Aluminium – The EV Manufacturer’s dream metal

Aluminium – The EV Manufacturer’s dream metal

Subject: Science & tech

Context: Electric vehicles are set to push the demand for aluminium exponentially, with innovation in products being the focus of the downstream aluminium sector.

Concept:

• Aluminium is a soft, silvery-white, ductile, nonmagnetic metal in the boron group.
• It is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Depending on the surface reference, aluminium appears in the range from silvery to dull grey.
• Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel.
• It has a great affinity towards oxygen, and forms a protective layer of oxide on the surface when exposed to air.
• Aluminium visually resembles silver, both in its color and in its great ability to reflect light.

Uses of Aluminium

• It is used in the transportation of railway, trucks, and automobiles as castings.
• It is used in packaging.
• Al (II) compounds are observed in the reactions of Al metal with oxidants.
• Using aluminum the presence of aluminium can be detected in qualitative analysis.

Properties of Aluminium

• The element is highly reactive. It has about one-third of stiffness and density of steel.
• Aluminium has good corrosion resistivity.
• It is capable of superconductivity.