- 21 December 2024
Today, aluminum and its alloys are used in many fields of industry and technology. Aluminum and its alloys are used primarily in the aerospace and automotive industries and in the manufacture of household appliances. Aluminum is also widely used in other industries: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial and civil construction, the chemical industry and the production of consumer goods.
One of the most important applications that aluminum products have is in aviation. At the current stage of development of subsonic and supersonic aviation, aluminum alloys are the main structural materials in aircraft construction. The alloys are widely used for high operating temperatures and increased fracture toughness values. They are also used in hydraulic, oil and fuel systems.
Custom aluminum components are used in the creation of space technology facilities. The material's high specific strength and stiffness values have made it possible to produce tanks, intertank and rocket front parts with high longitudinal stability. Among the advantages of aluminum alloys is their behavior at cryogenic temperatures in contact with liquid oxygen, hydrogen and helium. These alloys are subjected to so-called cryogenic hardening, that is, the so-called strength and ductility increase as the temperature decreases.
Aluminumproducts are increasingly used in the shipbuilding industry. Aluminum alloys are used to make ship hulls, deck superstructures, communication equipment and various ship equipment. The main advantage of introducing aluminum and its alloys compared to steel is the reduction in the weight of ships, which can reach 50-60%. As a result, it becomes possible to increase the carrying capacity of a ship or improve its tactical-technical parameters (maneuverability, speed, etc.).
The harsh operating conditions of rolling stock (long service life and resistance to shock loads) place special demands on structural materials. Hence, custom aluminum components are so readily used here.
The main characteristics of aluminum, allow their use in rail transportation. The biggest advantages that aluminum products have are high specific strength, low inertia force and corrosion resistance. The introduction of aluminum alloys in the production of welded containers increases their durability during the transportation of a number of products of the chemical and petrochemical industries.
Aluminum products are also used in road transportation. Aluminum and its alloys are used for car bodies and frames. Weldable medium-strength alloys are suitable here. The high specific strength of aluminum alloys increases load carrying capacity and reduces vehicle operating costs. The material's high corrosion resistance extends the service life and expands the range of transported goods, including liquids and gases with high aggressive concentrations. Custom aluminum products are also used in the construction, petroleum and chemical industries.
Aluminum and a range of alloys based on it are used in electrical engineering because of their good electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, low specific gravity and, importantly, lower cost compared to copper and its conductive alloys. Custom aluminum products are widely used in the food industry, in the form of aluminum cookware, as well as in cosmetics and household chemicals. Aluminum is used to make equipment for food processing in sugar mills, confectioneries, oil mills and other industries.
Aluminum is used to make meat grinders, forks, spoons, cups, bowls, aluminum utensils, etc. Aluminum foil is an excellent packaging material for preserving products. Toothpaste is traditionally packaged in aluminum tubes. Also, some products, such as melted cheese, are packaged in aluminum tubes. Increasingly, thin sheets of food-grade aluminum are being used for cans instead of tin.
