WHAT IS ALUMINUM?

Aluminum is a soft, ductile, silver-white metal. It is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust (after oxygen and silicon) and the most abundant metal, accounting for about 8% of the earth’s solid surface. . Aluminum metal is chemically active, so it is generally difficult to find free metallic aluminum except in extremely special redox environments. More than 270 minerals containing aluminum have been discovered. The main aluminum-containing ore is bauxite.

Aluminum is valued for its low density and resistance to corrosion (due to passivation phenomena). The properties of its alloys vary greatly depending on the process. Structural parts made of aluminum and its alloys are not only critical in the aerospace industry, but also in the fields of transportation and structural materials. The most useful aluminum compounds are its oxides and sulfates.