What are the chemical and physical properties of aluminum?
Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal. Since it is exposed to the air to quickly form a thin layer of the oxide layer, it has a dull silver appearance. Aluminum is non-toxic (like metal), no magnetic and does not generate sparks.
Aluminum is ued in many industries to make millions of different products and plays a very important role in the world economy. Aluminum is used in a growing number of applications by utilizing various combinations of its key properties such as strength, light weight, corrision resistance, recyclability, and malleability. This range of products ranges from structural materials to thin packaging foils.
Chemical Properties
Chemical properties are when the substance reacts with other substances, or changes from one substance to another. In general, chemical properties can only be observed during chemical reactions. The reaction of this substance may be caused by changes caused by burning, rusting, heating, explosion, discoloration, etc. The chemical properties of aluminum are as follows:
Properties | Description |
Oxidation | In general, aluminum metals do not respond to air because their surface covers a thin layer of oxides, which help protect the metal from air erosion. However, if the oxide layer is damaged and the aluminum metal is exposed, which will react again to form an amphoteric oxide. |
Reaction with Acid | Aluminum is easily reacted with the inorganic acid to form a solution containing hydrated aluminum ions while the hydrogen is released. |
Reaction with Alkali | Aluminum is reactive to the base to form an aluminate while releasing hydrogen. |
Reaction with Water | Reactive with hot water. |
Compound | Aluminum, oxygen and other elements of mixtures produce aluminum mines, aluminum mine is the main source of aluminum. |
Alloy | When combined with the elements such as copper, silicon or magnesium, it will form alloys with high strength. |
Physical Properties
What are the physical properties of aluminum? Physical properties are typical properties that can be observed by our senses, such as color, density, hardness, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity, thermal conductivity, etc. The physical properties of aluminum are as follows:
Properties | Description |
Colour | Aluminum is an odorless silver white metal. |
Density | The density of aluminum is about one-third of steel or copper, making it one of the lightest commercial metals. |
Strength | Pure aluminum tensile strength is not high. However, alloying elements such as manganese, silicon, copper and magnesium can increase the strength of aluminum and produce an alloy having properties suitable for a particular application. |
Corrosion resistance | When exposed to air, the surface of the aluminum is almost immediately formed of alumina. This layer has excellent corrosion resistance. It has considerable resistance to most acids, but the resistance to the base is poor. |
Thermal Conductivity | Aluminum thermal conductivity is approximately three times that of steel. This causes aluminum to become an important material for cooling and heating applications (such as heat exchangers). Coupled with its non-toxic, this feature means that aluminum is widely used in cookware and kitchenware. |
Conductivity | Aluminum has sufficiently high conductivity and can be used as electrical conductors. |
Reflectivity | From UV to infrared, aluminum is an excellent radiant energy reflector. The same characteristics of reflectance make aluminum a thermal insulation material, which prevents sunlight in summer while preventing heat loss in winter. |
Aluminum Alloy
Due to the physical and chemical properties of aluminum, it can be mixed with other metals to form aluminum alloys, which can be used in many fields. Aluminum alloys have properties different from those of a single metal, and aluminum alloys are classified according to the other elements they contain. Here is a list of aluminum alloys and their main uses:
Series | Alloy Element | Application |
1xxx | Almost pure aluminum | Decoration, chemical equipment, heat reflector |
2xxx | Copper | Truck panel, airplane parts |
3xxx | Manganese | Cookware, highway sign, refrigerator |
4xxx | Silicon | Ship, bridge |
5xxx | Magnesium | Aircraft fuel tank |
6xxx | Magnesium + silicon | Low-pressure weapon, aircraft connector |
7xxx | Zinc | Aircraft structure |
8xxx | Other elements are major alloy elements | Aluminum foil, radiator |
Aluminum does not lose its properties after severe deformation. This allows aluminum to be made into different forms of aluminum products through mechanical processes such as rolling, extrusion, drawing, machining, etc., such as aluminum tubes, aluminum plates, aluminum wafers, aluminum foils, etc. Alloying, cold treating, and heat treating can tailor the properties of aluminum.
Price of aluminum alloy
Usually the price will be affected by raw materials, market environment, research and development costs, etc. If you need to know the latest price of aluminum alloy, you can contact Staral’s customer service to answer your questions.
About Staral
Staral specializes in the deep processing business of aluminum products. Its main equipment include melting and holding furnaces from Switzerland GAUTSCHI, electro-magnetic stirring machines, refinery equipment and casting machines etc., 1+1+4 continuous hot rolling mill, 1+5 continuous hot rolling mill/three-stand and single-stand cold rolling mills with patent CVC flatness control imported from Germany SMS Group. Staral also placed large investments for high performance assisting equipment.
Staral’s main products are series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. The main products are ultra wide aluminum alloy plate, aluminum alloy medium plate, aluminum alloy heckered plate, aluminum alloy brazing plate, aluminum coil, aluminum tube, aluminum profile, aluminum circle, aluminum forges, etc.
Staral has a large number of 5083/5052 aluminum alloy plates in stock, welcome to consult us and order.