Where and how is aluminum used

Aluminum sheets: varieties of aluminum alloys and products, production features and areas of application

Aluminum is a silver-white metal that has high levels of corrosion resistance, low density, excellent ductility and electrical conductivity. The anti-corrosion protection of the material is determined by the formation of a special film upon contact with air. This is what prevents rust from appearing on aluminum products.

This metal is neutral when interacting with nutritious foods. It is also characterized by high resistance to most organic acids. In addition, it is perfectly subject to pressure processing, which allows you to make a variety of designs from aluminum. In order to give a metal unique properties, it is often alloyed (alloyed with another metal):

• copper;
• manganese;
• zinc;
• magnesium;
• silicon.

Types of alloys

Aluminum alloys are divided into cast and wrought. The chemical composition of the deformable type (and hot-rolled sheets belong specifically to it) is determined by GOSTs 4784−97 and 1131. Based on the type of hardening, these alloys are divided into high-pressure hardening and heat-hardening. But often experts classify the material differently, based on its characteristics. Heat-strengthening alloys are:

• high level of strength: B95 and B93;
• heat-resistant: 1201, D20, AK-4 and AK-4−1;
• medium-strength and highly plastic: AD-35 (aircraft), AD-31 and AD-33;
• standard strength: 1915 and 1925;
• duralumin: D-18, D-1 and D-16;
• forging: AK-6 and AK-8.

Non-heat-strengthening aluminum alloys include the following:

• Magnalia (medium-strength, highly plastic): AMg-6, AMg-1, AMg-2, etc.;
• low-strength, high-plasticity: AMts and D-12, ADO and AD-1.

Types of products and GOST

Today, the production of aluminum sheets is regulated by GOST 21631−76. Products can have different purposes, so they are divided into several types:

1. Acid resistant . Often used for the manufacture of welding tanks and fuel tanks, due to their high corrosion resistance and excellent processing. Products are manufactured from alloys with AMG grades, which are alloyed with magnesium and manganese. Such products are also often used in the production of radiators, frame structures and rivets.
2. Technical : excellent material for insulation and finishing. The use of technical aluminum allows you to save money due to the low weight of sheets made from it and good flexibility.
3. Perforated with a smooth surface : used to reinforce the corners of plasterboard structures, air vent grilles and decorative elements. Perforated products can have holes of different shapes, which are created using special pressing equipment.
4. Food grade : cold-worked and annealed alloys are used for such sheets. These products have a high degree of hygiene, since they do not contain any alloying components or impurities.

Separately, we should highlight corrugated sheet aluminum, which is used for durable and high-quality roofing. The advantages of such products are obvious:

• the small mass of the sheets allows for the reconstruction of old structures, since they cannot in all cases withstand significant loads;
• the possibility of using profiled sheets for the roofs of ordinary houses and high-rise buildings;
• a high level of flexibility allows you to work with roofs that have even a very complex design;
• Easy installation allows even beginners to perform it.

Today you can also find anodized products on sale, which can have a mirror or matte surface. It is used to create window blinds, household equipment, lighting devices, decorative parts and solar panels.

Anodization is an electrochemical process, as a result of which a special film with protective properties is formed on the surface of the metal.

Production Features

The entire production cycle of aluminum sheets includes several stages: thermal deformation, cold drawing or rolling.

It is not difficult to obtain certain dimensions and shape of the sheet, because aluminum alloys, as mentioned above, are very plastic. The final product must be free of any cracks, bubbles, tears or signs of corrosion.

Aluminum sheets are also classified into the following types:

• unclad and clad products (cladding can be normal or thick);
• artificially or naturally aged;
• without heat treatment;
• semi-hardened;
• annealed;
• cold-hardened, subjected to hardening and natural aging.

Aluminum sheets are a very popular material due to their universal availability and excellent performance properties.

Source: https://tokar.guru/metally/alyuminiy/alyuminiy-listovoy-vidy-alyuminievyh-splavov-i-sfera-primeneniya.html

Properties of aluminum and areas of application in industry and everyday life (page 3 of 4)

Corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys make it possible to increase the operational reliability of drilling, tubing and oil and gas pipelines. Increased resistance to corrosion cracking makes it possible to use aluminum alloys in the manufacture of tanks for storing oil and its products.

The main structural material in the manufacture of drill pipes from aluminum alloys is D16 alloy.

Aluminum alloys AMg2, AMr3, AMg5 and AMg6 have shown high resistance to crude oil and some gasolines. Of the listed magnalium alloys, the most technologically advanced alloy for the manufacture of apparatus is the AMg2 alloy, especially in the manufacture of capacitors and refrigerators at oil refineries.

In the USA, equipment for the oil industry is made from aluminum alloys of the 3xxx, 5xxx and 6xxx series. In the design of drilling equipment, pipes made of alloy 6063 are used. Offshore platforms are assembled from pipes 6061, 6063, as well as from high-strength alloys of grades 2014 and 7075. Tanks, columns, condensers, etc. are made from aluminum ADOO, ADO and AD1. for the production of acetic acid, sulfonation of fatty alcohols, potassium chlorate, sodium and ammonium nitrate, hydrocyanic acid, etc.

The chemical industry recommends aluminum alloys AMts, AMg2, AMgZ, AMg5 for the manufacture of vessels operating under pressure at temperatures from -196 to +150 0C.

Containers, columns, capacitors, etc. are made from aluminum ADOO, ADO and AD1. for the production of acetic acid, sulfonation of fatty alcohols, potassium chlorate, sodium and ammonium nitrate, hydrocyanic acid, etc.

In the USA, depending on the operating conditions of chemical industry equipment, alloys of the 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx series are used. In some cases, to ensure the greatest strength, thermally hardenable alloys 2xxx and 7xxx with reduced corrosion resistance are used.

Tanks for storing chemical products are made of highly corrosion-resistant alloys - 1100 or 3003; pressure vessels - made of alloys 5052 or 6063; containers, tanks and other types of equipment for storing acetic acid, high-molecular fatty acids, alcohols and other products - from alloys 3003, 6061, 6063, 5052; containers for ozone-containing fertilizer solutions made of alloys 3004; 5052 and 5454; containers for storing ammonium nitrate solutions from alloys 1100, 3003, 3004, 5050, 5454, 6061 and 6062.

