Facts About Aluminium Metal

A vast number of items are made of aluminium. Along with steel, it has become one of the most commonly used metals in the world, and it is often formed into a variety of shapes using Bending Machines like the ones you can see from https://www.cotswold-machinery-sales.co.uk/euromac/horizontal-bending-machines/

It Is Lightweight

One of the reasons aluminium has become so widely used in manufacturing is that it is light. Aluminium weighs only about a third as much as steel. For example, if a block of steel weighs 100kg, an aluminium block of the same size would weigh only around 34kg.

It Does Not Rust

Aluminium does not rust, because rust is a form of corrosion that only affects iron and metals that contain it, such as steel. Instead, aluminium forms a thin protective oxide layer on its surface. This makes it an attractive choice for outdoor uses, where it has to stand up to rain, sleet, snow and damp.

It Is Plentiful

Aluminium makes up around 8% of the Earth’s crust, making it the most abundant metal in the crust. However, it has to be extracted from ore, usually bauxite, using a lot of energy.

It Is Recyclable

Aluminium can be recycled again and again without losing its quality. Recycling aluminium uses around 95% less energy than producing new aluminium from ore, which is why recycling drinks cans and other aluminium products is so worthwhile.

Related: A brief guide to why nickel is so commonly used

Recycling figures for cans and paper

Aluminium drinks cans are reported to be the most recycled item in the world, making up over half of all items recycled each year. Recycling just one can is said to save enough energy to power a television for three hours, which shows how much less energy reused metal needs than metal made from scratch.

Steel cans add to the picture. The average UK household is thought to get through around 600 a year, and the energy needed to make one new can from raw materials could recycle about 20 instead.

Paper and card are another large share of household recycling, reported to make up over 40% of the recyclable waste collected from UK homes. Using a tonne of recycled paper saves around 17 trees, and recycled paper takes only about 20% of the energy needed to make it new.