alloyworx.com.au - the benefits and weaknesses of aluminium
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AlloyWorx (http://www.alloyworx.com.au) - The Benefits and Weaknesses of Aluminium The use of aluminium has brought many advantages in modern life. Without it, many great inventions and various products would not come to be made. Benefits of Aluminium • Strength – Pure aluminium is soft enough to carve. When mixed with small amounts of other metals to form alloys, aluminium can possess the strength of steel, having only one-third of the weight. Because of that, commercial air and sea travel become possible. • Flexibility – Its combination of properties ensure aluminium and its alloys can be easily shaped by applying the industrial metalworking processes of rolling, extrusion, forging and casting. You now know why aluminium is moulded into various products. • Impermeability – Reason why aluminium is ideal for food and drink packaging and containers? The metal has an excellent barrier function to keep out air, light and microorganisms, thus preserving the contents inside. • Lightweight – A very light metal, aluminium has a specific weight of 2.7 g/cm3, about a third that of steel. Aluminium used in transportation can help reduce the weight of the vehicles, provide fuel efficiency, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. • Corrosion resistant – Aluminium’s natural protective oxide coating protects it against corrosion by air, temperature, moisture and chemical attack. Aluminium-based products do not corrode easily and they can withstand demanding conditions. For that, the construction industry has great use for aluminium. • 100% Recyclable – Aluminium can be recycled many times without having to lose any of its natural qualities and become to become new products. The recycling industry relies heavily on this environment friendly metal. • Non-Toxic – Another reason why aluminium is preferred as a packaging material? The metal is naturally non-toxic and odourless. Aluminium can be also used in handling sensitive products. • Reflectivity – Aluminium can reflect visible light and heat, reason why aluminium windows are ideal for hot climates. • Conductivity – Aluminium can conduct electricity, thus replacing copper in many electrical applications. • Heat absorbent – Aluminium can absorb heat energy. It is used in electronics and transistors as a heat sink to prevent overheating. Drawbacks of Aluminium Aluminium is a remarkable metal, but it is not perfect at all. In its pure form, aluminium is relatively weak physically. It only gains strength when it is alloyed with other metals. Plus, the metal is also expensive due to its long and high energy extraction process. The other weakness of aluminium is being link to health problems, like Alzheimer’s disease, kidney problems and lung problems. No studies can establish the fact as of this time. If this is true then, an aluminium substitute would have to be discovered, or all its non-essential uses would have tTRANSCRIPT
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