...Aluminum Aluminum is a silvery white member of boron group of chemical elements. It has Al as a symbol, and its atomic number is 13. Aluminum is not soluble in water under normal circumstances. Aluminum considered as the third most abundant element, and the most abundant metal. It makes up about 8% by weight of the Earth's solid surface. Aluminum metal is a very reactive metal .It is found combined in 270 different minerals. Aluminum History In 1761, Guyton de Morveau suggested calling the base alum alumina. In 1808, Humphry Davy identifies the existence of a metal base of alum. The metal was first produced in 1825 in an impure form by physicist and chemist Hans Christian Ørsted. He react anhydrous aluminum chloride with potassium amalgam, yielding a lump of metal looking similar to tin. Friedrich Wöhler was aware of these experiments and cited them, but after redoing the experiments of Ørsted he concluded that the metal was pure potassium. He conducted a similar experiment in 1827 by mixing anhydrous aluminum chloride with potassium and yielded aluminum. Aluminum Characteristics There are many characteristics of aluminum, and here i will talk about two types of aluminum characteristics:- 1- Physical characteristics: Aluminum is a soft, durable, lightweight, and malleable metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull gray, depending on the surface roughness. A fresh film of aluminum film serves as a good of visible light and an excellent reflector of...
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...Alusaf Hillside Project 1. Is primary aluminum production an attractive industry? Why or why not? I consider primary aluminum production is not an attractive industry because : a. The product is identical (ie, aluminum), all the companies procure the same resources to make production with same production line and process. The firms only differentiate in terms of controlling and lowering the variable cost in order to make a profit as a price-takers. Pricing is somehow fix in global level as aluminum is openly traded in the financial market. b. Intensive rivalry and perfect competition. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia and the other former Soviet states surged the supply and flooded world markets while having price remains historical low in 1993. 2. At the market price of $1,110 per ton, given the supply curve you have derived, how much would be supplied under the assumption that all plants are profit maximizers? If all plants are profit maximizers, the capacity will be landed at where average variable cost = price, ie, $1,110. From the industry 1993 supply curve, the capacity at 19,412 thousands tpy when variable cost close to $1,110 (to be exact at $1,108.02). 3. At what rate do you expect primary aluminum demand to grow over the coming years (note that primary aluminum demand is total demand less scrap production)? What do you expect the price of aluminum to be in 5 years from 1993? From the industry supply curve, the capacity...
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...Experts recommended grounding the tanks because it would protect them from lightning strikes and static electricity (Meyer, 2010). In addition, experts also recommended storing only noncombustible materials in tanks that were painted with products that contained aluminum powder because aluminum powder is a pyrophoric material (Meyer, 2010). Naturally the hazardous condition would be virtually eliminated by only storing noncombustible materials in the tanks. According to Meyer (2010) once the solvent in the coating has evaporated what remains of the paint should be considered a flammable and in the case of aluminum dust remnants, pyrophoric as stated above. Using paint consisting of aluminum already creates a risk of fire and explosion. Add to that an ignition source and a tank full of combustibles, and one could see to what extent that would add to an already hazardous situation (Meyer, 2010). Titanium much like other metal such as aluminum is not hazardous in bulk form. However, as in the case of aluminum, it becomes a pyrophoric material in its finely divided form. Through the fabrication process of metals, remnants of leftover titanium are considered pyrophoric and pose a significant risk of fire and explosion (Meyer, 2010). During the production process titanium remnants have the potential to react with atmospheric moister and cause the hydrogen to combust and can self-ignite (Meyer, 2010). The Use of automatic sprinkler systems can be an effective fire suppressant...
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...Aluminum fencing is one of the most popular choices for homeowner and commercial property owners who want durable fencing at a reasonable price. It has the elegant look of wrought iron without the required maintenance. Aluminum fences have become a popular choice to enhance the appeal of your property while staying within your allotted budget. Aluminum fencing is an excellent option for those who like the look of wrought iron but do not want the upkeep and maintenance. With aluminum, you do not need to worry about rust or having to repaint every few years. The finish will not peel or flake over time. The powder coat finish found on these fences gives property owners a lot of color choices to choose from. Black, white, and bronze are popular...
