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| What is aluminum? |
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Posted by: lolitahe69 - 10-15-2021, 03:17 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has a great affinity towards oxygen, and forms a protective layer of oxide on the surface when exposed to air. Aluminium visually resembles silver, both in its color and in its great ability to reflect light. It is soft, non-magnetic and ductile. It has one stable isotope, 27Al; this isotope is very common, making aluminium the twelfth most common element in the Universe. The radioactivity of 26Al is used in radiodating.
![[Image: aluminium.jpg]](https://www.metalfaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/aluminium.jpg) aluminium
Chemically, aluminium is a weak metal in the boron group; as it is common for the group, aluminium forms compounds primarily in the +3 oxidation state. The aluminium cation Al3+ is small and highly charged; as such, it is polarizing, and bonds aluminium forms tend towards covalency. The strong affinity towards oxygen leads to aluminium’s common association with oxygen in nature in the form of oxides; for this reason, aluminium is found on Earth primarily in rocks in the crust, where it is the third most abundant element after oxygen and silicon, rather than in the mantle, and virtually never as the free metal.
Fact box
Group
13
Melting point
660.323°C, 1220.581°F, 933.473 K
Period
3
Boiling point
2519°C, 4566°F, 2792 K
Block
p
Density (g cm−3)
2.70
Atomic number
13
Relative atomic mass
26.982
State at 20°C
Solid
Key isotopes
27Al
Electron configuration
[Ne] 3s23p1
CAS number
7429-90-5
ChemSpider ID
4514248
ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database
Physical characteristics
Isotopes of aluminium
Of aluminium isotopes, only 27Al is stable. This situation is common for elements with an odd atomic number. It is the only primordial aluminium isotope, i.e. the only one that has existed on Earth in its current form since the formation of the planet. Nearly all aluminium on Earth is present as this isotope, which makes it a mononuclidic element and means that its standard atomic weight is virtually the same as that of the isotope. This makes aluminium very useful in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as its single stable isotope has a high NMR sensitivity. The standard atomic weight of aluminium is low in comparison with many other metals,[c] which has consequences for the element’s properties (see below).
Electron shell
An aluminium atom has 13 electrons, arranged in an electron configuration of [Ne] 3s2 3p1, with three electrons beyond a stable noble gas configuration. Accordingly, the combined first three ionization energies of aluminium are far lower than the fourth ionization energy alone.Such an electron configuration is shared with the other well-characterized members of its group, boron, gallium, indium, and thallium; it is also expected for nihonium. Aluminium can relatively easily surrender its three outermost electrons in many chemical reactions (see below). The electronegativity of aluminium is 1.61 (Pauling scale).
Bulk
Aluminium metal has an appearance ranging from silvery white to dull gray, depending on the surface roughness.[d] A fresh film of aluminium serves as a good reflector (approximately 92%) of visible light and an excellent reflector (as much as 98%) of medium and far infrared radiation.[citation needed] Aluminium mirrors are the most reflective of all metal mirrors for the near ultraviolet and far infrared light, and one of the most reflective in the visible spectrum, nearly on par with silver, and the two therefore look similar. Aluminium is also good at reflecting solar radiation, although prolonged exposure to sunlight in air add wear to the surface of the metal; this may be prevented if aluminium is anodized, which adds a protective layer of oxide on the surface.[citation needed]
Chemistry
Aluminium combines characteristics of pre- and post-transition metals. Since it has few available electrons for metallic bonding, like its heavier group 13 congeners, it has the characteristic physical properties of a post-transition metal, with longer-than-expected interatomic distances.Furthermore, as Al3+ is a small and highly charged cation, it is strongly polarizing and bonding in aluminium compounds tends towards covalency; this behavior is similar to that of beryllium (Be2+), and the two display an example of a diagonal relationship.
The underlying core under aluminium’s valence shell is that of the preceding noble gas, whereas those of its heavier congeners gallium, indium, thallium, and nihonium also include a filled d-subshell and in some cases a filled f-subshell. Hence, the inner electrons of aluminium shield the valence electrons almost completely, unlike those of aluminium’s heavier congeners. As such, aluminium is the most electropositive metal in its group, and its hydroxide is in fact more basic than that of gallium.[29][e] Aluminium also bears minor similarities to the metalloid boron in the same group: AlX3 compounds are valence isoelectronic to BX3 compounds (they have the same valence electronic structure), and both behave as Lewis acids and readily form adducts.[31] Additionally, one of the main motifs of boron chemistry is regular icosahedral structures, and aluminium forms an important part of many icosahedral quasicrystal alloys, including the Al–Zn–Mg class.
