ALUMINIUM- THE GREEN METAL

ALUMINIUM- THE GREEN METAL

TOPIC: Science & Tech.

Context- According to a World Bank report on green energy revolution, aluminium is the only metal that is both high-impact and cross-cutting, in all potential clean power technologies.

Concept-

• Aluminium is used in most clean energy technologies, especially in solar where it accounts for 85 per cent of most PV components in the form of the frames and mounting structures that hold the PV panels together and support them.

WHY ALUMINIUM IS CALLED THE GREEN METAL?

• Aluminium is called the green metal because it is a very environmentally friendly metal.
• Recycling this material saves 95% of the energy required to produce aluminium from raw materials.
• LOW WEIGHT: It is one third of the density of steel, which is why aluminium is also called a light metal. It has a low density because of a lower atomic weight compared to wither metals.
• DURABLE STRENGTH: Aluminum can become one of the toughest metals on earth. Aluminum alloys are used in many applications where strength and durability are needed.
• HIGHLY MALLEABLE: Due to aluminum’s highly malleable (second in the world after gold) properties it can be rolled or hammered into extremely thin sheets without breaking.
• RESISTANCE FROM CORROSION: This is primarily because aluminium spontaneously forms a thin but effective oxide layer that prevents further oxidation.
• CONDUCTIVE: Pure aluminum has high thermal conductivity. Aluminum alloys can have much a lower conductivity, but rarely as low as iron or steel.
• NON FLAMMABLE: Therefore when aluminium is exposed to a prolonged fire environment it will begin to melt (not burn), provided that the metal’s temperature passes the melting point.
• RECYCLABLE: Aluminium can be recycled forever: It can be melted down and reformed without losing any quality, and the process can be repeated over and over again.
• LONG LIFE: Aluminium is durable due to its long lifespan.
• AFFORDABILITY: aluminium is quick to cool down compared to traditional materials, which is of significant advantage in solar PV, as increase in temperature of PV cells reduces the efficiency of electricity generation. Cost-effective and requires significantly less energy.