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...Aluminum Assignment 2. We predict in the next several years that the primary aluminum demand will increase, but at a slower rate that it has been historically. * We predict a temporary increase in aluminum pricing due to production restrictions imposed by CIS and US producers beginning in 1994. However, the price reduction will be temporary, as the LME warehouses have inventory at historic highs of 2.5 thousand tons of aluminum, which could be sold at any time. Furthermore, the US has agreed to temporarily idle production of 950 thousand tons of aluminum in an attempt to inflate prices. However, this is a short term solution, as production cannot be idled for a long period of time without severe damage to the aluminum production line. * The consumption of aluminum by the Western world has increased over the last 5 years, but at a much slower rate than in the past 10 years. Additionally, the secondary aluminum market has been increasing, and serves as competition for the primary aluminum market. By 1994, the secondary aluminum made up 25% of worldwide product and saw a 5 year CAGR of 3.7%, while the CAGR for primary aluminum had decreased to a rate of 1.4% worldwide. The startup cost for a secondary aluminum plant is far lower than that of a primary aluminum plant. The operational cost of the secondary aluminum plant is far lower than that of a primary aluminum plant, requiring about 5% of the energy needed to operate a primary aluminum plant. As a result, there will...
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...In this experiment the objective is to synthesize alum using a potential method for recycling aluminum with an aluminum can and to evaluate the synthesis of the alum. Aluminum represents about 1% of the United States Gross Domestic Product, which is equivalent to about 150 billion dollars. Not only does it impact the society financially, but it also creates approximately 670,000 jobs for Americans⁴. Effectively reproducing and reusing products such as aluminum creates many job opportunities as well as always allowing American to have the easy access to aluminum. But best of all, the process of recycling aluminum uses 90% less energy than the process of producing new aluminum does⁴. Aluminum is produced by Bauxite (ore) in a very long and extensive...
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...Aluminum matrix * Continuous fibers: boron, silicon carbide, alumina, graphite * Discontinuous fibers: alumina, alumina-silica * Whiskers: silicon carbide * Particulates: silicon carbide, boron carbide STIR CASTING METHOD OF FABRICATION OF MMCs * Liquid state fabrication of Metal Matrix Composites involves incorporation of dispersed phase * into a molten matrix metal, followed by its Solidification. * In order to provide high level of mechanical properties of the composite, good interfacial * bonding (wetting) between the dispersed phase and the liquid matrix should be obtained. * Wetting improvement may be achieved by coating the dispersed phase particles (fibers). Proper * coating not only reduces interfacial energy, but also prevents chemical interaction between the * dispersed phase and the matrix. * The simplest and the most cost effective method of liquid state fabrication is Stir Casting. * 26 * Stir Casting * Stir Casting is a liquid state method of composite materials fabrication, in which a dispersed * phase (ceramic particles, short fibers) is mixed with a molten matrix metal by means of * mechanical stirring. * The liquid composite material is then cast by conventional casting methods and may also be * processed by conventional Metal forming technologies. * Stir Casting is characterized by the following features: * Content of dispersed phase is limited (usually not more than...