Aluminium has a high chemical affinity to oxygen, which renders it suitable for use as a reducing agent in the thermite reaction. A fine powder of aluminium metal reacts explosively on contact with liquid oxygen; under normal conditions, however, aluminium forms a thin oxide layer (~5 nm at room temperature) that protects the metal from further corrosion by oxygen, water, or dilute acid, a process termed passivation.Because of its general resistance to corrosion, aluminium is one of the few metals that retains silvery reflectance in finely powdered form, making it an important component of silver-colored paints.Aluminium is not attacked by oxidizing acids because of its passivation. This allows aluminium to be used to store reagents such as nitric acid, concentrated sulfuric acid, and some organic acids.
In hot concentrated hydrochloric acid, aluminium reacts with water with evolution of hydrogen, and in aqueous sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide at room temperature to form aluminates—protective passivation under these conditions is negligible.Aqua regia also dissolves aluminium. Aluminium is corroded by dissolved chlorides, such as common sodium chloride, which is why household plumbing is never made from aluminium.The oxide layer on aluminium is also destroyed by contact with mercury due to amalgamation or with salts of some electropositive metals.As such, the strongest aluminium alloys are less corrosion-resistant due to galvanic reactions with alloyed copper, and aluminium’s corrosion resistance is greatly reduced by aqueous salts, particularly in the presence of dissimilar metals.
Aluminium reacts with most nonmetals upon heating, forming compounds such as aluminium nitride (AlN), aluminium sulfide (Al2S3), and the aluminium halides (AlX3). It also forms a wide range of intermetallic compounds involving metals from every group on the periodic table.
History
The analysis of a curious metal ornament found in the tomb of Chou-Chu, a military leader in 3rd century China, turned out to be 85% aluminium. How it was produced remains a mystery. By the end of the 1700s, aluminium oxide was known to contain a metal, but it defeated all attempts to extract it. Humphry Davy had used electric current to extract sodium and potassium from their so-called ‘earths’ (oxides), but his method did not release aluminium in the same way. The first person to produce it was Hans Christian Oersted at Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1825, and he did it by heating aluminium chloride with potassium. Even so, his sample was impure. It fell to the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler to perfect the method in 1827, and obtain pure aluminium for the first time by using sodium instead of potassium.
The discovery of aluminium was announced in 1825 by Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted. The first industrial production of aluminium was initiated by French chemist Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville in 1856. Aluminium became much more available to the public with the Hall–Héroult process developed independently by French engineer Paul Héroult and American engineer Charles Martin Hall in 1886, and the mass production of aluminium led to its extensive use in industry and everyday life. In World Wars I and II, aluminium was a crucial strategic resource for aviation. In 1954, aluminium became the most produced non-ferrous metal, surpassing copper. In the 21st century, most aluminium was consumed in transportation, engineering, construction, and packaging in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan.
Applications
Metal
The global production of aluminium in 2016 was 58.8 million metric tons. It exceeded that of any other metal except iron (1,231 million metric tons).
Aluminium is almost always alloyed, which markedly improves its mechanical properties, especially when tempered. For example, the common aluminium foils and beverage cans are alloys of 92% to 99% aluminium.The main alloying agents are copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and silicon (e.g., duralumin) with the levels of other metals in a few percent by weight.Aluminum, both wrought and cast, has been alloyed with: manganese, silicon, magnesium, copper and zinc amongst others. For example, the Kynal family of alloys was developed by the British chemical manufacturer Imperial Chemical Industries.
[b]The major uses for aluminium metal are in:[/b] - Transportation (automobiles, aircraft, trucks, railway cars, marine vessels, bicycles, spacecraft, etc.). Aluminium is used because of its low density;
- Packaging (cans, foil, frame etc.). Aluminium is used because it is non-toxic (see below), non-adsorptive, and splinter-proof;
- Building and construction (windows, doors, siding, building wire, sheathing, roofing, etc.). Since steel is cheaper, aluminium is used when lightness, corrosion resistance, or engineering features are important;
- Electricity-related uses (conductor alloys, motors, and generators, transformers, capacitors, etc.). Aluminium is used because it is relatively cheap, highly conductive, has adequate mechanical strength and low density, and resists corrosion;
- A wide range of household items, from cooking utensils to furniture. Low density, good appearance, ease of fabrication, and durability are the key factors of aluminium usage;
- Machinery and equipment (processing equipment, pipes, tools). Aluminium is used because of its corrosion resistance, non-pyrophoricity, and mechanical strength.
