Of the many elements listed on the periodic table, aluminum is one in which density plays a major factor in its usefulness.
All About Aluminum
Aluminum is a metal similar to steel, brass, copper, zinc, lead, or titanium in terms of physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. It transmits electric currents and can be melted, cast, molded, and carved in the same way that these other metals can. Because of its many versatile and desirable characteristics, aluminum is one of the most commonly used industrial materials.
Density
Although its density is one of its greatest features, aluminum is a lightweight material with a high strength-to-weight ratio. This makes it an easy material to work with while remaining durable and useful in a wide variety of industrial applications.
Pure aluminum has a density of 2,699 kg/m3 in solid form, and 2,697-2,699 kg/m3 in liquid form. At 973K, pure aluminum has a liquid density of 2,357 kg/m3 at 973K and 2,304 kg/m3 at 1173K.
Why does its density vary?
One of the key advantages of aluminum over other structural metals is its low density. Aluminum’s density is approximately one-third that of steel or copper, making it one of the lightest widely viable metals and ideal for various structural applications and products. It is also less expensive than steel and has superior malleability, ductility, and corrosion resistance.
While the density of pure aluminum is commonly around 2.7 g/cm3, alloys can cause this figure to vary significantly. The weight of the product will increase as the alloying materials become heavier.
Calculating Density
To calculate an object’s density, the mass is divided by its volume. Density is a calculation used in the aluminum industry that considers the density of pure aluminum and its mixture with other alloying elements.
Advantages being lightweight
Despite its weight, the aluminum is robust and easy to shape and extrude. The density of aluminum is a considerable benefit in the manufacturing of materials where weight is a critical component. Construction materials, packaging, electrical components, household products, and food/chemicals are other industry uses that benefit from aluminum’s low density.
All elements are important and significant, but aluminum is quite unique. With a weight to strength ratio as its best feature, aluminum is often an engineer or fabricator’s best friend. To find out how aluminum can benefit your application, get in touch with us today.
