Weekly recap + takeaways

This week, we started our journey into the world of aluminium by getting familiar with its properties and its flexibility and discovering how this metal was discovered. We also learnt about the various aluminium alloys and how widespread the use of this material is in today’s society.

Let’s quickly recap the most important themes of the week:

The history of aluminium

We delved into aluminium’s history, from discovery to first applications, from pioneer uses to its mass application developed in the XX Century.

Aluminium, though the most abundant metallic element in Earth’s crust, was not used as a metal until the 19th century due to its highly reactive nature, making it difficult to isolate. Ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans used aluminium compounds, such as alum, for various applications, but the metal itself remained elusive. It wasn’t until 1825 that aluminium was first extracted but it remained rare and valuable until the late 19th century, when the Bayer process and Hall-Héroult process made its production economical. These breakthroughs transformed aluminium from a “metal of kings” into a widely used metal in modern society

Aluminium’s outstanding properties

Its physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, together with its flexibility, are what make aluminium a successful material in various markets.

Aluminium’s lightweight nature, corrosion resistance, ductility, and high strength-to-weight ratio make it ideal for several applications. It is also highly reflective and a good conductor of electricity and heat. Its flexibility makes it an ideal material for engineering, offering different shaping options, aesthetic appeal, and customization potential. Its ductility allows it to be formed into various shapes through processes like extrusion, rolling, casting, and additive manufacturing.

Additionally, aluminium can be heat-treated to enhance mechanical properties and joined using various methods like welding, brazing, and adhesive bonding. Surface finishing techniques such as anodizing and painting further improve durability, corrosion resistance, and appearance.

Versatility of aluminium alloys

Due to the metal’s versatility, it possesses tailoring properties for diverse applications. Aluminium’s widespread use is largely due to its ability to form alloys by mixing with other metals in varying proportions, enhancing its properties for specific applications. While pure aluminium offers high thermal and electrical conductivity, ductility, and reflectivity, the various alloys show improved strength, corrosion resistance, and processing flexibility.

For example, alloys like aluminium-copper and aluminium-zinc are ideal for high-strength, lightweight applications in aerospace, while aluminium-magnesium alloys excel in marine environments. The aluminium alloys are classified as either wrought or casting alloys.

Up next!

We will continue our journey by discovering the main applications of aluminium in the various markets and understanding which properties and characteristics of this material make them a very good choice for the different markets. And let’s not forget, you will also hear about expected trends and innovations in each field!

Over to you

Now it’s your turn to share your thoughts on Week 1.

• What was particularly interesting or surprising for you about what you learned this week?
• Have you heard about other surprising anecdotes on aluminium use or discovery?

Share your reflections in the Comments section below. We also encourage you to read what others have responded to see diverse points of view. Then, you’re ready for our second week!