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...The Aluminum Industry in 19941 and Aluminum Smelting in South Africa: Alusaf’s Hillside Project2 1) Is primary aluminum production an attractive industry? Why or why not? Within the framework of the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) model3, the primary aluminum production industry (“the industry”) in 1994 can be described as perfectly competitive. The industry is characterized by a large number of competing firms – the largest of which has only 4.1% of total industry capacity; homogeneous, commodity-type products and low-cost entry and exit into and out of the industry (assuming capital is available where returns are greater than cost of entry). Within the industry, market prices are established via a commodities exchange (the London Metal Exchange, or LME) and individual firms have little ability to set market prices. In a perfectly competitive industry social welfare is maximized – due largely to the lack of product differentiation and the number of competitors, while expected firm performance is normal. In the early 1990’s the collapse of the Soviet military caused Russian and other Soviet State smelters to flood the market with capacity that had previously supplied military needs. During 1993, LME inventories of primary aluminum increased by nearly a million tons, to over 2.5 million tons, while producer inventories increased by over 300,000 tons. This surge in supply & inventory levels drove world aluminum prices to all-time lows - $1,110/ton at the end...
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...Kelly Thomer Sports History Why Aluminum Bats should be Banned from the NCAA Crack! That was the sound of our nation's pastime in the early days of baseball. For nearly 125, years the wooden bat was used in every level of baseball. In Tom's River, New Jersey, the little league World Series is held every summer. Ping! This is the only sound that a spectator will hear during one of those baseball games. What happened to the old-fashioned crack of the bat? The wooden bat has been used in professional baseball since the game's establishment in 1864. An aluminum bat is more dangerous than a wooden bat due to the advanced technology of the aluminum bat, but offers a greater impact to a ball than a wooden bat could. For college ball players hoping to make it to the majors, they should be using the equipment required by the MLB in order to be the most prepared. Also, it makes it harder for scouts to determine how a player will perform under different conditions. This is why I believe the NCAA should play with the same standards as the MLB. The baseball bat controversy has been lingering over amateur baseball since the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) allowed the use of aluminum bats for the first time in 1974 (Adelson). Every year there is another injury to a pitcher as a result of the aluminum bat due to its exit velocity. The exit velocity of a ball plays a key role in determining the level of risk of injury. It is defined as the speed of the ball off the...
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...State of the Science Although research on in-place aluminum bridge decks is scant, bridge failures and deteriorations over the past decade inspired engineers toward determining the structural integrity of aluminum alloys in bridge rehabilitation. Recent studies, examining the corrosive effects of acidic and salt atmosphere on aluminum bridge decks indicates the material is expected to endure for at least 30-years (Li, et al., 2010). Furthermore, the Virginia Department of Transportation conducted a series of tests, including service and ultimate load test using Reynold’s deck system (Dobmeier, 2001). The results of Dobmeier, et al.’s (2001) experiment, “clearly demonstrates that aluminum bridge decks are a feasible alternative to reinforced concrete decks”. When considering alternatives for bridge deck replacements, the structural engineer must evaluate the life cost of materials chosen. Specifically, although the material cost for aluminum bridge decks is higher than for structural steel, the cost for fabrication, construction and length of serviceability prove cost effective when compared to steel (Ghaswala, 2010; Tindall, 2008; Walbridge & de la Chevrotiere, 2012). Specifically, with a per unit weight that is about one-third that of structural steel, construction methods are simplified and time for rehabilitation reduced (Ghaswala, 2010). Furthermore, maintenance costs are greatly reduced with aluminum decks, which eliminate the need for protective coating (beyond...
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...Title of Paper Name School Chemistry Instructor's Name Feb 01, 2015. Dangers of Aluminum Powdered Tanks and Titanium Machining Shops Experts have suggested that storage tanks that were formerly painted with products containing aluminum powder should be grounded. The aluminum powder was initially mainly meant to reflect heat from these tanks. Furthermore it was also recommended that only non-combustible material should be stored in these tanks since the aluminum powder is a pyrophoric substance. Grounding the storage tanks will help in avoiding development of static charges on the tanks which might cause an ignition of fire especially if combustible material is in the tank. Experts also suggest that grounding them will reduce the chances of a lightning strike. Meyer (2010) argues that if only nonflammable material is stored in these tanks, the risk of fire and explosions will be greatly reduced Every machining or milling shop should have in place a plan for preventing and suppressing fires. Most businesses that close due to fires never reopen. In whole large sizes, titanium is not very dangerous. Lathe machines, during fabrication process, produces very fine grains of titanium. When titanium chips and grains get very hot, hey ignite readily. They pose a danger of fire and explosion to lathe machine operations. Such fires ignited by metals are classified under class D fires. They are considered fatal since the fires are of a high temperature and rapidly react with water...
