Aluminium

Light. Durable. Versatile. Sustainable.

Aluminium

Light. Durable. Versatile. Sustainable.

Aluminium

Light. Durable. Versatile. Sustainable.

Core competence aluminium

Our passion for more than 50 years

Universal metal discovered at a late stage

The element aluminium was first discovered in 1825 by the Dane Hans Christian Oersted (1777 – 1851) during the analysis and decomposition of alum earth. Pure aluminium was produced by Friedrich Woehler (1800 – 1882) in 1827 by reducing aluminium chloride with potassium. Only much later, in 1854, Parisian chemist Henri Sainte-Claire Deville (1818 – 1881) succeeded in synthesising pure aluminium out of the mineral cryolite through a reduction with sodium. However, the process required a great deal of energy and was therefore not suitable for mass production.

Large-scale production since 1886

In 1886, Paul Louis Héroult in France and Charles M. Hall in the USA first discovered the fused-salt electrolysis of aluminium at almost the same time and independently from one another – Today, this process is known as the Hall-Héroult process. This paved the way for large-scale production of this very important metal. Aluminium is one of the most important materials for today’s industry – its possibilities of use are practically unlimited.

Characteristics of aluminium

Unique and distinctive

Light
Approx. 1/3 of the weight of steel
Strength
Higher specific strength than steel
Thermal conductivity
Aluminium is an ideal thermal conductor
Easy to design with
Can be reshaped into almost any shape and is easy to work with

Durable
Corrosion resistant due to anodisation and surface treatment
Easy to maintain
Easy to clean and UV-resistant
Recyclable
As one of the most sustainable metals in the world, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of quality – and it only requires approx. 5% of the energy it does for producing primary aluminium. For this reason, 75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in circulation today.

Beautiful shine – solid thanks to alloys

Pure aluminium has a silvery-grey shine and is so soft that you can easily carve it with a knife. Aluminium alloys, however, can have the stability of construction steel and can easily be processed into sheets and foils, and into profiles, of course.

Diverse characteristics

Aluminium boasts some impressive characteristics: low net weight or low density, low melting point, very good electrical and thermal conductivity, great recyclability and aesthetic appearance. This makes aluminium the perfect material for countless areas of application in the construction, transport, automotive, architecture, electronics industries, and many more.

The best choice

Whether for living, mobility, healthy eating, leisure or medical care: Aluminium is always the best choice. Especially if you are looking for an environmentally-friendly solution. Together with its member companies, the industry association Aluminium Deutschland (AD) has created a platform to answer questions about the topic of aluminium in a comprehensible manner. Visit www.allesueberalu.de.

Light and sustainable

As one of the most sustainable metals in the world, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of quality – and it only requires approx. 5% of the energy it does to produce primary aluminium.

This special material is now indispensable in everyday life. Particularly thanks to its low density, aluminium is the ideal material for lightweight construction solutions. In mobility, a reduction in weight leads to massive energy savings. The extraordinary material characteristics help to protect our plant and become more sustainable. Consequently, the demand for aluminium profiles has grown consistently over the past few years.

Durable and resistant

Aluminium is much less sensitive to humidity and oxygen than iron. This is due to the thin oxide layer which forms within a few seconds on freshly scratched aluminium and protects the aluminium underneath from further corrosion.

Spruced up, hardened, protected

During anodisation, the aluminium is oxidised electrolytically. The object being anodised is suspended in an electrolyte solution as an anode. Once a voltage is applied, hydrogen forms at the cathode and the anode is coated in an oxide layer. This layer is particularly thick, resistant and a good protector against corrosion.