Currently, a quarter of all aluminum is used for construction needs, the same amount is consumed by transport engineering, approximately 17% is spent on packaging materials and cans, and 10% in electrical engineering.

Many flammable and explosive mixtures also contain aluminum. Alumotol, a cast mixture of trinitrotoluene and aluminum powder, is one of the most powerful industrial explosives. Ammonal is an explosive substance consisting of ammonium nitrate, trinitrotoluene and aluminum powder. Incendiary compositions contain aluminum and an oxidizing agent - nitrate, perchlorate. Zvezdochka pyrotechnic compositions also contain powdered aluminum.

A mixture of aluminum powder with metal oxides (thermite) is used to produce certain metals and alloys, for welding rails, and in incendiary ammunition.

Aluminum has also found practical use as rocket fuel. To completely burn 1 kg of aluminum, almost four times less oxygen is required than for 1 kg of kerosene. In addition, aluminum can be oxidized not only by free oxygen, but also by bound oxygen, which is part of water or carbon dioxide.

When aluminum “burns” in water, 8800 kJ is released per 1 kg of products; this is 1.8 times less than during combustion of metal in pure oxygen, but 1.3 times more than during combustion in air. This means that instead of dangerous and expensive compounds, simple water can be used as an oxidizer for such fuel. The idea of ​​using aluminum as a fuel dates back to 1924. proposed by the domestic scientist and inventor F.A. Zander.

According to his plan, it is possible to use aluminum elements of a spacecraft as additional fuel. This bold project has not yet been practically implemented, but most currently known solid rocket fuels contain metallic aluminum in the form of fine powder.

Adding 15% aluminum to the fuel can increase the temperature of combustion products by a thousand degrees (from 2200 to 3200 K); The rate of flow of combustion products from the engine nozzle also increases noticeably - the main energy indicator that determines the efficiency of rocket fuel. In this regard, only lithium, beryllium and magnesium can compete with aluminum, but all of them are much more expensive than aluminum.

Aluminum compounds are also widely used. Aluminum oxide is a refractory and abrasive (emery) material, a raw material for the production of ceramics. It is also used to make laser materials, watch bearings, and jewelry stones (artificial rubies).

Calcined aluminum oxide is an adsorbent for purifying gases and liquids and a catalyst for a number of organic reactions. Anhydrous aluminum chloride is a catalyst in organic synthesis (Friedel-Crafts reaction), the starting material for the production of high-purity aluminum.

Aluminum sulfate is used for water purification; reacting with the calcium bicarbonate it contains:

Aluminum powders are also used in industry. They are used in the metallurgical industry: in aluminothermy, as alloying additives, for the production of semi-finished products by pressing and sintering. This method produces very durable parts (gears, bushings, etc.).

Powders are also used in chemistry to produce aluminum compounds and as a catalyst (for example, in the production of ethylene and acetone).

Given the high reactivity of aluminum, especially in powder form, it is used in explosives and solid propellant for rockets, taking advantage of its ability to ignite quickly.

Given the high resistance of aluminum to oxidation, the powder is used as a pigment in coatings for painting equipment, roofs, printing paper, and shiny surfaces of car panels. Steel and cast iron products are also coated with a layer of aluminum to prevent corrosion.

4.7 Aluminum cookware

Aluminum cookware is the most common cookware in food service and home kitchens. Aluminum, like cast iron, is an energy-saving material. But, unlike cast iron, aluminum cookware is much lighter - and this is a strong argument in its favor.

And the use of cookware with a non-stick coating will solve many other problems for the housewife: the food in this cookware does not burn, requires a minimal amount of fat, the cookware is easy to clean, and the use of a wooden spatula ensures a long service life. Cast thick-walled aluminum cookware is designed for preparing main courses. Products in these dishes retain their vitamin composition and taste.

Aluminum cookware is lightweight, practical, easy to use, has high thermal conductivity (heats up 9 times faster than stainless steel cookware) and corrosion resistance. Only copper is better than aluminum in terms of thermal conductivity. But aluminum cookware quickly became very common, mainly due to the fact that aluminum is much cheaper than copper. Aluminum cookware is usually thin-walled and made by stamping.

This also adds to the availability of aluminum cookware for all categories of the population. Aluminum cookware can be stamped - with a bottom thickness of 1.5 mm (light), 2 mm (medium) and 2.5 mm (heavy). But if the thickness of the walls of aluminum cookware is not enough, then the aluminum cookware is easily deformed, so thick-walled aluminum pans are preferable.

Aluminum cookware be produced from pure aluminum, duralumin (an alloy of aluminum and magnesium) and other aluminum alloys. Moreover, aluminum cookware made from different alloys and with different treatments looks completely different: silver-matte, ground, polished, shiny, anodized (of a color other than silver), etc.

The extremely active use of aluminum utensils in everyday life forces sanitary services to research and analyze the effect of aluminum on the human body. Studies have shown that the amount of aluminum that enters the human body through food (assuming you cook every day in an aluminum pan, eat with an aluminum spoon from an aluminum bowl) is extremely small and amounts to 1.7 mg/day. However, even such a small amount of aluminum can lead to fatal diseases and therefore aluminum cookware with various protective coatings is becoming increasingly common.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. From the above it is clear that due to its good physical properties, aluminum occupies a leading place in electrical engineering and instrument making.

2. Aluminum-based alloys, due to their good mechanical properties, have found wide application in industry, but the development of new, cheaper alloys without reducing mechanical properties is required.

5.1. Aluminum - the material of the future

It is already difficult to find an industry that does not use aluminum or its alloys - from microelectronics to heavy metallurgy.

This is due to good mechanical properties, lightness, low melting point, which facilitates processing, and high external qualities, especially after special processing.

Considering the listed and many other physical and chemical properties of aluminum, its inexhaustible amount in the earth’s crust, we can say that aluminum is one of the most promising materials of the future.