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...Alcoa began under the name of the Pittsburgh Reduction Company in 1888, changing its name to the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in1907. The company was originally founded on a $20,000 investment to capitalize on Charles Martin Hall’s invention to smelt bauxite ore into the metal known as aluminum. Within a few years, Alcoa had developed into a model of large-scale vertical integration with control over all the inputs to aluminum production. Since its inception, Alcoa has had a very strong values-based culture. Employees learned early in their careers that very decision they made and everything they did must be aligned with the company’s values. In 1985, Fred Fetterolf, then president, decided the company needed to document the values that all employees must live by; Integrity; Environment, Health, and Safety; Customer; Accountability; Excellence; People; and Profitability. (In 2012, Alcoa slightly revised its core values – Integrity; Environmental; Health and safety; Excellence ; Respect and Innovation) In the 1990s Alcoa’s CEO, Paul O’Neil, communication his answering belief in the importance of health and safety-one of the company’s core values. As is the case with many large organizations, Alcoa had implemented a global ethics and compliance program, and focus on health and safety was interwoven through the company’s program. The Alcoa program included all the basic elements specified in the U.S Federal Sentencing Guidelines and Sarbanes –Oxley Act. Alcoa had...
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...are full of small things that make a big difference. Aluminum foil is one of the small things in life that can be easily overlooked, and yet it plays a very large role in making life easy for all of us. Because of it’s history, how its made, and how its used, aluminum foil has changed the way we live. To understand the many uses of aluminum foil and how it has made life easier, the history of where aluminum foil came from, needs to be understood. Because aluminum was not made into the foil used today until the 19th century, it is best that we trace the many uses for aluminum in other forms. Aluminum was being used in ancient Egypt where they used alumina, an aluminum compound, for various medicinal uses. It was mostly used for mixing with other compounds to make the desired medication (aluminum foil). It was not until the early 1800s that someone tried to create aluminum for a practical use. In 1807 Sir Humphry Davy was the first person to try and create pure aluminum from minerals found in the earth. Davy was a British scientist and was the first person to identify and create pure substances that only existed in in other forms through electrolysis (Sir Humphry). He was unsuccessful in isolating aluminum but his ingenuity lit the way for many successors. Sir Humphry Davy inspired others to try and create a solid aluminum ingot. “Danish physicist and chemist, Hans Christian Ørsted, in 1825 finally produced aluminum. ‘It forms,’ Ørsted reported, ‘a lump of metal which...
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...piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at 90.0°C is placed in 4.00 litersA 1.00kg piece of aluminum metal at...
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...Side of the Market Every market has a demand side and a supply side. The demand side can be represented by a market demand curve, which shows the amount of the commodity buyers would like to purchase at different prices. For example, the market demand curve for aluminum in Figure 1-3 shows that 4 million pounds of aluminum would be demanded annually at the price of $1.50 per pound (point A), 6 million pounds would be demanded at the price of $1.00 per pound (point E), and 8 million pounds would be demanded at the price of $0.50 per pound (point B). Note that more aluminum would be demanded annually at lower prices; that is, the demand curve for aluminum slopes downward to the right. This is true for practically all commodities and is referred to as the law of demand. Demand curves are drawn on the assumption that buyers' tastes, buyers' incomes, the number of consumers in the market, and the price of related commodities (substitutes and complements) are unchanged. Changes in any of these factors will cause a demand curve to shift. For example, if consumers' tastes for aluminum products or consumers' incomes increase, the entire demand curve for aluminum shifts to the right, indicating that buyers will purchase more aluminum at each price annually. More will be said on market demand...
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