All About Aluminum

Brief History
The first step
in extracting aluminum
was made by the
famous Paracelsus
in the 16th century.
From alums
he separated
an aluminous soil which
contained the oxide
of an unknown metal.
In the middle of the 18th
century, the experiment

was repeated by Andreas

Marggraf. He called
the Aluminum oxide
alumina (Latin word
alumen. From that
moment, the scientific
community was made
aware the existence
of Aluminum. However,
as it was not found in its
pure form, it was not really
recognized. In 1808,
Humphry Davy,
an Englishman, tried
to extract Aluminum
through electrolysis.
Though he did
not succeed, the scientist
gave the metal its current
name. Hans
Christian Oersteds
experiments succeeded
in 1825. By passing
chlorine through a hot
mixture of Alumina
and coal, he produced
Aluminum Chloride.
By heating this with
Potassium Amalgam,
Oersted extracted a metal
similar to tin in its
properties.

Production Process
1) Aluminum production
starts with the raw
material bauxite, a
clay like soil type
found in a belt around
the equator. The
bauxite is mined from
a few meters below
the ground.
2) The bauxite is then
transported to plants
where the clay is
washed off and the
bauxite passes
through a grinder.
3) Alumina is separated
from the bauxite by
using a hot solution of
caustic soda and
lime. This process
called Refining
process.
4) The mixture is heated
and filtered, and the
remaining alumina is
dried to a white
powder which is

called as Pure
Alumina.
5) Here, the Pure
Alumina is
transformed into.

Aluminum through
Refinement process.
Three different raw
materials are needed
to make Aluminum,
Aluminum Oxide,
electricity and
Carbon. Electricity is
run between a
negative cathode
and a positive anode,
both made of
Carbon. The anode
reacts with the
Oxygen in the
Alumina and forms
CO2.
6) The liquid Aluminum
is cast into extrusion
ingots, sheet ingots
or foundry alloys, all
depending on what it
will be used for.

Properties
Physical properties

Physical Appearance
Aluminum
is
a
relatively
soft,
durable,
lightweight, ductile and malleable metal with
appearance
ranging from silvery to dull gray, depending on the surface
roughness. It is nonmagnetic and does not easily ignite. A
fresh film of Aluminum serves as a good reflector
(approximately 92%) of visible light and an excellent
reflector (as much as 98%) of medium and
far infrared radiation.

Application

Aluminum is a silver-like metal with a slightly bluish tint. It

has a melting point of 660C (1,220F) and a boiling point
of 2,327-2,450C (4,221-4,442F). The density is 2.708
grams per cubic centimeter. Aluminum is both ductile and
malleable. Ductile means capable of being pulled into thin
wires. Malleable means capable of being hammered into
thin sheets. Aluminum is an excellent conductor of
electricity. Silver and copper are better conductors than
aluminum but are much more expensive. Engineers are
looking for ways to use aluminum more often in electrical
equipment because of its lower costs.

Chemical properties
Aluminum has one interesting and very useful
property. In moist air, it combines slowly with oxygen to
form aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide forms a very
thin, whitish coating on the aluminum metal. The coating
prevents the metal from reacting further with oxygen and
protects the metal from further corrosion (rusting). It is easy
to see the aluminum oxide on aluminum outdoor furniture
and unpainted house siding.
Aluminum is a fairly active metal. It reacts with
many hot acids. It also reacts with alkalis. An alkali is a
chemical with properties opposite those of an acid. Sodium
hydroxide and limewater are examples of alkalis. It is
unusual for an element to react with both acids and alkalis.
Such elements are said to be amphoteric.
Aluminum also reacts quickly with hot water. In
powdered form, it catches fire quickly when exposed to a
flame.

Building & Construction

Electrical

Electronics & Appliances

Foil & Packaging

Aerospace
The advancement of aircraft and rocket technology

Aluminum cans

Automotive

For more information, you may visit :

http://www.aluminum.org/
http://www.hydro.com/en/About-aluminium/How-itsmade/
http://discovery.yukozimo.com/who-discoveredaluminum/
http://www.thealuminiumstory.com/home.html?utm_so
urce=iaihome&utm_medium=slider
http://www.alunorf.de/alunorf/alunorf.nsf/id/FC78CEA3D
EA1C128C12578F400465232