ALUMINIUM

Aluminium occurs in abundance on the surface of earth . It is

available in various forms such as oxides , sulphates , silicates
,phosphates etc but is commercially produced mainly from
bauxite(Al2O3) which is hydrated oxide of aluminium
Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery metal. The atomic weight of
aluminum is 26.9815; the element melts at 660° C (1220° Henri
Sainte-Claire Deville, in France, obtained. In contact with air,
aluminum rapidly becomes covered with a tough, transparent layer
of aluminum oxide that resists further corrosive action. For this
reason, materials made of aluminum do not tarnish or rust.

Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish chemist, first isolated aluminum

in 1825, using a chemical process involving potassium amalgam.
Between 1827 and 1845, Friedrich Wöhler, a German chemist,
improved Oersted's process by using metallic potassium. He was
the first to measure the specific gravity of aluminum and show its
lightness.

MANUFACTURING:
The aluminium is extracted from bauxite ores as follows :
 Bauxite is first ground and then purified
 It is then dissolved in fused cryolite which is a double
fluoride of aluminium and sodium AlF3 , 3NaF
 This solution is then taken to an electric furnace and the
aluminium is separated out by electrolysis .
PROPERTIES :
 It is a very good conductor of heat and electricity.
 It is a white silvery metal with bluish tinge and it exhibits
bright lusture on a freshly broken surface .
 It is a non magnetic substance .
 It is rarely attacked by nitric acid , organic acid or water . it
is highly resistant to corrosion .
 It is light in weight , malleable , and ductile .
 It is very soft.
 It possesses great toughness and tensile strength .
 It readily dissolves in hydrochloric acid .
 Its specific gravity is about 2.7 .

REASONS FOR BEING USED AS A BUILDING

MATERIAL:
 Air tightness : A well designed aluminium door , window ,
etc is perfectly airtight and sealed for rain water when
closed . this is a very high functional advantage in modern
fully air conditioned buildings.

 Appearance : The finished aluminium is generally smooth ,

having bright finish which is highly amenable to further
finishing as demanded by the application .

 Cryogenics : the science dealing with the effects of very low

temperatures on the properties of matter is known as the
cryogenics . The aluminium is highly suitable for sub zero
 temperatures. Any structural steel used at sub zero
temperatures will become extremely brittle and give way.

 Ease in fabrication and assembly: As aluminium is

comparatively soft and ductile metal, the fabrication of doors
and windows etc can be carried out easily .The aluminium
alloys can be cast, forged, extruded, rolled, and welded with
relative ease compared to any other metal. The aluminium
corrugated sheets do not break or crack during or after
erection because aluminium is not brittle . An aluminium
structure can be easily dismantled , transported and re-erected
in different locations.

 Handling and transport cost : As aluminium is very light , the

cost of its handling and transport is very low .

 High corrosion resistance :aluminium has excellent corrosion

resistance and it can resist weathering conditions as well .It
can very well withstand humid and hot dry conditions .

 High reflectivity : As aluminium possesses very good

reflectivity , it does not absorb radiant heat and low
absorption heat helps in maintaining the surrounding area
cool during summer and warm in winter.

 High scrap value: the scrap value of aluminium is very high

and as it hardly deteriorates, it enjoys a high resale value.
  High strength to weight ratio: as aluminium possesses very
high strength to weight ratio, the overall weight is
considerably reduced. Such a reduction of weight will also
help in achieving speed in construction and in the decrease of
load on the foundation of a building.

 Maintenance cost: due to high corrosion resistance of

aluminium the maintenance cost is negligible and properly
treated aluminium sections can withstand both sea coast and
industrial atmosphere for more than 25 to 30 years without
any maintenance .

 Noise control: The aluminium is an excellent reflector of

electro-magnetic and sound waves . an alumimium building
is therefore less affected by external noises as compared to
buildings made from other materials.

