiffness aluminum is about 1/3rd of that of steel.
Chemical Characteristics:
- Aluminum possesses an excellent corrosion resistant property, because of the reason that when it is exposed to air it forms a layer of aluminum oxide on its surface, effectively preventing further oxidation.
- Aluminum is capable of retaining its silvery reflectance even in its finely powdered form. Thus, an aluminum mirror finish has the highest reflectance as compared to the other metal. This makes aluminum an important component of silver colored paints.
- Aluminum is also a great source of energy, since heat is a form of energy. When mixed with water, aluminum is oxidized to produce hydrogen and heat, whose chemical formula is: 2 Al + 3 H2O → Al2O3 + 3 H2
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