Aluminum is an intrinsic part of our lives; most of us have probably not given it much thought. It was once a precious metal in its infancy. Its history of use has evolved to become a choice metal for many products. The properties of the metal are applicable across many industries, making it high in demand. Aluminum is in our homes, the devices that we use, the cars that we drive, in our packaged foods and drinks, and more. This common metal processed from bauxite is valuable for its everyday usage. Mined and sourced from different parts of the world, the country of Guinea on the west coast of Africa has the world's largest reserve of bauxite.
The word bauxite originated from a village in France from a local geologist's findings of the ore. Bauxite ore comes from the topsoil of areas that have a tropical or subtropical climate. The mined ore is processed and refined to make aluminum. Aluminum holds essential qualities that are drivers of economies. The metal is flexible, durable, a good conductor of electricity, lightweight, non-corrosive, 100 % recyclable. With these traits, the usage of this metal is extensive.
Aluminum is in:
- Buildings
- Bridges
- Planes, trains, automobiles
- Airconditioning units
- Machinery
- Cooking utensils
- Siding
- Furniture
- Packaging
"Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today." Aluminum.org
Eureka Moments
As one of the most abundant metals in the earth's crust, it has revolutionized many advancements. One of the transformative changes to occur in history was propelling the flight and space industries.
What's Ahead
As we move towards more eco-friendly, renewable, and sustainable products, the nature of the metal will be central in the clean technology space. Today, with the development of electric cars and the transformation to greener energy use, the longevity of aluminum continues.