Monday, May 26, 2014

Information To Know Concerning Aluminum In NJ

By Marci Glover


Aluminium is one of the chemical elements under the boron category. Al is its chemical symbol and 13 its atomic number. The name can be spelt as aluminium too. Physical qualities include considerable ductility, silvery color, and softness. Aluminium comes third after silicon and oxygen gas as far as abundance in the crust is concerned. Aluminum in NJ occurs in compound form and not the highly reactive native form.

Under natural situations, the ore exists as a mixture of more than 270 other minerals. Bauxite is the primary ore. The most significant characteristics of the substance are low density and resistance to corrosion. Low density is useful in the construction of aircrafts and structural components. Rusting does not occur in the metal rendering it useful in several industries.

There are numerous ways in which aluminium is produced in NJ. The main one is called the Hall-Heroult process. Others include indirect carbothermic reduction and the electrolytic smelting of alumina. Although still under development, indirect carbothermic reduction is proving to be very effective. It generates less Carbon (II) Oxide gas while consuming less power when compared to Hall-Heroult process.

Hall-Heroult process requires alumina to be dissolved into molten calcium fluoride with cryolite. After completely dissolving, aluminium ions are released into the electrolyte to move freely. Electrolytic means are then used to reduce the resultant compound into aluminium. For this reduction to happen, the temperatures must be kept in the range of 950 and 980 degrees Centigrade. Aluminium ions undergo reduction depositing the metal at the bottom. Hall-Heroult process took the place for the Wohler process. Wohler process used potassium metal to reduce anhydrous aluminum chloride into aluminum.

This method very energy inefficient, but its application cannot be dropped because it is the most ecological and economical. The metal is able to be recycled up to 100 hundred without losing its properties. Increased manufacture of beverage cans in late 60s gave recycling a lot of importance in NJ. When recycling, scrap is melted to form an ash-like substance called dross and the pure form of the metal. With further refinement dross can be converted into the substances too.

The recycled metal is referred to as secondary aluminum even though it has the same properties and applications as the primary one. The metal is mostly used as an alloy with other substances because this enhances its mechanical properties. Main substances used in the alloys are copper, magnesium, silicon, zinc, and manganese. Major uses include production of transport vessels like aircrafts, trucks, railway cars, and marine vessels.

There are other uses in industries like engineering, construction, household equipment, electronics, power distribution, insulation, packaging, and lighting among many others. A reaction between the substance and hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide generates hydrogen gas. Powder form of aluminium is an essential additive in solid rocket fuels, certain paints, and thermite. Some states issue currencies smelt from aluminium and its alloys.

Research has not revealed any severe health concerns due to consumption of small doses of the element. If consumed in enormous amounts however, it causes neurotoxicity and other disorders of the brain and the nervous system. Some individual are allergic and might experience contact dermatitis, vomiting, and digestive disorders when they make contact with it.




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