Source: https://mirznanii.com/a/325500-3/svoystva-alyuminiya-i-oblasti-primeneniya-v-promyshlennosti-i-bytu-3

Aluminum: application

The chemical element aluminum is a light metal with a silvery color. Aluminum is the most common metal in the earth's crust. The physical and chemical properties of aluminum have allowed it to find wide application in modern industry and everyday life.

Chemical properties of aluminum

The chemical formula of aluminum is Al. Atomic number 13. Aluminum is a simple substance, since its molecule contains an atom of only one element. The outer energy level of an aluminum atom contains 3 electrons.

These electrons are easily given up by the aluminum atom during chemical reactions. Therefore, aluminum has high chemical activity and is capable of displacing metals from their oxides.

But under normal conditions it is quite resistant to chemical interaction, as it is covered with a durable oxide film.

Aluminum reacts with oxygen only at high temperatures. As a result of the reaction, aluminum oxide is formed. Interaction with sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon also occurs at high temperatures. But aluminum reacts with chlorine and bromine under normal conditions. It reacts with iodine when heated, but only if the catalyst is water. Aluminum does not interact with hydrogen.

With metals, aluminum is capable of forming compounds called aluminides.

Aluminum, cleared of the oxide film, reacts with water. The hydroxide that is obtained as a result of this reaction is a slightly soluble compound.

Aluminum easily reacts with dilute acids, forming salts. But it reacts with concentrated acids only when heated, forming salts and acid reduction products.

Aluminum reacts easily with alkalis.

Physical properties of aluminum

Aluminum is a durable metal, but at the same time it is also ductile and can be easily machined: stamping, polishing, drawing.

Aluminum is the lightest of metals. Has very high thermal conductivity. In terms of electrical conductivity, aluminum is practically not inferior to copper, but at the same time it is much lighter and cheaper.

Application of aluminum

Aluminum metal was first obtained by the Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted in 1825 . And in those days, aluminum was considered a precious metal. Fashionistas loved to wear jewelry made from it.

But the industrial method for producing aluminum was created much later - in 1855 by the French chemist Henri Etienne Saint-Clair Deville.

Aluminum alloys are used in almost all engineering industries. Modern aviation, space and automotive industries, and shipbuilding cannot do without such alloys. The most well-known alloys are duralumin, silumin, and cast alloys. Perhaps the most popular of these alloys is duralumin.

When processing aluminum, hot and cold processing produces profiles, wire, pipes, strips, and sheets. Aluminum sheets or strip are widely used in modern construction. Thus, a special aluminum tape is used to seal the ends of various building panels to provide reliable protection against precipitation and dust getting inside the panel.

Since aluminum has high electrical conductivity, it is used for the manufacture of electrical wires and electrical busbars.

Aluminum is not a precious metal. But some of its compounds are used in the jewelry industry. Probably not everyone knows that ruby ​​and sapphire are single crystals of aluminum oxide to which coloring oxides have been added. The red color of ruby ​​is given by chromium ions, and the blue color of sapphire is due to the content of iron and titanium ions. Pure crystalline aluminum oxide is called corundum.

In industrial conditions, artificial corundum, ruby ​​and sapphire are created.

Aluminum is also used in medicine. It is part of some drugs that have an adsorbing, enveloping and analgesic effect.

It is difficult to find a branch of modern industry that does not use aluminum and its compounds.

Source: http://ximik.biz/prakticheskaya-himiya/53-aluminiy-primeneniye

Scope of application of aluminum and its alloys

   Aluminum is a lightweight, ductile metal, one of the most common chemical elements found in the earth's crust.

Aluminum is very convenient to use because it is highly resistant to corrosion, has electrical conductivity and is resistant to sudden temperature changes.

When interacting with air, it acquires a qualitative advantage - a hard film is formed on the metal surface, which slows down natural aging. There are several methods for producing aluminum, but this process was only established in the 20th century.

Applications of aluminum

   Aluminum is malleable for stamping, has significant corrosion resistance, has high thermal conductivity, and is non-toxic in joints, which is why it has become a popular structural material. The applications of aluminum are extremely wide.

In particular, it became the first material for the manufacture of structures in aircraft manufacturing, rocketry, the food industry and the production of tableware. Thanks to its quality characteristics, aluminum can speed up ships and their maneuverability.

Moreover, products and structures are 50% lighter than steel.

   The ability of aluminum to conduct current is separately distinguished. Thus, it can rightfully compete with copper. Having almost the same electrical conductivity, it has become an economically viable substitute.

It is actively used in microelectronics, in the manufacture of microcircuit components. The only disadvantage of using it in this area is the formation of a dielectric film, which can create a high temperature at the soldering points.

There are certain conditions for using aluminum as a conductor.

The use of aluminum in industrial production and in everyday life

We list the main areas of application of aluminum:

1. Aviation construction: manufacturing of engines, casings, pumps, gearboxes, and other parts.
2. Rocket science: as a combustible component of rocket fuel (aluminum hydrides, aluminum boranates, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tripropylaluminum).
3. Shipbuilding production: production of deck superstructures and main hulls.
4. Electronics: production of wires with high current conductivity and their coating, cables, capacitors, rectifiers, instrument housings.
5. Defense industry: small arms (machine guns, pistols), missiles, tanks, aircraft and combat installations.
6. Construction industry: production of house frames, stairs, window frames, finishing elements, used as a gas-forming element.
7. Railway transportation uses aluminum tanks to transport oil industry products. They produce: frames for cars, parts for bodies, refrigerator cars.
8. Automotive design: bumper, radiator, heating parts.
9. Use in everyday life: dishes, foil, housing and parts of household appliances (electric heater coils - fechrals).
10. Cryogenic technology: aluminum retains its properties at low temperatures.
11. Used in the production of hydrogen sulfide (sulfide).
12. Making mirrors (due to high reflectivity) and glass melting (fluorides, phosphates, aluminum oxides).

   In addition, aluminum compounds are used for the recovery of rare metals, as a component of aluminothermy and protector mixtures, and also for pyrotechnics. Despite many advantages, there is one drawback - low strength.

In order to make it more durable, a strong aluminum compound - duralumin (combined with copper and magnesium) is used in production.

