Introduction
Since the reserves of aluminum is very rich and its properties are excellent, which determines that aluminum is widely used in industry and life. Below we will briefly introduce the application of aluminum according to its properties.
A. Low density
The density of aluminum alloy power cable is 2.7g/cm³ (one-third of the density of iron and copper), the ductility is good, and the electrical conductivity is two-thirds of that of copper wire, but the quality is only one-third, and the price is relatively high. It is cheaper and is widely used in the manufacture of high-voltage wires, cables, and radio industries. The density of pure aluminum is relatively low, but the density and hardness of aluminum alloys have been greatly improved. At present, aluminum alloys have been widely used in aircraft, automobiles, trains, ships and other manufacturing industries. In addition, space rockets, space shuttles, and artificial satellites also use a large amount of aluminum and its aluminum alloys.
B. Heat conductor
Aluminum is a good conductor of heat (the thermal conductivity is 3 times greater than that of iron), and aluminum can be used in industry to manufacture various heat exchangers, heat dissipation materials and cooking utensils.
C. Scalability
Aluminum has good ductility (second only to gold and silver), and can be made into aluminum foil thinner than 0.01 mm at 100 ℃ ~ 150 ℃. These aluminum foils are widely used for packaging cigarettes, candies, etc., and can also be made into aluminum wires, aluminum strips, and can be rolled into various aluminum products.
D. Corrosion
Corrosion resistance In the air, the surface of aluminum will form a dense oxide protective film, making it resistant to corrosion, so it is often used in the manufacture of medical equipment, chemical reactors, refrigeration units, petroleum refining units, oil and gas pipelines, etc.
E. Catalyst
Thermite is often used to smelt refractory metals and weld rails. Aluminum is also used as a deoxidizer in the steelmaking process. Aluminum powder, graphite, titanium dioxide (or oxides of other high-melting-point metals) are uniformly mixed in a certain ratio, coated on the metal, and calcined at high temperature to make a high-temperature-resistant cermet, which has important applications in rocket and missile technology.
F. Burning
The combustion of aluminum in oxygen can emit a lot of heat and dazzling light, and it is often used in the manufacture of explosive mixtures, such as ammonium-aluminum explosives (mixed with aluminum powder, ammonium nitrate, charcoal powder, soot and other flammable organics), combustion mixtures (For example, bombs and shells made of thermite can be used to attack difficult-to-fire targets or tanks, artillery, etc.) and lighting mixtures (such as aluminum powder 28%, barium nitrate 68% and shellac 4%).
G. Decorative
Aluminum powder has a silvery white luster (generally, the color of metal in powder form is mostly black), and it is often used as a coating, commonly known as silver powder and silver paint, to protect iron products from corrosion and to be beautiful.
H. Low temperature resistance
Low temperature resistance, when aluminum is low in temperature, its strength increases without brittleness, so it is ideal for low temperature device materials, such as refrigerators, freezers, Antarctic snow vehicles, and hydrogen oxide production devices.
I. Reflectivity
The aluminum plate also has good light reflection performance. It reflects ultraviolet rays stronger than silver. The purer the aluminum, the better the reflection ability. Therefore, it is often used to manufacture high-quality reflectors, such as solar cooker reflectors.
J. Additives
Some food additives also contain metal aluminum like alum, leavening agent, leavening agent, etc. It is also used in some fried dough sticks, steamed bread, twist, vermicelli and some puffed foods (like potato chips).
K. Sound-absorbing effect
Aluminum has sound-absorbing properties and good acoustics, so aluminum is also used for ceilings in broadcast rooms and modern large-scale buildings. Many doors and windows in the family use aluminum alloy frames for this consideration.
