Aluminiums

Aluminiums refer to the chemical element aluminum and to aluminum-based alloys. The spelling aluminium (with -ium) is standard in most countries, while aluminum is the variant used in American English. The term is used for both the pure metal and its wide range of alloys used in industry.

Aluminum is a light, silvery-white metal with a density of about 2.70 g/cm3 and excellent corrosion resistance due to a thin, self-healing oxide film. It has a melting point of 660.3°C and is highly malleable and ductile. In pure form it is relatively soft; most strength comes from alloying with other elements such as magnesium, silicon, or zinc.

Occurrence and production: Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It is primarily obtained from bauxite ore. The Bayer process extracts alumina (Al2O3) from bauxite, and the Hall–Héroult electrolytic process reduces alumina to metallic aluminum. The production of aluminum is energy-intensive, though recycling can substantially reduce energy use.

Alloys and uses: Aluminum is commonly alloyed with magnesium, silicon, zinc, and other elements to tailor strength and weight. Major applications include packaging (foil, beverage cans), transportation (airframes, vehicles), construction (facades, windows), electrical conductors, and consumer electronics.

Recycling and environment: Aluminum is highly recyclable with minimal quality loss. Recycling saves a large portion of the energy required for primary production and reduces mining and associated environmental impacts.

History: Aluminum was first isolated in the 1820s by Ørsted and later refined by Wöhler. The Hall–Héroult process, developed independently in 1886, enabled large-scale production. The spelling aluminium is traditional outside North America; the American variant aluminum is also widely used.