Previously, aluminum was often used to make jewelry, and in some countries it replaces silver jewelry.

Source: https://naruservice.com/articles/sfera-primeneniya-alyuminiya

Where and how is aluminum and its alloys used?

Aluminum (Al) is lightweight and flexible. Due to these properties, it is widely used in industry. It has high electrical conductivity, does not oxidize, is not susceptible to corrosion, and can withstand temperature changes. A special film that appears on the surface upon air contact serves as protection.

It is easy to handle: you can drill, solder, saw, tighten with screws, tie, weld - give it any look you want. Neither plastic, nor wood, nor steel have such indicators.

Next, we will consider the features of the use of aluminum and its compounds in industry, the national economy, and what can be done in everyday life.

Application

This metal is used everywhere: in aviation, rocket science, everyday life, and for making dishes. Wires, cables, ladders, frames, and devices are made from aluminum; produce foil and aluminum plates; used as a flammable component in rocket science; the production of mirrors cannot do without it; also used in shipbuilding for hulls and deck superstructures. This metal (aluminum oxide) is also used for glass production.

Due to its high reflectivity, it is used to make the surfaces of lighting fixtures.

High thermal conductivity has made it possible to use heating elements where radiators are produced. Due to thermal conductivity and the lack of toxicity of compounds, it is widely used in the industry for the production of kitchen utensils and foil.

Used in nuclear energy, radar, semiconductor electronics.

Construction is the main area of ​​application

Construction is an area where this metal is often used. This is a good material for roofing work. If compared with other roofing materials, it will be more affordable. Another advantage is durability (no frequent maintenance or repair work is required).

Designers actively use the silver color of aluminum.

Aluminum structures have fewer disadvantages than those made from other materials: steel, cast iron, iron. That is why they prefer to make window and lantern frames from lightweight material.

To insulate houses or cladding, panels are used that do not create a large load on the foundation and also retain heat well inside the building. (Aluminum structures are four times more thermally efficient than buildings with brick cladding).

Alloys, aluminum oxides

The lightweight “group 13 element” is not particularly durable. Recently, aluminum alloys (with zinc, magnesium, iron, titanium, nickel) have become widespread. These “titans” have increased strength and are able to withstand natural phenomena. The military industry produces small arms, pistols and machine guns from such alloys. Considered necessary for the construction of military equipment (tanks, aircraft, artillery installations).

Durable ceramics are obtained from a synthetic material (aluminum oxide). Silver paint is made from aluminum powder. The mineral (kaolinite) is the basis for cement production.

"Silver" jewelry

A separate area of ​​use is jewelry. Several centuries ago, aluminum was considered expensive and therefore suitable for making jewelry.

Facts prove its high significance (Napoleon ordered aluminum buttons, and Mendeleev became the owner of a valuable gift - scales with aluminum and gold bowls).

As soon as the new production technology was mastered, the price dropped, and jewelry items made from it became unfashionable. Now they make costume jewelry; the Japanese use it as a substitute for silver when making traditional jewelry.

About oral administration

The use of precipitate (aluminum hydroxide) has been scientifically proven. The food industry, using a base (with magnesium hydroxide), produces pain relievers with an enveloping effect.

Home casting is “useful with pleasure”

Home craftsmen can create miracles by casting. This activity becomes a good hobby. They make household parts with their own hands. More often they use mold casting, which is considered simple and affordable.

Thus, “silver metal” can be called universal in application.

Source: https://oxmetall.ru/metalli/alyuminij/gde-i-kak-primenyaetsya

Where is aluminum used

April 25, 2017 at 4:01 pm

Life.ru talks about where else aluminum can be used.

In the sky and in space

Aluminum first “flyed” in 1900 - in the form of the frame and propellers of Ferdinand Zeppelin’s huge LZ-1 airship.

But the soft, pure metal was only suitable for slow lighter-than-air aircraft.

Truly “winged” aluminum was already five times stronger, since it contained manganese, copper, magnesium, zinc in different percentages - the sky and space were conquered by varieties of duralumin, an alloy invented at the beginning of the twentieth century by the German engineer Alfred Wilm .

The material was promising, but it also had many limitations - it required so-called aging, that is, it did not gain the strength inherent in it immediately, but only over time.

Yes, and it could not be welded. And yet, the conquest of space began precisely with duralumin, from which the ball of the famous first artificial Earth satellite was also made.

Much later, at the height of the space age, aluminum-based alloys and materials with much more remarkable properties began to appear.

For example, the friendship between aluminum and lithium has made it possible to make aircraft and rocket parts much lighter without reducing strength, and alloys with titanium and nickel have the property of “cryogenic hardening”: in the cold of space, their ductility and strength only increase. The skin of the Buran space shuttle was made from a tandem of aluminum and scandium: aluminum-magnesium plates became much more tensile strength, while maintaining flexibility and doubling the melting point.

More modern materials are not alloys, but composites. But even in them the base is most often aluminum.

One of the modern and promising aerospace materials is called “boron-aluminum composite,” where boron fibers are sandwiched with layers of aluminum foil, forming an extremely strong and lightweight material under high pressures and temperatures. For example, the turbine blades of advanced aircraft engines are boron-aluminum load-bearing rods covered in a titanium “jacket.”

In the automotive industry and transport

Today, new Range Rover and Jaguar models feature 81% aluminum in their body structure.

The first experiments with aluminum bodies are usually attributed to Audi, which presented the A8 made of light alloys in 1994.

However, back in the early twentieth century, this light metal on a wooden frame was the signature body style of the famous British sports cars Morgan.

The real “aluminum invasion” into the auto industry began in the 1970s, when factories began to massively use this metal for engine cylinder blocks and gearbox housings instead of the usual cast iron; a little later, light alloy wheels became widespread instead of stamped steel ones.

These days, the key trend in the auto industry is electricity.

And light alloys based on aluminum are becoming particularly relevant in bodybuilding: the “energy-saving” metal makes the electric vehicle lighter, which means it increases the mileage on a single battery charge. Aluminum bodies are used by the Tesla brand, a trendsetter in the car market of the future, and that, in fact, says it all!

