Uses of aluminum in Iran

Different types of metal, or any other material, have different purposes in various industries. This is because each material has unique properties and traits. Aluminum has been used in many industries because of its unique properties. But what makes using aluminum important in different industries is the special qualities of this valuable metal. Aluminum is a material that is used in different industries like aerospace, transportation, car manufacturing, packaging, electrical, and construction. It has unique qualities that make it useful in these industries.

Construction

Construction industries use various types of aluminum, including cast aluminum, rolled aluminum, and extruded aluminum. Aluminum is preferred because it can be easily shaped into different components like doors, windows, roofs, and cladding sheets for both interior and exterior use in buildings. It is also commonly used for metal structures in marine facilities. We like this material because it is lighter than iron, strong, nice-looking, safe to use, not harmful, and does not get damaged easily by rust.

The majority of aluminum is used to make insulated doors and windows. These doors and windows are light and prevent the loss of thermal energy and noise. Thin pieces of aluminum are used to seal because they don’t transfer heat easily. The most commonly used aluminum in this industry is made from magnesium, silicon, and manganese. Around one-sixth of aluminum is used in the construction industry.

The production of aluminum false ceilings in the construction industry is another use and application of aluminum alloys.

Transportation

Transportation industries, such as marine industries and rail transportation, use a lot of aluminum alloys. Passenger and cargo ships, subways, and locomotives use aluminum alloys because aluminum is lightweight and doesn’t rust easily like other metals. Around 27% of all the aluminum made worldwide is used in the transportation sector.

Aerospace

The aerospace industry needs materials that are lightweight, strong, long-lasting, and not too expensive. So, ever since resistant aluminum alloys were discovered, it has become the main metal used in this industry. Nowadays, there is a high demand for this metal in the industry. The airplane’s windows are made of aluminum. They help keep the cold out and the air inside the plane.

Aluminum is a useful metal in making planes because it is light, strong, and can be easily shaped. 80% of the weight of planes is now made of aluminum because it is light and doesn’t corrode easily. A small portion, around 7%, of all the aluminum in the world is used in the aerospace industry. It’s important to mention that military aircraft use aluminum alloys more because they need to be stronger. Today, the aviation industry is dependent on the aluminum industry to thrive.

Automotive industry

Today, the automotive industry has three main goals.

A) Save energy and help the environment. It is important to make the car lighter to save energy. For every 10% decrease in weight, the car will use 5. 5% less.

B) Ensuring safety by using strong materials that meet all standards.

C) Making manufacturing processes easier and lowering the amount of money needed to make products.

Researchers are studying the use of aluminum instead of steel because aluminum alloys meet all of the objectives mentioned. Nowadays, a lot of boats, submarines, trains, buses, and cars are made from aluminum. Cars use aluminum in two different ways: cast parts and extruded parts. Cast parts include the engine and its components, wheels, suspension system, and steering system. Extruded parts include the chassis and body of the car. Moreover, the railway industry has started using aluminum which has made wagons lighter and trains faster.

Researchers are studying the use of aluminum instead of steel because aluminum alloys meet all of the objectives mentioned. Nowadays, a lot of boats, submarines, trains, buses, and cars are made from aluminum. Cars use aluminum in two different ways: cast parts and extruded parts. Cast parts include the engine and its components, wheels, suspension system, and steering system. Extruded parts include the chassis and body of the car. Moreover, the railway industry has started using aluminum which has made wagons lighter and trains faster.

Packaging industry

The packaging industry uses a lot of aluminum, second only to the automotive and transportation industries. This material is widely used in the food and packaging industries because it is not harmful, resistant to corrosion, and can block light, oxygen, moisture, and pollution. It is also easy to shape, transfers heat well and can be recycled easily. This type of metal is used to make many different types of cans for drinks, cooking tools, containers for storing things, and packaging for food, chemicals, and medicine.

Electric power industry

The electric power industry is the field that produces and provides electricity for use in homes, businesses, and buildings.

Conductors made of aluminum alloys are much lighter than copper conductors, weighing less than half. This has made aluminum very popular in the electrical industry because it has about 60% of the electrical conductivity of copper. One way aluminum alloys are used is in building tall structures that carry electrical wires for transferring high amounts of power.

Aluminum can be used to make strong electrical wires that can carry a lot of power. These types of conductors are materials that easily allow electricity to flow through without any resistance, and they do not waste any energy during the process.

Home appliance industry

During the last 15 years, more and more durable household items like fridges, washing machines, and dishwashers have been made with aluminum. Because of this, the household appliance industry has become one of the biggest users of aluminum alloys.

Ammunition industry

The ammunition industry makes bullets and other types of ammunition.

A little bit of aluminum is used to make bullets and to make rifles work better. Sometimes, it is also used to make waist holsters for the police.

Steel industry

Aluminum is used in steel production processes to refine it and improve mechanical properties. Another important use of aluminum in the steel industry is its use as a protector of steel sheets to prevent rusting. The composition of this protector includes 55% aluminum, 43.5% zinc, and 1.5% silicon. Steels with this type of coating are widely used in the transportation industry, including automobile manufacturing.