What is aluminum? Here are its most important characteristics
Aluminum is a silver-colored metal that is extracted from bauxite, so called after the place where it was discovered in southern France: Les Baux. It is the third most present element in nature, after oxygen and silicon; in fact, it covers eight percent of the earth’s surface.
But what are the main characteristics of aluminum?
- Lightness: its specific weight is one third of that of steel and copper alloys
- Corrosion resistance: in contact with air it oxidizes creating a surface protection that makes it resistant to water and some chemicals
- Production cost: producing recycled aluminum cuts the cost of production by 95 percent
- Ductility: under the action of tensile forces, it can undergo significant deformations so as to be able to assume different shapes and thicknesses
- Malleability: it can take the form of very thin sheets without ever breaking
- High electrical, thermal and sound conductivity: at the same weight it is a better electrical conductor than copper. In addition, it spreads a heating and cooling action in a homogeneous way
- Reflective capacity: aluminium reflects light reducing its dispersion and favoring energy savings
- Amagnetism: it is a paramagnetic material, this means that it has a weak attraction for magnets
- Recyclable: it is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality
Why is it important to know the characteristics of aluminum?
Knowing the characteristics of aluminum allows the company to work it in the best possible way to enhance its properties and to provide the customer a semi-finished product that is as suitable as possible for the use and sector in which it is to be used. Laminazione Sottile has been working in the aluminum world for more than 90 years and thanks to its subsidiaries and its experience, can supply different products that can be used in several markets.