There are no domestic cars with aluminum bodies yet. But stainless and lightweight material is already beginning to penetrate the Russian transport sector.

A typical example is the ultra-modern Vityaz-M high-speed trams, whose interiors are entirely made of aluminum alloys, which are practically eternal and do not require constant touch-up. It is worth noting that the creation of one tram interior requires up to 1.7 tons of aluminum, which is supplied by the Krasnoyarsk aluminum smelter Rusala.

“The ceiling, walls, racks are all aluminum.

On March 17 of this year, 13 Vityaz-M trams began running around Moscow and by April 5 they had already transported the first hundred thousand passengers! This fast and silent city transport with cabins for 260 people, with Wi-Fi, climate control, places for disabled people and strollers and other comfort elements, is designed for a service life of 30 years, which is twice as long as previous models. In the next three years, the capital will receive 300 Vityaz, 100 of which will be on the rails this season.

In the printers of the future

Elementary amateur 3D printers printing from plastic filament will no longer surprise anyone. Today begins the era of full-fledged serial 3D printing of metal parts.

Aluminum powder is perhaps the most common material for a technology called AF (from Additive Fabrication).

Additive in English is “additive”, and this is the deep meaning of the name of the technology: the part is not produced from a blank, from which excess material is cut off during processing, but, on the contrary, by adding material to the working area of ​​the tool.

The metal powder comes out of the AF machine's dispenser and is laser sintered layer by layer into a single, strong mass of monolithic aluminum.

Parts that are made integral using the AF method amaze the imagination with their spatial complexity; It is impossible to perform them using classical methods even on the most modern metalworking machines! Due to the openwork design, parts created on additive printing machines from aluminum alloy powders have the strength of a monolith, while being several times lighter. They are produced without waste and quickly - such metal “laces” are indispensable in biomedicine, aviation and astronautics, precision mechanics, in the manufacture of molds, and so on.

Until recently, all technologies related to Additive Fabrication were foreign. But now domestic analogues are actively developing.

For example, at the Ural Federal University (Ural Federal University) an experimental installation for the production of metal powders for AF-3D printing is being prepared.

The installation operates on the principle of spraying molten aluminum with a jet of inert gas; this method will make it possible to obtain metal powders with any specified grain size parameters.

In construction and lighting

Aluminum can also be a facade and roofing material, the service life of which is not limited to a couple of years and which is extremely convenient for designers and installers! Special patented alloys and composites with a variety of properties have been developed for construction - Alclad, Kal-Alloy, Kalzip, Dwall Iridium. Aluminum can be used to stamp parts in which the roof plane is integral with the load-bearing elements. This is necessary, for example, to create retractable stadium roofs.

Coated with a special type of fluoropolymer, related to Teflon, aluminum roof parts can withstand enormous loads from wind and precipitation.

And when constructing roofs of enormous size, where the total length of the sheet from edge to edge can reach several tens of meters, a special technology is used, the development of which was also made possible by the plasticity of aluminum.

To avoid the unreliable connection of many small sheets, aluminum tape several meters wide, rolled into a huge roll, is brought to the construction site, and right on the construction site it is passed through a special machine, which makes the even tape profiled, and therefore rigid. The aluminum profile is fed onto the roof of the building along special guides with rollers. This technology was developed by the British Corus Group, one of the world leaders in the production of aluminum roofing sheets (now part of Tata Steel).

In our country, aluminum architecture is truly unfolding only now, lagging behind world rates, but vigorously catching up with them - recent examples of implementation include the roof of the Zenit Arena stadium in St. Petersburg, the facilities of the Kazan Universiade, the Sochi airport, a unique light-alloy bridge currently under construction in Nizhny Novgorod and other objects.

The building has been built, the roof has been erected, now we need light! And here aluminum is back in trend. It is not only a “winged” metal, but also a “metal of light”.

There are now billions of LED lamps burning in the world and their number is growing every second. Each lamp has an aluminum heatsink that removes excess heat from the LED crystals, preventing them from overheating.

But aluminum plays a much more important role in the manufacture of the base of the LEDs themselves - leucosapphire. This is the name of an artificial crystal made of especially pure aluminum oxide.

Nowadays, tons of raw materials for crystals are mainly imported from abroad, but recently in Naberezhnye Chelny, with the support of Rostec, the country’s first line for the production of highly pure aluminum oxide for growing leucosapphire single crystals was launched. The Aluminum Association is convinced that within 2-3 years our enterprises will be able to completely replace imports of highly pure aluminum oxide into Russia, which will sharply stimulate domestic LED production.

Everywhere in our lives

We just don't always know about it! Almost all high-quality gadgets are made on the basis of aluminum alloys: frames and covers of smartphones, tablets, laptops, power bank cases and much more. Sports equipment, baby strollers, cooking utensils, radiators, furniture fittings - the list of areas where light metal is used is endless.

But why don't we always know about this? The fact is that aluminum and its alloys in “naked form”, like that well-known but hopelessly outdated aluminum spoon, are almost never found these days. Today the ball is ruled by anodizing technology, which allows parts made of aluminum and its alloys to be coated with a durable, wear-resistant oxide film.

Anodizing does not stain your hands and can achieve almost any color and texture.

  How to solder wire to aluminum

One of the most promising household aluminum areas is bicycle frames. The aluminum frame is very light, making it very comfortable to lift the bike and ride it.

The frame does not rust if the paint is damaged, alloying additives make the metal very strong, and technologies called “butting” and “hydroforming” make it possible to produce pipes of variable thickness and with any bends, lightening and strengthening the frame exactly where it is needed.

Millions of bikes - a huge market! However, for now, the frames of all two-wheelers sold and assembled in our country are imported. “However, a small revolution has emerged in this area: Rusal engineers have developed a special new alloy, ideal for bicycle frames, and are working to develop the production of frames in our country,” says Deputy editor of the Metal Supply and Sales magazine Leonid Khazanov. — The project is supported by Rusal, as the only Russian aluminum producer, the Tatprof aluminum profile plant located in Naberezhnye Chelny, which is ready to make pipes for frames, and the domestic company, the bicycle assembler Velomotors. If the planned scale of production is realized, our frames should become cheaper than Chinese ones and at the same time much higher in quality.”

