Introduction:
Aluminum metal contains was found in the 1800s and has been in demand ever since. It is the most common metal on Earth, but you can’t find it in its pure form. Because of this, scientists had a hard time separating it from other elements until 1886, when a new way to get aluminum was found. Then, because it was so light, it became a popular metal in the aviation and space industries. Aluminum metal is used in a wide range of things today, such as high-rise buildings, consumer electronics, trains, vehicles, home appliances, industrial appliances, and so on. Now that we’ve talked about a brief overview of this metal, let’s talk about its pros and cons. Before that, we are among the best Aluminium profile manufacturer in the business.
Aluminum’s Good Points:
Aluminum is the most widely used metal in modern society because it has good physical properties. Here are some of the things that make aluminum useful. By the end of this article, you will be aware of both pros and cons of Aluminium profile extrusion.
It Doesn’t Weigh Much:
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be cut down because of the way the market is now, so there is a growing need for lighter materials. Aluminum is a light metal that weighs only 2.7 kg per dm3 and has a low density. Because of this, it is used in fields where reducing weight is important. It can be used in the aerospace industry to make things lighter and stronger for flights that are put under a lot of stress.
Aluminum can Bend and Change Shape:
Aluminum is not only light, but it is also strong. Because of this, it is the easiest metal to work with. It is easy to shape into any shape you want by using different methods. Milling, drilling, bending, welding, machining, and cutting are all things that can be done with aluminum. Because of this, it is used in art and kitchens. It is also used in every industry to design products for the future. Take electronics for the home as an example. Aluminum is used to make beautiful designs that are also useful, which is the best thing about it. In the same way, this metal’s many uses include ships, trains, home appliances, personal vehicles, and more.
It doesn’t Rust & Lasts a Long Time:
Because aluminum oxidizes, it is very resistant to corrosion. When the metal comes into contact with oxygen or any other oxidizing agent, it forms a thin layer of oxidation on its surface. This coating protects it even more from the air outside, making it resistant to corrosion.
High resistance to corrosion means that the material will last longer. As was already said, aluminum is very strong. Also, aluminum can be made more resistant to corrosion, so it can be used in industrial settings for decades. By anodizing aluminum, the metal’s overall resistance to corrosion can also be made better.
Aluminum Can be Recycled:
Aluminum is fun because it can be recycled without losing any of its quality. This means that it can be recycled over and over again and still has the same qualities as before. Also, recycling aluminum uses only about 5% of the energy that it takes to make a new one. This method saves money and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions. Also, as the number of people grows, there is more demand for aluminum products. Even if we mine more aluminum, that won’t be enough to meet the growing demand. That’s where recycling comes in. It fills the gap between demand and supply, making sure that production keeps going.
It is a Good Heat and Electricity Conductor:
Aluminum is the most common material for big power lines. The reason is that it is a great heat and electricity conductor. Even though aluminum is only 60% as conductive as copper by volume, it can carry twice as much electricity as copper by weight. This means that the amount of electrical resistance in half as much aluminum wire as in copper wire will be the same. So, it is replacing copper, and the fact that it is cheaper is an added bonus.
It can be used in power cables, connections, and circuit breakers. Aluminum is also used in cooling and heating systems because it has a high conductivity. This metal does a good job of reflecting both light and heat. So, the aluminum coating is used on roofs to keep a house from getting too hot from the sun. Last but not least, it is also used as a heat sink in computer motherboards, LED lights, and other electrical products.
Aluminum is Impermeable:
You might have put food in aluminum foil to take on trips. The reason it is used is that it is impermeable and keeps moisture, gases, and volatile smells away from the food that is packed in it. To be exact, the thickness of the aluminum foil is 0.007 mm. Plus, it doesn’t smell and isn’t dangerous, which makes it a great choice for packaging medicines and food.
Disadvantages of Aluminum:
Even though aluminum’s pros are more important than its cons, it’s still a good idea to look at them. Here is a list of all the bad things about aluminum.
It is more expensive than steel.
Aluminum is definitely cheap, but compared to steel, it can be pricey. Aluminum takes the same stress as steel. With this in mind, building the same structure out of aluminum instead of steel can make the projects more expensive.
Welding Aluminum is Hard:
Even though there are many benefits to welding aluminum, it is still a slow process. First, its melting point is lower than that of most other metals. So, the stuff usually burns before it can be melted. Second, aluminum has a lot of problems when it comes to welding because it expands a lot when it gets hot. Also, when aluminum is molten, it absorbs hydrogen. When it cools back down, the bubbles are left behind, making the metal porous. Then, it likes oxygen a lot, so the oxides need to be cleaned off before the welding process can begin. All of these things make it hard to work with aluminum.
It is not as Strong as Steel:
Aluminum has a good strength-to-weight ratio, but if you only look at strength, steel is the clear winner. So, steel is used instead of aluminum for projects where weight doesn’t matter. Also, aluminum is soft and easy to shape, but this makes it easy for structures made of aluminum to get dents and scratches. Again, this makes steel a good choice for projects that need structures that are strong.
