In this blog post, we will look at how aluminum, which appears fragile, gained strength and functionality through alloying and became a key material in high-tech industries.
When walking down the street, you can see shiny foreign cars such as Audis and BMWs. Would you believe that these beautiful cars are actually made of a material that looks as plain as foil? The material in question is aluminum alloy, which is the topic of this article. When most people think of aluminum, they think of a weak, bendable material like foil, but aluminum is not only used for foil, reflectors, and lighting tools, it also plays an important role in various industries, such as car bodies, ship parts, aircraft fuselages, and fuel tanks. It is both interesting and important to understand the characteristics of aluminum that make it so versatile. How can aluminum, which looks plain and weak, be used to make such cool and strong objects? All of these products contain aluminum, but what makes them different in terms of strength and characteristics?
When aluminum was first discovered and produced in 1825, it was very expensive, unlike today. Therefore, researchers decided that it was not economically viable to use aluminum in other products and turned their attention to other materials. However, as technology advanced, the process of extracting pure aluminum from impure aluminum became simpler, and the price of aluminum fell. With aluminum becoming more economical, research into its properties and applications began in earnest. Initially, aluminum was difficult to use in manufacturing due to its low strength, but research continued with a focus on utilizing its light weight. As a result, researchers came up with the idea of mixing aluminum with other metals to create aluminum alloys.
The development of aluminum alloys did not stop at simply lowering prices and improving processing technology. The evolution of this material enabled innovation in various industries. For example, in the aircraft industry, the lightness and strength of aluminum alloys contributed to improving the fuel efficiency of aircraft and enabling longer flights. In the automotive industry, aluminum alloys have helped reduce vehicle weight, improving fuel efficiency while also improving passenger safety in the event of a collision. This was not simply a change in materials, but a combination of technological advances that became an important turning point in changing the way we live.
Aluminum alloys are divided into 1000-7000 series for processing and casting alloys, depending on what metals they are alloyed with, whether they have been heat treated, and what they are used for. Looking at a few series, the first is the 1000 series aluminum alloy, which is pure aluminum. It has low strength and is used in reflectors and lighting fixtures, but it also has high corrosion resistance and is used in chemical industry tanks. Second, 2000 series aluminum alloys are alloys of aluminum, copper, and magnesium. They have good workability and are used for spring materials and aircraft materials that require precision. Third, 5000 series aluminum alloys are alloys of aluminum and magnesium with good moldability and are used to make large materials such as shipbuilding materials, fuel tanks, and pressure vessels. Finally, 7000 series aluminum alloys are alloys of aluminum, zinc, and magnesium, boasting the highest strength and used as materials for transportation vehicles such as aircraft and automobile bodies.
Even now, various aluminum alloy products play an important role in our lives, but there are issues that need to be resolved in order for aluminum alloys to be used in more places. That is the verification of aluminum’s safety. News reports that aluminum is harmful to the human body have created a negative perception of aluminum, and recent research findings that large amounts of aluminum have been detected in the bodies of Alzheimer’s patients have led to a growing number of people who are reluctant to use aluminum cans and containers. These concerns are factors that many people must carefully consider when using aluminum. If the safety of aluminum can be verified, aluminum alloys will be used in a wider range of applications, and I believe that aluminum alloys will become a representative building material for future buildings. This is not just a prediction, but a realistic scenario based on ongoing technological developments and research.
