Alumen, a Latin word, derived in the English language from aluminum and this, in the term that we use in the Spanish language: aluminum. The concept is used to name the substance that has 13 as an atomic number.
This chemical element is a metal that is present in large quantities on our planet. Its components are found in animals, plants and stones, for example.
According to DigoPaul, aluminum, whose symbol is Al, is used in many sectors of the industry thanks to its properties. Its toughness, malleability and ductility make it a highly appreciated material for the manufacture of various types of products. Its appearance, which resembles silver, also allows the creation of decorative elements or coatings.
Among the most appreciated properties of aluminum, its ability to conduct electric current and its strength to resist wear stand out. On the other hand, it is an economical material compared to other metals.
Aluminum can be found in countless products that we use in our daily lives. There are tables and chairs that are made of this material, as well as kitchen utensils, construction profiles, a type of paper, key chains, hooks known as clips, and many other items.
Aluminum manages to be an appropriate material for such dissimilar products thanks to the different treatments it receives and the various alloys it is subjected to. In this sense, the most frequent aluminum alloys are made with copper, silicon, magnesium and zinc.
It should be noted that aluminum is a recyclable material, which can be recovered without experiencing changes in its properties. What is done is to re-melt the aluminum or its scrap to obtain again a metal capable of multiple uses.
This material is among the most beneficial to those who recycle it, since its characteristics make it especially profitable and it is known that it will continue to be used for a long time before humanity can or wants to replace it. Of course, economic interests are only one side of the coin: the fact that aluminum gets along so well with recycling pleases those who care about the environment, since its use reduces the abuse of natural resources.
Aluminum has many properties that make it irresistible to more than one industry; in addition to its aforementioned ability to preserve its qualities once recycled, it stands out for:
* its great percentage of energy: it contains 15 kWh for each kilogram;
* its value as waste: this represents an important incentive for the economy;
* its lightness: at the same volume, it weighs about a third of steel and copper;
* its resistance to corrosion: which makes aluminum an ideal material for the construction of products that are exposed to excessive or little delicate use;
* its durability: related to the previous point;
* its ability to conduct heat and electricity: a complementary aspect to its resistance, which considerably extends its field of application;
* not be toxic or magnetic: what avoids certain problems and restrictions of use in the products;
* effectively reflect light – this makes it ideal for interior lighting systems;
* be odorless and waterproof: it does not require many precautions to maintain it.
All this explains why aluminum is so widely used in various sectors, such as electricity and communication (where it has slowly replaced copper since the 1950s for the manufacture of high-voltage transmission lines), transportation (its presence in the automotive industry is growing), building and construction (for door and window structures, as well as for covering surfaces as large as a stadium).