Knowledge

There are many metals that get used for industrial purposes, such as steel, copper, zinc, lead and nickel, but aluminum is one of the most popular. In fact, it is second only to steel in its overall industrial consumption. Aluminum possesses several unique properties that make it very versatile and sought after for everything from building aircraft to making soda cans. The fact that this metal is recyclable means that it will probably become even more popular in all uses as time goes on and other resources become more limited.

Weight

Aluminum is an extremely light metal, but still very strong. It is roughly one third of the weight of steel and less than one fourth of the weight of lead. This makes it extremely useful for many applications, especially in the transportation industry. Aluminum plate suppliers are constantly filling orders for those who build airplanes, boats, cars and trucks, since the lighter relative weight (or density) of aluminum compared to steel allows these vehicles to go faster, be more fuel efficient, carry more payload, float and fly.

Ease of Manufacturing

Aluminum is a very versatile metal, which allows it to be manufactured into many different forms, such as aluminum plate, bars, sheets or extrude shapes, Aluminum is created in a variety of different alloys and each specific alloy offers different benefits to manufacturing. For instance, 6061 aluminum plate or 7075 aluminum plate, are good for machined parts, while alloys like 5052 and 3003 are more pliable and work best when rolled or bent. In the hands of a skilled craftsman with the proper precision equipment, aluminum can be cut or formed to just about any shape or size. Aluminum also has the ability to be rolled very thin, which allows it to be used for things like foil and soda cans.

Conductivity

Aluminum conducts electricity very well. This property makes the metal very useful in the construction of electronics and circuits. It also has fairly good thermal conductivity, allowing it to transfer most of the heat or cold it receives evenly across its surface. This makes aluminum a very popular choice for cookware as well as heating and air conditioning equipment.