Today, aluminum is the most commonly used metal in the world after iron and steel. Aluminum is a vital component of almost every part of our lives, from the vehicles we drive to the packaging of our food.

Aluminum is at its most versatile when it’s combined with other metals to form aluminum alloys. The alloying process gives aluminum improved properties to suit a range of applications.

The molten aluminum is then poured into molds to form foundry ingot. At this stage, it’s 99.8% pure. Now it can be further refined to produce super pure aluminum or used for alloying with other metals.

Super pure Aluminum

Super pure aluminum of high purity (99.99%) is soft and lacks tensile strength. However, it is corrosion-resistant and an excellent conductor of electricity. Super pure aluminum is used in chemical equipment, electronic components, and to make gasoline.

Aluminum Alloys

Most aluminum is alloyed with other elements. By alloying the aluminum, its hardness and strength can be significantly improved. Common aluminum alloys are aluminum-manganese (used in beverage containers), aluminum-magnesium (used in appliances and utensils), aluminum-magnesium-silicon (used in buildings and vehicles), and aluminum-copper (used in aircraft).

Recycling Aluminum

Aluminum can be endlessly recycled without losing its quality. This makes it one of the most environmentally friendly metals on the planet. Incredibly, most of the aluminum ever produced is still being used today.