Let’s learn about the properties and uses of aluminum together
1. The density of aluminum is very small, only 2.7g/cm. Although it is relatively soft, it can be made into various aluminum alloys, such as hard aluminum, ultra hard aluminum, rust proof aluminum, cast aluminum, etc. These aluminum alloys are widely used in manufacturing industries such as aircraft, automobiles, trains, and ships. In addition, space rockets, spacecraft, and artificial satellites also use a large amount of aluminum and its alloys. For example, a supersonic aircraft is composed of approximately 70% aluminum and its alloys. Aluminum is also extensively used in shipbuilding, with a large passenger ship often consuming several thousand tons of aluminum.
2. The conductivity of aluminum is second only to silver and copper. Although its conductivity is only 2/3 of copper, its density is only 1/3 of copper. Therefore, when transporting the same amount of electricity, the quality of aluminum wire is only half that of copper wire. The oxide film on the surface of aluminum not only has the ability to resist corrosion, but also has a certain degree of insulation, so aluminum has a wide range of applications in the electrical manufacturing industry, wire and cable industry, and wireless industry.
3. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat, with a thermal conductivity three times greater than iron. In industry, aluminum can be used to manufacture various heat exchangers, heat dissipation materials, and cooking utensils.
4. Aluminum has good ductility (second only to gold and silver), and can be made into aluminum foil thinner than 0.01mm at temperatures between 100 ℃ and 150 ℃. These aluminum foils are widely used for packaging cigarettes, candies, etc. They can also be made into aluminum wires, aluminum strips, and rolled into various aluminum products.
5. The surface of aluminum is not easily corroded due to its dense oxide protective film, and is often used to manufacture chemical reactors, medical devices, refrigeration equipment, petroleum refining equipment, oil and gas pipelines, etc.
6. Aluminum powder has a silver white luster (usually the color of metals in powder form is mostly black), and is commonly used as a coating, commonly known as silver powder or silver paint, to protect iron products from corrosion and to enhance their appearance.
7. Aluminum can release a large amount of heat and dazzling light when burned in oxygen, and is commonly used to manufacture explosive mixtures, such as ammonium aluminum explosives (made of a mixture of ammonium nitrate, charcoal powder, aluminum powder, smoke black, and other flammable organic substances), combustion mixtures (such as bombs and shells made of aluminum thermite that can be used to attack difficult to ignite targets or tanks, cannons, etc.), and lighting mixtures (such as barium nitrate 68%, aluminum powder 28%, and insect glue 4%).
8. Aluminum thermite is commonly used for melting refractory metals and welding steel rails. Aluminum is also used as a deoxidizer in the steelmaking process. Aluminum powder, graphite, titanium dioxide (or other high melting point metal oxides) are uniformly mixed in a certain ratio and coated on the metal. After high-temperature calcination, high-temperature resistant metal ceramics are made, which have important applications in rocket and missile technology.
9. Aluminum plate also has good light reflection performance, reflecting ultraviolet rays stronger than silver. The purer the aluminum, the better its reflection ability. Therefore, it is commonly used to manufacture high-quality reflectors, such as solar stove reflectors.
10. Aluminum has sound-absorbing properties and good sound effects, so ceilings in broadcasting rooms and modern large buildings are also made of aluminum.
11. Low temperature resistance: Aluminum has increased strength without brittleness at low temperatures, making it an ideal material for low-temperature devices such as refrigerators, freezers, Antarctic snow vehicles, and hydrogen oxide production facilities.
12. It is an amphoteric oxide