Introduction to Aluminum

At ZARGES, we’re fascinated with aluminum. We think it is the perfect material for manufacturing our shipping cases and rackmount enclosures. Aluminum is one of the world’s most abundant metals. About eight percent of Earth’s crust is comprised of aluminum. In nature, though, it is actually never found alone. It is combined with other elements to form various compounds. The most common aluminum compounds are potassium aluminum sulfate and aluminum oxide.

The Bayer process refines aluminum from an aluminum ore called bauxite. About two tons of bauxite are needed to obtain one ton of aluminum. Australia, the Caribbean and South America are some areas that contain the greatest amount of bauxite. About 170 years ago, the first pure aluminum metals were produced, though the compounds have probably been used for thousands of years.

Aluminum’s versatile properties make it one of the most sought after metals in the world. Soda cans, electrical wiring, utensils and decoration are just some of the many uses of aluminum. The airline industry even uses aluminum in the manufacturing of airplanes. Across the world, demand for aluminum is close to thirty million tons. Most of that aluminum is new, though about seven million tons originate from recycled aluminum scrap. Pure aluminum is soft, lighter than many other metals, resistant to corrosion and has high conductivity. Although aluminum does not conduct electricity as well as copper, it is more commonly used in electrical lines because of its lighter weight. Like steel, aluminum is often used when a strong, lightweight metal is needed. The density of aluminum, in fact, is one third that of steel, making it stronger and lighter than steel. However, aluminum alloys are still stronger than pure aluminum.

In addition to having many uses, aluminum is also easy to recycle. Recycling aluminum only requires five percent of the energy needed for the refining of aluminum from bauxite. Mining aluminum as well as disposing of the refinement process’ waste, called “red mud,” add more pollution to the environment. The recycling of aluminum also does not require a great deal of time or money. Some recycling plants even offer a refund on aluminum that is recycled. Also, when aluminum is recycled, the properties and quality remain the same as those of new, pure aluminum. Therefore, recycling fulfills the demands for aluminum without tapping into finite sources of bauxite.

Why Aluminum? The benefits of aluminum are numerous. Fortunately, aluminum is also easily recycled. Through recycling, people can enjoy the benefits of aluminum without damaging the planet.