Russia is the world leader in aluminum, one of the top three producers of this metal. The USSR began building aluminum smelters in the early thirties of the 20th century, completely getting rid of imports by the middle of the decade.

However, strangely enough, we are truly entering the “aluminum era” only now.

The main owner of Rusal, Oleg Deripaska, has repeatedly stated that the level of aluminum consumption in Russia is much lower than the global average, and today it is finally time to break this trend and make maximum efforts and resources to create processing capacities in the country and displace imported products, the quality of which is often compromised a lot of questions.

For many years, design engineers avoided the use of aluminum, since aluminum alloys and composites simply did not appear in outdated regulatory documents - today, standards, GOSTs and SNIPs are revised and updated in the spirit of the times. And almost all areas of industry are waiting to discover new areas of use of this metal.

Source: https://steelfactoryrus.com/gde-ispolzuetsya-alyuminiy/

Properties of aluminum and alloys, use

 In every home you can find many items made of aluminum, a very cheap and popular material. However, few people wonder about its properties, which make it used in many industries. We accept aluminum scrap.

What color is aluminum and its properties?

Silver aluminum. It is an extremely light but strong metal, three times less dense than steel. For this reason, it can successfully replace it in many sectors, which is a much cheaper alternative. Another advantage is that, unlike steel, aluminum's strength increases further at low temperatures.

The material is also environmentally friendly, aluminum can be recycled without damaging its structure. It is also extremely flexible and malleable, you can create any shape you want. Not only that, individual aluminum elements can be easily combined with each other to create complex structures.

Aluminum also has protective properties and is used for protection against X-rays and as a building material for shields. We must not forget about the excellent thermal and electrical conductivity of aluminum. This element is much cheaper than the more expensive copper.

What are the main characteristics of aluminum?

• Low density (2.7Mg/m3), which is almost three times less than the density of iron.
• Very high plasticity.
• High electrical and thermal conductivity.
• Good corrosion resistance and aesthetic appearance.
• High abrasion resistance.

Where and how is aluminum used?

Aluminum alloys have very good specific strength, i.e. the ratio of tensile strength to density. Due to their properties, primarily lightness, they are used in structures where the mass of the structure is important, namely in aircraft, automobiles, rolling stock, energy, construction, as well as in the food and chemical industries.

The disadvantage of aluminum alloys is their low melting point, which leads to rapid deterioration of mechanical properties with increasing temperature.

Due to their chemical composition, aluminum alloys are divided into separate categories:

• Aluminum with a purity of over 99% with small additions of other elements including silicon, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, zinc and titanium. They are characterized by low strength properties and very high ductility. Mainly used in the food industry, architecture, transport and automotive industries.
• Aluminum alloys with copper, with a percentage of copper and the addition of magnesium and manganese, called so-called duralumin. Duralumin has very high strength, poorly weldable alloys with average corrosion resistance. Used to make machine parts.
• Aluminum alloys with manganese. They have low strength and very high corrosion resistance. They are used in the chemical and food industries, for the manufacture of containers and cans. They are widely used in the automotive industry and in the production of finishing.
• Aluminum alloys with silicon. Casting alloys called silumin. They have good corrosion resistance and high strength. The production of these alloys is castings, aluminum wheels.
• Aluminum alloys with magnesium. They have medium strength, while they are very resistant to corrosion. For this reason, it is used in many industries, in shipbuilding, automotive, chemical industry, food industry, construction and household appliances. Also used for columns and for the production of road signs. Alloys in this series are suitable for welding and anodizing.
• Aluminum alloys with magnesium and silicon. Due to their very high corrosion resistance, these alloys are called anti-corrosion alloys. Characterized by good ductility. The use of materials from this family of alloys is very wide; bearings for elements of trucks, buses, ships, cranes, carriages, bridges and barriers are produced. They are also used in the mining, shipbuilding, chemical and food industries.
• Aluminum alloys with zinc and magnesium. When heat treated well, their strength properties outweigh those of other aluminum alloys. They are well welded and machinable. They have moderate corrosion resistance and are mainly used in heavily loaded structural members, aircraft parts and machinery. They are also used to produce sports equipment.
• Other aluminum alloys. All alloys not included in the above standards, with properties depending on the chemical composition and type of processing.

Processing methods

Due to the great ductility of this material, it can be processed in different ways. The most commonly used are machining machines, with which you can cut out any shapes. Casting and forging of aluminum are also commonly used.

Applications of aluminum

We send it into the air and launch it into space, put it on a slab, build buildings from it, make tires, smear it on the skin and treat ulcers with it. Don't you understand yet? We are talking about aluminum.

Try to list all the uses of aluminum and you will definitely be wrong. Most likely, you don’t even know about the existence of many of them. Everyone knows that aluminum is a material used by aircraft manufacturers. But what about the automotive industry or let's say. medicine? Did you know that aluminum is an E-137 food additive that is commonly used as a colorant to give foods a silvery tint?

Aluminum is an element that easily forms stable compounds with any metals, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine and many other substances. As a result of such chemical and physical influences, alloys and compounds that are diametrically different in their properties are obtained.

Use of aluminum oxides and hydroxides

The scope of application of aluminum is so extensive that in order to protect manufacturers, designers and engineers from unintentional errors, in our country the use of marking of aluminum alloys has become mandatory. Each alloy or compound is assigned its own alphanumeric designation, which subsequently allows them to be quickly sorted and sent for further processing.

The most common natural compounds of aluminum are its oxide and hydroxide. in nature they exist exclusively in the form of minerals - corundum, bauxite, nepheline, etc. - and as alumina. The use of aluminum and its compounds is associated with jewelry, cosmetology, medical fields, the chemical industry and construction.

Colored, “clean” (not cloudy) corundums are the jewels we all know - rubies and sapphires. However, at their core, they are nothing more than the most common aluminum oxide. In addition to the jewelry industry, the use of aluminum oxide extends to the chemical industry, where it usually acts as an adsorbent, as well as to the production of ceramic tableware.

