Aluminum is a common material that can be found in a wide variety of modern goods. Because it’s both strong and lightweight, it’s perfect for consumer products, while its high conductivity makes it great for electronics.
Industries of all kinds use aluminum in their manufacturing processes. Without this material, many things in our modern world wouldn’t be possible. If you’re interested in all the ways aluminum shapes our lives, continue reading to learning more about various technologies that use aluminum.
Windows and Siding
Aluminum is commonly used in home construction, particularly for windows and siding. Aluminum is a much better option than wood because it’s durable and more resistant to the elements. It’s hard to damage and provides a thermal barrier that reduces heat loss. It can also be easily recycled, making it a more sustainable material to work with.
Homeowners also use aluminum in roofing because it can reflect sunlight, giving a house better efficiency over the roof’s lifetime. Another great benefit to aluminum is that it’s resistant to heat at higher temperatures, making it a safer construction material than wood.
Automotive and Aerospace
Aluminum has radically transformed the automotive and aerospace industry. While cars were manufactured using steel for decades, the switch to aluminum resulted in considerable advancements in driver safety and fuel economy.
Planes have been made from aluminum for much longer. Although the first aircraft were made of wood and steel, manufacturers quickly switched to aluminum due to its reduced weight and greater flexibility. Today, the entire aerospace industry relies on aluminum. Space shuttles use aluminum for everything from engines to the fuel that powers them.
Computer Components
The tech sector also relies on aluminum for various electronic devices. Items such as smartphones, laptops, TVs, and computer monitors use aluminum somewhere in the manufacturing process.
Even the insides of devices, from your circuit board and CPU to your hard drive, likely contain some aluminum. The metal is perfect for heat sinks to distribute excess thermal energy. Because it’s electrically conductive, aluminum can be used as a material throughout the device to further improve heat distribution.
Power Lines
The modern world couldn’t exist without electricity, and the power lines that deliver it where it needs to go are made with aluminum. Aluminum wires are used because they offer lower resistance than other materials while offering excellent conductivity at the same time.
High-voltage lines are made from aluminum to minimize weight and improve corrosion resistance. Aluminum is more resilient than copper, making it less costly for high-volume currents.
The Real Value of Aluminum
More products are being made with aluminum all the time. Technologies that use aluminum have many benefits due to the properties of the metal. They can be shaped and molded in many ways, providing a lightweight, highly conductive alternative that’s resistant to corrosion.
The value of aluminum makes it especially important to understand the processes behind its manufacturing so that more companies can take advantage of its endless recyclability.
