Aluminum and Its Alloys

Aluminum is the third most

abundant
element (after oxygen and silic
on), in the Earth's crust.
It makes up about 8% by
weight of the Earth's solid
surface.
Aluminum is remarkable for
the metal's low density and
for its ability to
resist corrosion
 Occurrence
•Al normally found in oxide forms (Al2O3), i.e.,
bauxite, kaolinite, nepheline and alunite.
• Found in United states, Italy, France.

Kaolinite
Bauxite

Nepheline Alunite
Aluminum Consumption
 Properties
Crystal structure FCC
Atomic number 13
Atomic weight 26.9
Density (g.cm-3) 2.7
Melting point (oC) 660
Tensile Strength(MPa) 45
Corrosion Resistance Very Good
High electrical and thermal conductivities
Applications of Aluminum
 Extraction of Aluminum
Aluminum can be extracted from
Bauxite:
30-50% Alumina (Al2O3), 3-13% Silica (SiO2), 10-18%
Titanium oxide (TiO2), Balanced water (H2O)
Kaolinite
30-32% Alumina (Al2O3), Balanced Silica (SiO2) and
water (H2O)
Nepheline
30% Alumina (Al2O3), 40% Silica (SiO2), 20% Na2O +
K2O
Bayer Process
In the Bayer process, bauxite is digested by washing
with a hot solution of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, at
175 °C. This converts the aluminium oxide in the ore
to sodium aluminate, 2NaAl(OH)4, according to
the chemical equation:

Al2O3 + 2 NaOH + 3 H2O → 2 NaAl(OH)4

The other components of bauxite do not dissolve. The

solution is clarified by filtering off the solid impurities.
The mixture of solid impurities is called red mud, and
presents a disposal problem.
Next, the alkaline solution is cooled, and aluminium
hydroxide precipitates as a white, fluffy solid:

NaAl(OH)4 → Al(OH)3 + NaOH

Then, when heated to 980°C (calcined), the aluminium

hydroxide decomposes to aluminium oxide, giving off
water vapor in the process:

2 Al(OH)3 → Al2O3 + 3 H2O

A large amount of the aluminium oxide so produced is

then subsequently smelted in the Hall–Héroult process in
order to produce aluminium.