Forms of aluminium: the aluminium is used in the building

industry usually takes one of the following four forms:
1) Casting based
2) Extrusion based
3) Foil and powder based
4) Sheet based
CASTING BASED:
The known applications of this form are as follows:
i. Bluster head –the cast aluminium bluster head add
elegance to the interior of building and complicated
figures can be developed
ii. Hardware and fittings – the unconventional design of
hardware and fittings can be produced in casting
process
iii. Security and decorative grills

EXTRUSION BASED
i. Door and window frames
ii. Fascia panels and curtain walls – a curtain wall is an
external non load bearing wall mainly designed to
carry its own weight and at the same time , it is
sufficiently strong to resist wind loads in accordance
with the normal building regulations .The larger
aluminium fascia panels and curtain walls can be
produced by using interlocking aluminium extrusion
iii. Geodesic domes and space grids – a geodesic dome is
a vaulted structure of light weight straighten elements
that form interlocking polygons
iv. Green houses and roof top gardens
v. Hardware and fittings – Hard ware items like handles
curtain rails tower bolts etc can be made
vi. North light glazing frames – it provides an easy and
quick way to erection and a maintenance free
installation
vii. Partitions and space dividers
FOIL AND POWDER BASED
i. Decorative laminates
ii. Insulative foils – these can be conveniently used for
insulating air conditioning ducts
iii. Paints – the aluminium powder based paints are useful
to grant protection to the buildings against corrosive
elements
iv. Water proofing sheets – the foil based laminates
provide a maintenance free barrio for protection of roof
against water leakage

SHEET BASED
i. Cable tray – the aluminum is fast replacing the
galvanized iron trays for carrying insulated electric
cables in industrial complexes
ii. Planer or flat type false ceiling – the use of such type
of false ceiling exhibit supreme aesthetic appearance
iii. Pre fabricated houses – the use of pre fabricated houses
can be made for colder and tropical climates it can be
sandwiched with poly urethane to form a better
material for this type of application
iv. Rain water articles – the non corrosive aluminium is a
normal choice for the gutter , spouts etc for the
disposal of rain water
v. Roofing and siding
vi. Ridging and angels of roof – the aluminium is used for
all building requirements of corner flashings ,
ridging ,gables –end flashings , monitor roofs
USES OF ALUMINIUM
This metal is chiefly used for making:
 Parts of aero plane
 Cooking utensils
 Electric wires
 Window frames
 Glazing bars
 Panels
 Balustrades
 Bathroom fittings
 Structural members

i. It is used as reducing agent in the manufacturing of

steel
ii. It is used in the casting of steel
iii. Manufacture of electric conductors
iv. For making aluminium alloys automobile bodies
v. Surgical instruments
vi. Engine parts
vii. Manufacturing of paint in powder form

when thermite (a mixture of powdered iron oxide and aluminum) is

heated, the aluminum rapidly removes the oxygen from the iron;
the heat of the reaction is sufficient to melt the iron. This
phenomenon is used in the thermite process for welding iron

Anhydrous aluminum chloride is important in the oil and

synthetic-chemical industries. Many gemstones—ruby and
sapphire, for example—consist mainly of crystalline aluminum
oxide.

ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
Following are the important alloys of aluminium:
1. Aldural
2. Aluminium bronze
3. Duralumin
4. Y-alloy
1) Aldural: This is also known as the alclade and its
is duralumin with a thin coating of pure
aluminium the thickness of layer of pure
aluminium is about 5% of thickness of core and
such o layer prevents corrosion due to salt water.
2) Aluminium bronze: This is in fact copper alloy. It
consists of 10 to 22 per cent of aluminium and 90
to 78 percent of copper. It is very strong, hard,
elastic and malleable yellowish-brown alloy. It is
a corrosion resisting alloy and has many
applications for die-casting, pumps rods, etc. it is
a substitute for brass.
3) Duralumin: it is very important alloy of
aluminium. Its composition is as follows:

Aluminium…………………94.0%
Copper…………………...….4.0%
Manganese……………….....0.5%
Magnesium…………………0.5%
Silicon………………………0.5%
Iron………………………….0.5%
It is specific gravity is about 2.85. It possesses the
property of age hardening i.e. it acquires hardness
after 2 to 3 days when quenched in water from 500 C
It is quite strong and it has high electric conductance.
It is used in aircraft and automobile industries, for
making electrical cobles, in surgical and orthopedic
implements or gadgets,etc.
4)Y-alloy: Following is composition of this alloy:
aluminium……………………92.5%
copper………………………….4.0%
nickel………………………….2.0%
magnesium……………………..1.5%
This alloy is a good conductor of heat and it
possesses high strength at high temperatures. It is
used for making piston of engines, cylinder heads,
gear boxes, propeller blades, etc