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Aluminum The Multipurpose Metal

By: Harry Browar Aluminum is a lightweight metal and because of this property is used for many purposes. It is soft and pliable with a dull silvery look. It maintains this look because of a thin layer of oxidation on its surface. This oxidation means that it is corrosion resistant and can be used to protect many surfaces. When polished it has a higher reflective property than most metals with the exception of silver, gold and copper. Added to all these properties, it is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Aluminum is obtained by extraction from bauxite ore by electrolytic process.

Aluminum is widely used in mirrors and telescopes due to its utmost reflective property. Household looking glasses are often made with a thin pane of aluminum fitted behind a float glass. In the case of telescopes, added reflection and magnification is obtained by placing an aluminum sheet in front of the glass.

These days, aluminum is extensively used in its alloy form, as it is an extremely light weight metal and very cost effective. The alloy is very strong, making it an ideal metal for aircrafts and rockets. The aerospace industry requires metals which are not only strong, but durable, flexible, ductile and malleable. Aluminum alloy is often stronger than other pure metals; however, it gets corroded very easily. Thus if anticorrosive metal is required, it is best advised to use pure aluminum. To reduce costs further, aluminum can be used as an extra coating over the alloys, to protect it from corrosion.

Another use of alluminum is for killing bacteria in water and making it safe to drink. This is alluminum in a powder form. When used for this pupose it is known as allum. It can also be used to kill some parasites that can cause diseases in fish.

I have stated earlier that aluminum is an enormously good conductor of heat and electricity. Though copper is deemed a better conductor but lags behind because of its high expense value. Aluminum is used in electrical wiring but as it conducts heat and electricity so well that there are chances of mishaps due to overheating. So in some areas electrical wiring of houses are no longer made from aluminum.

Aluminum in its powdered form is very often used in paint, and a silvering agent in paint and mirrors. Aluminum when used in wood primer makes it water resistent. In mirrors, aluminum is pasted behind glass, which is then exposed to oxygen, forming aluminum oxide as the base of the mirror. Silver was used for this purpose earlier and it is the reason why the process is still called silvering.

Permanent magnets are made from aluminum alloys called Alnico alloys. To make Alnico magnet you have to heat aluminum to a certain temperature then cool it in a magnetic field. Alnico magnets have wide usages in making electrical gadgets.

As you can see, alluminum has many uses and is one of the most widely used metals. The Chinese were some of the first to make use of it in 300 AD. They actually made things from it. The Greeks and Romans also used it as a salt compound for dying. It is one of the most used metals in the world today.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Harry Browar is the chief editor for First Alluminum, the #1 source on the internet for information about alluminum, For more articles on alluminum why not visit: www.firstaluminum.com/articles
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