Ceramic cauldrons, pots, and cups have remarkable heat-resistant properties precisely due to the aluminum they contain. Aluminum oxide has also found its use as a material for the manufacture of catalysts.

Aluminum oxides are often added to concrete for better hardening, and glass to which aluminum has been added becomes heat-resistant.

The list of applications for aluminum hydroxide looks even more impressive.

Due to its ability to absorb acid and have a catalytic effect on human immunity, aluminum hydroxide is used in the manufacture of medicines and vaccines against hepatitis types “A” and “B” and tetanus infection.

They also treat kidney failure caused by the presence of a large amount of phosphates in the body. Once in the body, aluminum hydroxide reacts with phosphates and forms inextricable bonds with them, and then is naturally excreted from the body.

Hydroxide, due to its excellent solubility and non-toxicity, is often added to toothpaste, shampoo, soap, mixed with sunscreens, nourishing and moisturizing creams for the face and body, antiperspirants, tonics, cleansing lotions, foams, etc. If necessary To dye the fabric evenly and permanently, then a little aluminum hydroxide is added to the dye and the color is literally “etched” into the surface of the material.

Application of aluminum chlorides and sulfates

Chlorides and sulfates are also extremely important aluminum compounds. Aluminum chloride does not occur naturally, but it is quite easy to obtain industrially from bauxite and kaolin. The use of aluminum chloride as a catalyst is rather one-sided, but practically invaluable for the oil refining industry.

Aluminum sulfates exist naturally as minerals in volcanic rocks and are known for their ability to absorb water from the air. The use of aluminum sulfate extends to the cosmetics and textile industries.

In the first, it acts as an additive in antiperspirants, in the second - in the form of a dye. The use of aluminum sulfate in insect repellents is interesting. Sulfates not only repel mosquitoes, flies and midges, but also anesthetize the bite site. However, despite the tangible benefits, aluminum sulfates have an ambiguous effect on human health.

Inhaling or swallowing aluminum sulfate can cause serious poisoning.

Aluminum alloys - main applications

Artificially produced compounds of aluminum with metals (alloys), unlike natural formations, can have the properties that the manufacturer himself wishes - it is enough to change the composition and amount of alloying elements. Today there are almost limitless possibilities for the production of aluminum alloys and their application.

The most famous industry for using aluminum alloys is aircraft manufacturing. Airplanes are almost entirely made of aluminum alloys. Alloys of zinc, magnesium and aluminum provide unprecedented strength, used in aircraft skins and structural parts.

Aluminum alloys are used similarly in the construction of ships, submarines and small river transport. Here, it is most advantageous to make superstructure structures from aluminum; they reduce the weight of the vessel by more than half, without compromising their reliability.

Like airplanes and ships, cars are becoming more and more “aluminum” every year. Aluminum is used not only in body parts, but now also in frames, beams, pillars and cab panels. Due to the chemical inertness of aluminum alloys, low susceptibility to corrosion and thermal insulation properties, tanks for transporting liquid products are made from aluminum alloys.

The use of aluminum in industry is widely known. Oil and gas production would not be what it is today if it were not for the extremely corrosion-resistant, chemically inert pipelines made of aluminum alloys. Drills made of aluminum weigh several times less, which means they are easy to transport and install. And this is not to mention all sorts of tanks, boilers and other containers

Pots, pans, baking sheets, ladles and other household utensils are made from aluminum and its alloys. Aluminum cookware conducts heat well, heats up very quickly, is easy to clean, and does not harm health or food. We bake meat in the oven and bake pies on aluminum foil; oils and margarines, cheeses, chocolate and candies are packaged in aluminum.

An extremely important and promising area is the use of aluminum in medicine. In addition to those uses (vaccines, kidney medications, adsorbents) mentioned earlier, the use of aluminum in ulcer and heartburn medications should also be mentioned.

From all of the above, one conclusion can be drawn - aluminum grades and their applications are too diverse to devote one small article to them. It’s better to write books about aluminum, because it’s not for nothing that it’s called the “metal of the future.”

Source: https://promplace.ru/vidy-metallov-i-klassifikaciya-staty/primenenie_aluminiya-1501.htm

Aluminum grades: types, properties and applications

Today, aluminum is used in almost all industries, from the production of food utensils to the creation of spacecraft fuselages. For certain production processes, only certain grades of aluminum are suitable, which have certain physical and chemical properties.

The main properties of the metal are high thermal conductivity, malleability and ductility, resistance to corrosion, low weight and low ohmic resistance. They are directly dependent on the percentage of impurities included in its composition, as well as on the production or enrichment technology.

In accordance with this, the main grades of aluminum are distinguished.

Types of aluminum

All metal grades are described and included in a unified system of recognized national and international standards: European EN, American ASTM and international ISO. In our country, aluminum grades are defined by GOST 11069 and 4784. In all documents, aluminum and its alloys are considered separately. At the same time, the metal itself is divided into grades, and alloys do not have specifically defined signs.

In accordance with national and international standards, two types of microstructure of unalloyed aluminum should be distinguished:

• high purity with a percentage of more than 99.95%;
• technical purity, containing about 1% impurities and additives.

Compounds of iron and silicon are most often considered as impurities. The international ISO standard has a separate series for aluminum and its alloys.

Aluminum grades

The technical type of material is divided into certain grades, which are assigned to the relevant standards, for example AD0 according to GOST 4784-97. At the same time, the classification also includes high-frequency metal, so as not to create confusion. This specification contains the following grades:

1. Primary (A5, A95, A7E).
2. Technical (AD1, AD000, ADS).
3. Deformable (AMg2, D1).
4. Foundry (VAL10M, AK12pch).
5. For deoxidation of steel (AV86, AV97F).

In addition, there are also categories of alloys - aluminum compounds that are used to create alloys from gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals.

Primary aluminum

Primary aluminum (grade A5) is a typical example of this group. It is obtained by enriching alumina. The metal is not found in nature in its pure form due to its high chemical activity. Combining with other elements, it forms bauxite, nepheline and alunite. Subsequently, alumina is obtained from these ores, and from it, using complex chemical and physical processes, pure aluminum is obtained.