- Portable computer cases. Currently rarely used without alloying,[142] but aluminum can be recycled and clean aluminum has residual market value: for example, the Used Beverage Can (UBC) material was used to encase the electronic components of MacBook Air laptop, Pixel 5 smartphone or Summit Lite smartwatch.
Compounds
The great majority (about 90%) of aluminium oxide is converted to metallic aluminium.[129] Being a very hard material (Mohs hardness 9),[146] alumina is widely used as an abrasive;[147] being extraordinarily chemically inert, it is useful in highly reactive environments such as high pressure sodium lamps.[148] Aluminium oxide is commonly used as a catalyst for industrial processes;[129] e.g. the Claus process to convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfur in refineries and to alkylate amines. Many industrial catalysts are supported by alumina, meaning that the expensive catalyst material is dispersed over a surface of the inert alumina.Another principal use is as a drying agent or absorbent.
Laser deposition of alumina on a substrate
Several sulfates of aluminium have industrial and commercial application. Aluminium sulfate (in its hydrate form) is produced on the annual scale of several millions of metric tons. About two-thirds is consumed in water treatment.[153] The next major application is in the manufacture of paper. It is also used as a mordant in dyeing, in pickling seeds, deodorizing of mineral oils, in leather tanning, and in production of other aluminium compounds.[153] Two kinds of alum, ammonium alum and potassium alum, were formerly used as mordants and in leather tanning, but their use has significantly declined following availability of high-purity aluminium sulfate.[153] Anhydrous aluminium chloride is used as a catalyst in chemical and petrochemical industries, the dyeing industry, and in synthesis of various inorganic and organic compounds. Aluminium hydroxychlorides are used in purifying water, in the paper industry, and as antiperspirants. Sodium aluminate is used in treating water and as an accelerator of solidification of cement.
[b]Many aluminium compounds have niche applications, for example:[/b]- Aluminium acetate in solution is used as an astringent.
- Aluminium phosphate is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramic, pulp and paper products, cosmetics, paints, varnishes, and in dental cement.
- Aluminium hydroxide is used as an antacid, and mordant; it is used also in water purification, the manufacture of glass and ceramics, and in the waterproofing of fabrics.
- Lithium aluminium hydride is a powerful reducing agent used in organic chemistry.
- Organoaluminiums are used as Lewis acids and cocatalysts.[
- Methylaluminoxane is a cocatalyst for Ziegler–Natta olefin polymerization to produce vinyl polymers such as polyethene.[
- Aqueous aluminium ions (such as aqueous aluminium sulfate) are used to treat against fish parasites such as Gyrodactylus salaris.
- In many vaccines, certain aluminium salts serve as an immune adjuvant (immune response booster) to allow the protein in the vaccine to achieve sufficient potency as an immune stimulant.
https://www.metalfaq.com/types-metal/aluminum-metal/
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| How to choose the right aluminium alloy |
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Posted by: lolitahe69 - 10-15-2021, 03:09 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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More than 540 registered compositions. I’m talking about the number of aluminium alloys that are available today. Do you know how to choose the one for your product?
Aluminium can be alloyed with other metals and non-metals. This allows the aluminium to take on different properties. Iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) are naturally found in the aluminium, from the bauxite, and are in virtually all technically used aluminium materials.
Aluminium that contains as much as 1 percent by weight, of iron and silicon together, is called unalloyed or pure aluminium.
Unalloyed aluminium is soft and has low strength, and its use is limited. Alloyed aluminium, on the other hand, has increased mechanical properties and can therefore be used in many different contexts.
Common alloying substances, beyond iron and silicon, are magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn).
An outstanding aluminium company needs to have metallurgical competence and the ability to make sure the alloy composition can be produced in a repeatable and consistent way – and that the alloy actually achieves what we want it to achieve.
Finding the right alloy
But let me get back to the main question: How do you choose the right alloy for your product? There are, as I mentioned, more than 540 registered alloys.
Start by specifying your needs. Here are some properties to consider:
Strength
Surface finish
Suitability for decorative anodizing
Corrosion resistance
Machinability
Weldability
Production economics – price
You can find lists and guides on the internet – consider the source! – where alloy families are graded according to these characteristics, and you can also find recommendations. This will help you get closer to the right alloy.
But be aware that not all alloy compositions are found on all the lists. My advice: Do your homework and then talk to an expert.
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| What is aluminium alloy |
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Posted by: lolitahe69 - 10-15-2021, 03:06 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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An “alloy” is a blend of different metallic elements, often created to enhance the strength and durability of the material. An aluminum alloy typically consists of the latter as the main metal in the blend, often combined with other elements, such as silicon, tin, manganese, or even copper, tin, and magnesium, depending on the desired application. With the right combination of elements, aluminum can acquire a lot more strength, and in some cases, it could even outperform steel. Alloys bring the same benefits of pure aluminum, and they are also relatively cost-effective because they have a lower melting point.
