Article
Aluminium - A journey through time
When Sir Humphry Davy stated his belief in the existence of a metal called aluminium (he used this name as the element was derived from its oxide, "alumina") in the distant 1808, he probably did not imagine the evolution his statement would see up to our days. Davy's original prediction came true in 1825, when Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted succeeded in producing it for the first time and wrote the first pages in the history of aluminium.
This was a pivotal moment that changed everything, shaping people's daily lives in many ways. Essentially, Ørsted isolated pure aluminium using aluminium chloride and a potassium amalgam. To achieve this he heated the resulting aluminium amalgam in a low-pressure state and so the result did him justice with the first form of aluminium that was produced.
What is aluminium and what was its use in antiquity
Aluminium is one of the most important materials used on earth and is the most abundant metal in its crust. 8% of the earth's solid crust is made up of clay and it is found in over 270 minerals. The main source for the industrial use of aluminium is bauxite, a sedimentary rock, a mixture of metallic oxides. Bauxite was named after the discovery of deposits near the village of Les Baux by Pierre Berthier.
In ancient times, Greeks and Romans were already using clay-silicate compounds in ceramics. The first recorded reference to aluminium - the original form that existed in nature and could be accessed in antiquity - was by Herodotus in the 5th century BC. The ancients also used it in textiles, medicine, and to strengthen their fortifications by painting wood with it.
The mass production of aluminium
Until we reached this day, when the production of aluminium products is huge, many steps have preceded that determined the course of the metal. Aluminium is an easily workable metal and with the know-how that people have acquired over the years, they have managed to develop it and reach unimaginable heights. As mentioned above, aluminium has its source in bauxite. To be economically viable, bauxite needs to have an alumina content of more than 55%. Through the process of electrolysis, what we refer to as primary aluminium is produced.
Another way of producing aluminium is through the recycling or recasting of so-called aluminium scrap, i.e. pieces that have already been used (pieces of old aluminium frames, soda cans, aluminium car parts, etc.). The result of this process is the production of secondary aluminium, which retains all the excellent characteristics of primary aluminium.
It is worth noting at this point that the ability of the metal to undergo a multitude of treatments without losing its characteristics has given it enormous flexibility in its use. Furthermore, aluminium's ability to create a wide variety of alloys has contributed to its extensive use not only in industry but also in aerospace.
The age of aluminium
For many, we live in the age of aluminium. This material is present in almost all aspects of our everyday life. From large-scale construction to means of transportation and from aluminium frames to electronic devices and the packaging of the products we consume, aluminium is everywhere making our life easier. In addition, it is a 100% recyclable metal, which contributes positively to the fight for a better environment. Especially nowadays, when there is an organized international goal to reduce the environmental footprint, aluminium is a metal that meets all these requirements. Retaining its characteristics and able to undergo repeated rounds of recycling that extends its life cycle, aluminium is a "green" metal suitable for a multitude of applications.
Humanity as we know it today would not be the same without the metal that Sir Humphry Davy spoke about in the early 19th century.
We owe a great deal to all those who have contributed to its use changing the history of the modern world. The values of sustainability and the circular economy make aluminium more relevant and useful than ever!