GOST 11069 establishes requirements for grades of primary aluminum, which should be marked by applying vertical and horizontal stripes with indelible paint of various colors. This material has found wide application in advanced industries, mainly where high technical characteristics are required from raw materials.

Technical aluminum

Technical aluminum is a material with a percentage of foreign impurities of less than 1%. Very often it is also called undoped. Technical grades of aluminum according to GOST 4784-97 are characterized by very low strength, but high corrosion resistance.

Due to the absence of alloying particles in the composition, a protective oxide film quickly forms on the metal surface, which is stable. Grades of technical aluminum are also distinguished by good thermal and electrical conductivity. Their molecular lattice contains virtually no impurities that scatter the flow of electrons.

Thanks to these properties, the material is actively used in instrument making, in the production of heating and heat exchange equipment, and lighting items.

Wrought aluminum

Deformable aluminum includes a material that is subjected to hot and cold pressure treatment: rolling, pressing, drawing and other types. As a result of plastic deformations, semi-finished products of various longitudinal sections are obtained from it: aluminum rod, sheet, strip, plate, profiles and others.

The main brands of deformable material used in domestic production are given in regulatory documents: GOST 4784, OCT1 92014-90, OCT1 90048 and OCT1 90026.

A characteristic feature of deformable raw materials is the solid structure of the solution with a high content of eutectic - a liquid phase that is in equilibrium with two or more solid states of matter.

The scope of application of deformable aluminum, like that where aluminum rod is used, is quite extensive. It is used both in areas requiring high technical characteristics of materials - in ship and aircraft construction, and on construction sites as an alloy for welding.

Cast aluminum

Aluminum foundry grades are used for the production of shaped products. Their main feature is the combination of high specific strength and low density, which makes it possible to cast products of complex shapes without cracking.

According to their purpose, foundry grades are conventionally divided into groups:

1. Highly hermetic materials (AL2, AL9, AL4M).
2. Materials with high strength and heat resistance (AL 19, AL5, AL33).
3. Substances with high anti-corrosion resistance.

Very often, the performance characteristics of cast aluminum products are increased by various types of heat treatment.

Aluminum for deoxidation

The quality of manufactured products is also influenced by the physical properties of aluminum. And the use of low-grade materials is not limited to the creation of semi-finished products. Very often it is used to deoxidize steel - remove oxygen from molten iron, which is dissolved in it and thereby improves the mechanical properties of the metal. To carry out this process, the brands AB86 and AB97F are most often used.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/295866/marki-alyuminiya-vidyi-svoystva-i-oblasti-primeneniya

What is aluminum and where is it used?

A hundred years ago, this metal was literally worth its weight in gold and even more expensive, and today kitchen utensils and beer cans are stamped from it.

We are talking, of course, about aluminum, which is gradually approaching steel in terms of its level of use in various industries.

When it comes to aluminum, the first thing that comes to mind is the unusually light weight of the metal. Indeed, its density is approximately 2.7 g / cubic meter. cm (for comparison: the density of iron is 7.874 g/cubic cm).

In addition, aluminum is the most abundant of all metals and the third most abundant chemical element (the first two being oxygen and silicon). Aluminum accounts for about 8% of the mass of the earth's crust.

A little history

Aluminum became known to mankind quite late: only in the second half of the 19th century, the German chemist Weller managed to isolate pure metal from aluminum chloride by heating its mixture with potassium to a high temperature. But for a very long time, only very wealthy people and rich museums could afford to purchase at least a small piece of silver metal, since the price of a kilogram of aluminum exceeded the cost of an equal amount of gold.

Suffice it to recall the rich gift that British scientists made to the famous creator of the periodic table D.I. Mendeleev. They presented the great Russian chemist with laboratory scales made of aluminum and gold.

How is aluminum obtained?

The main difficulty in obtaining aluminum from ore was the need to heat it to a very high temperature, exceeding 1900 degrees Celsius. For a long time, until the twentieth century, the metal was of no interest to industry, despite all its wonderful qualities, since industrial production remained incredibly expensive and difficult.

Only after powerful industrial power plants were put into operation did the era of mass use of aluminum begin.

The electrolysis method, which requires significant energy consumption, was almost simultaneously proposed by two inventors - the Frenchman P. Héroux and the American C. Hall - back in 1886. With some modifications, it is still used in the aluminum industry today.

The crushed ore is dissolved in molten cryolite, after which the melt is subjected to electrolysis using graphite or coke electrodes.

To obtain one ton of metal, it is necessary to spend approximately 15 MWh of electricity. Is this too much? A multi-story, 100-apartment building consumes approximately the same amount of electricity per month. Therefore, aluminum smelters are always located near large power plants, most often near hydroelectric or nuclear power plants.

Properties of aluminum

The rather high complexity of aluminum production is more than compensated by its excellent properties:

• light weight, almost three times less than steel, which reduces the weight load when making various structures from it;
• excellent ductility, allowing simple stamping to form products of complex shapes from sheet metal;
• corrosion resistance due to the thinnest oxide film that protects its surface from oxidation;
• excellent electrical conductivity, allowing the manufacture of light and cheap wires from it;
• excellent malleability, ease of processing by any means, both in a heated and cold state;
• the ability to form alloys with many metals;
• lack of magnetization.

Parts and elements of various mechanisms, profiled and stamped products, numerous kitchen utensils and household items, medical products, household appliances and much more are made today from aluminum.

However, the metal is very rarely used in its pure form, since its alloys with other metals, as a rule, have much more valuable and necessary properties.

Even a small amount of another metal significantly changes the properties of aluminum.

Today it is widely used in construction, the electronics industry, electrical engineering, aviation, automotive, energy, food industry, mechanical engineering and a number of other equally important industries.

Source: http://www.vseznaika.org/chemiks/chto-takoe-alyuminij-i-gde-ego-primenyayut/amp/

Where is aluminum used?

“Winged metal” is one of the most common in everyday life and production. Aluminum is used to create bridges, cars, airplanes and even smartphones.

Life.ru talks about where else aluminum can be used.