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| Is aluminium bad for health? |
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Posted by: aluhm - 10-15-2021, 03:03 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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Human bodies can excrete small amounts of aluminium very efficiently. This means that minimal exposure to aluminium is not a problem: the World Health Organisation has established a safe daily intake of 40mg per kilogram of body weight per day. So for a person who weighs 60kg the allowable intake would be 2400 mg.
Do experts have something to add to public debate?
But most people are exposed to and ingest far more than this suggested safe daily intake. Aluminium is present in corn, yellow cheese, salt, herbs, spices and tea. It’s used in cooking utensils, as described above, as well as in pharmacological agents like antacids and antiperspirants. Aluminium sulfate, which is derived from aluminium, is used as a coagulant during the purification process of drinking water.
Scientists are exploring whether over-exposure to aluminium may be posing threats to human health. For instance, high concentrations of aluminium have been detected in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have examined the community of old people with Alzheimer’s and concluded that it is a modern disease that’s developed from altered living conditions associated with society’s industrialisation. These conditions may include high levels of aluminium in daily life.
Aluminium poses other health risks, too. Studies have suggested that high aluminium intake may be harmful to some patients with bone diseases or renal impairment. It also reduces the growth rate of human brain cells.
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| What are 5 uses of aluminium? |
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Posted by: lolitahe69 - 10-15-2021, 03:01 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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Top 10 Uses of Aluminium we’ll be discussing in this article:
Power lines
High-rise buildings
Window frames
Consumer electronics
Household and industrial appliances
Aircraft components
Spacecraft components
Ships
Trains
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| how I can track the parcel? |
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Posted by: Demoratics - 09-24-2021, 03:43 PM - Forum: aluminium faq
- Replies (3)
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I made an order in a store in China and a parcel was sent to me through the WINIT service, but I can't find where and how I can track the parcel.
Thank you in advance for your help.
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| What are the Differences Between 6061 and 7075 Aluminum? |
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Posted by: lolitahe69 - 09-23-2021, 02:00 AM - Forum: aluminium faq
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The main differences between 6061 and 7075 aluminum are the following attributes:
Alloy Series & Chemical Composition
Mechanical Properties
Fabrication Considerations
Applications
Alloy Series and Chemical Composition
The first difference between 6061 and 7075 can be found right away just by looking at their number designations. 6061 is in the 6XXX series of aluminum alloy grades and 7075 is in the 7XXX series. Knowing this, without even digging into their individual material data sheets, it can be deduced that 6061 will have a higher amount of silicon, and that 7075 will have a much higher amount of zinc. Upon inspection of the exact ranges of the two individual alloys, it can also be noted that both have significant amounts of magnesium, although 7075 has slightly more. 7075 also has greater additions of copper in its chemical makeup.
Mechanical Properties
Both 6061 and 7075 are heat-treatable, so their mechanical properties cannot be compared accurately without assuming the same type of heat treatment. When looking at both alloys in the -T6 condition (meaning solution heat-treated then artificially aged), several noticeable differences are observed. First off is that the tensile strength of 7075-T6 is nearly double that of 6061-T6. The shear strength of 7075-T6 is roughly 1.5 times that of 6061-T6. The former is substantially harder as well.
Fabrication Considerations
6061 nearly always has the edge over 7075 when it comes to fabricating the two aluminum alloy types. This is mostly due to 6061 having a lower hardness and tensile strength. The lower hardness allows it to be machined more easily than 7075. The lower tensile strength means that 6061 is easier to form than 7075. While both materials can be joined by soldering, brazing or adhesives, 6061 is weldable and 7075 is generally considered not weldable. Even though 6061 is considered weldable, care must be taken to select the proper weld filler metal. Post-weld heat treatment and aging may be required to get the weld area back to the original “-T” designation. 7075 is extremely prone to cracking following welding.
Applications
There is much application overlap between the 6061 and 7075 aluminum alloys. As previously mentioned, both are structural grades of aluminum. Both are used for bike parts, aerospace components, and building construction. They differ in these areas on how they are used though. For instance, in the aerospace industry, 7075 may be more likely to be used as a gear or rod, and 6061 may be more likely to be implemented in an area that requires more ductility. With bike parts, some riders prefer the increased strength that comes with the 7075 aluminum alloy. 7075 is more likely to be used for molds and industrial tooling than 6061. Since it is more formable than 7075, 6061 is used more often for tanks, as well as other shapes with rounded contouring.
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