{"id":14113,"date":"2025-02-11T14:40:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T20:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/?page_id=14113"},"modified":"2025-04-04T12:33:05","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T17:33:05","slug":"aluminum-in-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/aluminum-in-manufacturing\/","title":{"rendered":"Aluminum in Manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Author: Scott Bredemann<\/a> | Updated: 02\/11\/2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aluminum, also sometimes spelled aluminium, is everywhere in modern manufacturing\u2014and for good reason. It\u2019s strong, lightweight, and naturally resistant to corrosion, making it a go-to material across industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and construction. Whether it\u2019s in aircraft frames, precision-machined components, or even the packaging that keeps products fresh, aluminum plays a critical role in keeping industries moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what makes aluminum so useful? And how do different alloys and processing methods impact its performance in industrial applications? In this article, we\u2019ll explore aluminum\u2019s key properties, common uses, and why it continues to be one of the most valuable materials in manufacturing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Aluminum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is one of the most abundant metals on Earth, making up about 8% of the planet\u2019s crust. But in its natural state, you won\u2019t find it lying around in pure form. Instead, it\u2019s locked up in minerals like bauxite ore, which is refined and processed into the aluminum we use in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes aluminum stand out is its unique combination of properties. It\u2019s lightweight\u2014about a third the weight of steel\u2014but still strong enough to handle heavy loads. It doesn\u2019t rust like iron because it forms a natural oxide layer that protects it from corrosion. It\u2019s also one of the best metals for conducting heat and electricity, which is why you\u2019ll find it in everything from electrical wiring to heat sinks in electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbol, and Atomic Weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the periodic table, it is represented by the symbol Al and has an atomic number of 13. It\u2019s classified as a post-transition metal, meaning it has properties of both metals and metalloids. Aluminum\u2019s atomic weight is 26.98 atomic mass units (amu), making it one of the lighter industrial metals\u2014an important factor in its widespread use in aerospace, automotive, and other weight-sensitive applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Rolls of Aluminum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical Properties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/td>2.70 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting Point<\/td>660.3\u00b0C (1220.5\u00b0F)<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling Point<\/td>2519\u00b0C (4566\u00b0F)<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity<\/td>1.61 (Pauling scale)<\/td><\/tr>
Thermal Conductivity<\/td>237 W\/m\u00b7K<\/td><\/tr>
Electrical Conductivity<\/td>37.7 \u00d7 10\u2076 S\/m<\/td><\/tr>
Crystal Structure<\/td>Face-Centered Cubic (FCC)<\/td><\/tr>
Reactivity<\/td>Highly reactive but forms a protective oxide layer<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Mechanical Properties of Aluminum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemical Properties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Appearance<\/td>Silvery-white, metallic<\/td><\/tr>
Density<\/a><\/td>2.70 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr>
Melting Point<\/td>660.3\u00b0C (1220.5\u00b0F)<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling Point<\/td>2519\u00b0C (4566\u00b0F)<\/td><\/tr>
Hardness<\/td>2.75 (Mohs scale)<\/td><\/tr>
Tensile Strength<\/td>40-50 MPa (pure aluminum)<\/td><\/tr>
Yield Strength<\/td>10-20 MPa (pure aluminum)<\/td><\/tr>
Elastic Modulus<\/td>69 GPa (10,000 ksi)<\/td><\/tr>
Thermal Expansion<\/td>23.1 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2076 \/\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
Thermal Conductivity<\/td>237 W\/m\u00b7K<\/td><\/tr>
Electrical Conductivity<\/td>37.7 \u00d7 10\u2076 S\/m<\/td><\/tr>
Specific Heat Capacity<\/td>0.90 J\/g\u00b7K<\/td><\/tr>
Magnetism<\/td>Non-magnetic<\/td><\/tr>
Corrosion Resistance<\/td>High (due to oxide layer)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Chemical Properties of Aluminum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Types of Aluminum Alloys in Manufacturing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Different alloys offer varying levels of strength, corrosion resistance, and workability:<\/p>\n\n\n\n