The outstanding characteristics of aluminum and aluminum alloy performance（1）

The use of a substance depends to a large extent on the properties of the substance. Because aluminum has a variety of excellent properties, aluminum has an extremely wide range of uses.
Aluminum and its aluminum alloys are currently one of the most widely used and most economical materials. Since 1956, the world's aluminum output has surpassed the copper output and has always ranked first in the non-ferrous metals. At present, the output and consumption of aluminum (calculated in tons) is second only to steel, and it has become the second largest metal used by human beings. Moreover, aluminum resources are very rich. According to preliminary calculations, the mineral reserves of aluminum account for more than 8% of the constituent materials of the earth's crust. .
Aluminum's light weight, high specific strength and corrosion resistance are outstanding features of its performance.
01 The density of aluminum is very small, only 2.7 g/cm
Although it is relatively soft, it can be made into various aluminum alloys, such as hard aluminum, super hard aluminum, rust-proof aluminum, cast aluminum, etc. These aluminum alloys are widely used in aircraft, automobile, train, ship and other manufacturing industries. In addition, space rockets, space shuttles, and artificial satellites also use a large amount of aluminum and its aluminum alloys. For example, a large supersonic aircraft consists of about 70% aluminum and its alloys. Aluminum is also used in large quantities in ship construction, and a large passenger ship often uses several thousand tons of aluminum.
02 aluminum alloy has high specific strength
The tensile strength of the high-strength aluminum alloy in the alloy can reach more than 700MPa, while the weight of the aluminum alloy is only about 1/3 of the steel, and the same weight is equivalent to the tensile strength of the steel above 2100MPa.
03 Good corrosion resistance
Aluminum is a very reactive metal, but it is stable in general oxidizing environments. This is the formation of an oxide film on the surface of aluminum in oxygen, oxygen and other oxidants. The aluminum oxide film not only has strong corrosion resistance, but also has a certain degree of insulation.
04The conductivity of aluminum is second only to silver, copper and gold
Although its conductivity is only 2/3 of copper, its density is only 1/3 of copper, so to transmit the same amount of electricity, the quality of aluminum wire is only half of that of copper wire. Therefore, aluminum has a wide range of uses in the electrical appliance manufacturing industry, the wire and cable industry and the radio industry.
05 Aluminum is a good conductor of heat
Its thermal conductivity is 3 times greater than that of iron and 10 times that of stainless steel. Aluminum can be used in industry to manufacture various heat exchangers, heat dissipation materials and cooking utensils.
06 Aluminum has good ductility
It is second only to gold and silver in ductility and can be made into foils thinner than 0.006 mm. These aluminum foils are widely used for packaging cigarettes, candies, etc. They can also be made into aluminum wires and strips, extruded into various special-shaped materials, and can be rolled into various aluminum products. Aluminum can be cut, drilled and welded by conventional methods.