Aluminum is a light, profuse yet strong metal that has extensive in every aspect of life. The basic drawback of this metal is that it utilizes huge amount of energy that is required in its refinement from the most common of its ore, Bauxite.

Recycling an old aluminum stuff may cut down about 90% of the energy use that would be required to separate it from the ore, bauxite. Here are some more interesting facts to know about aluminum.

• The metal Aluminum is only one third of the density of iron. It has some alloys like duraluminum which is again quite strong and can replace mild steel as well. The composition of duraluminum includes 94.3% aluminum, 0.5% manganese, 4% copper, 0.5% magnesium and silicon of 0.7%.

• Duraluminum is much stronger than the actual aluminum. Yet duraluminum is prone to corrosion and not as resistant as actual aluminum. Hence it is often mixed with pure aluminum.

• Aluminum is quite light yet strong hence it finds wide use in aircraft construction. It has high electricity conductivity factor almost 80% of that of copper. Sometimes, it is found to replace coppers in big electrical conductors.

• The only drawback of aluminum is that it oxidizes quite easily. Whenever is comes in contact with erosive substances, it tends to oxidize. Therefore, anti-oxidant coating is always necessary for aluminum materials.

• Aluminum is the most active metal of the Boron family in the periodic table. It quickly forms a coating of oxide on the surface which is exposed. When aluminum is heated strongly, it quickly burns in air. It consequently forms a fine powdered substance which is quite explosive.

• Aluminum is one of those important elements that comprise the lithosphere, i.e. the earth’s crust. Its availability is third most which is around 8.1% by weight. Aluminum is a silicates class constituent known as feldspar. Mica is also composed of aluminum. An aluminum silicate mineral is pyrophyllite or AlSi2O5(OH).

• Aluminum can combine with different other metals in the form of many silicates. Like manganese when mixed with aluminum, it forms spessartine or Mn3Al2(SiO4)3.

• There are certain aluminum such as zunyite that contains chlorine and fluorine. The gem Topaz is formed by one of the aluminum silicates Al2SiO4 (F,OH)2. There is a potassium silicate of aluminum which is responsible for forming microline whose colour can vary from brown to apple green.

• A blue gem is also formed from an aluminum silicate when combined with calcium. It is known as Zoisite. Kyanite, an aluminum silicate is capable of making blue crystals that can resemble gem. There are more aluminum silicates such as Spodumene and Petalite.

• Alumina or aluminum oxide occurs in nature as the mineral corundum. Impure corundum is known as emery and it is used in making wheels and abrasive cloth pieces. Untainted corundum is colorless but when some impurity like chromic oxide is added to it, the precious stone, Ruby is formed.

• Addition of titanium oxide to pure corundum leads to the precious stone Sapphire. Aluminum along with magnesium forms spinel, which is an oxide mineral while on reacting with zinc, it forms an oxide mineral known as gahnite.

Aluminum is a good reflector and can be applied on evaporated coating in the making of mirrors. Wardite is a phosphate of sodium and aluminum.