Lately there has been a lot of talk about aluminum as a substitute for steel as a new material with innumerable applications. For this reason, Aluminium Supplier In Singapore have decided to carry out an initial survey that will be the starting point for an analysis of the market and the environment.
First of all, and before Stainless Steel Supplier Singapore would like to thank for wise comment on the advisability of exploring products called substitutes, among which manufacturer can include both materials that have long been incorporated into your lives and materials once again.
Steel
Material born from the fusion of iron and coal its origin dates back to 3,000 BC according to some archaeological studies. This material has been used for endless purposes, from the manufacture of firearms to the construction of the hull of ships, automobiles, utensils, molds, machining, etc.
There is little to discover about steel that you do not already know. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat and is easier to recycle compared to aluminum and has a higher surface hardness. Today, it is present in most of what surrounds all.
The growth in demand shot up in the industrial revolution as it was the material from which your dreams of machines were made, increasing productivity, a transport revolution and factories that promised a time of splendor and abundance, all made with scraps of iron. Nowadays, it is a usefull materials and to many industries and in general manufacturing.
The world steel output Gross in 2014 reached 1,662 million tons.
Aluminum
There is some controversy regarding who to attribute the “invention” of aluminum, and this controversy comes from the fact of the degree of purity achieved as a result of the processes developed by Stainless Steel Singapore managed to synthesize aluminum, but it was not completely pure.
Among its most notable characteristics are its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, its weight (around one third of the weight of copper or steel), its condition as a non-magnetic material, its zero toxicity, impermeability and high capacity to be recycled in a 100% without loss of properties. Not surprisingly, it is the most widely used metal after steel as it offers virtually all the characteristics of steel with the advantage of weight and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. To get an idea of the durability of the material, some analyzes estimate that around 75% of all the aluminum produced throughout its existence is still in use.
Obtaining method
From the beginning the problem was finding a method to extract it profitably in industrial quantities. Bauxite extraction was expensive and difficult.
Currently, extraction is carried out from the mineral known as bauxite by successive electrolysis.
The main disadvantage of aluminum lies in the high amount of electrical energy required, which increases production costs. However, it has a low cost of recycling and, therefore, a long useful life. Recycling represents 95% energy savings compared to obtaining aluminum for the first time.
Applications
- Electricity sector: Electricity transportation is more efficient with aluminum than with copper.
- Communication sector: Antennas for television and satellites.
- Automotive industry: For economic reasons. Castings and extrusion profiles such as pistons, wheels, transmission cases, suspension assemblies, radiators, and structures or bodies.
- Railway sector: Aluminum in locomotives. Energy savings are achieved because aluminum is a lightweight material.
Building and construction: Its use is the majority in Spain among metals. Window and door structures.