Technical Glossary of Aluminum Industry
1. General Terms
Alumina: A white powder obtained from bauxite ore; the primary raw material for aluminum. It is the oxide form of the metal before it is reduced to metallic aluminum.
Bauxite: A sedimentary rock (ore) which is the principal commercial source of aluminum, primarily composed of aluminum hydroxide minerals.
Electrolysis (Hall-Héroult Process): The fundamental production process in which alumina is dissolved in molten cryolite and transformed into metallic aluminum using an electric current.
Primary Aluminum: Virgin aluminum produced for the first time from bauxite through the electrolysis process.
Secondary (Recycled) Aluminum: Aluminum obtained by melting and re-processing aluminum scrap.
Cryolite: The essential molten salt flux used to dissolve alumina during the electrolytic reduction process.
2. Material and Alloy Terms
Alloys: Metals created by mixing aluminum with other elements such as copper, magnesium, zinc, or silicon to enhance physical or chemical properties.
Temper: A letter and number designation (e.g., T6, H14) indicating the specific mechanical properties (hardness, strength, etc.) achieved through heat treatment or strain hardening (cold working).
6xxx Series Alloys: An alloy series containing Magnesium (Mg) and Silicon (Si) as the primary alloying elements. It offers excellent weldability and corrosion resistance, and its strength can be increased through heat treatment (e.g., 6063, 6061).
7xxx Series Alloys: An alloy series containing Zinc (Zn) as the primary alloying element. Capable of reaching the highest strength levels, it is predominantly used in the aerospace industry (e.g., 7075).
Corrosion Resistance: The ability of aluminum to resist degradation and deterioration caused by atmospheric conditions or chemical agents.
3. Production and Processing Terms
Extrusion: The process of forcing a heated aluminum billet through a die under high pressure to create a continuous profile with the shape of the die.
Billet: A cylindrical or square cast aluminum log used as the feed material for extrusion or forging.
Casting: The process of pouring molten aluminum into a mold to achieve a desired final shape.
Die Casting: A casting method where molten aluminum is injected into a metal mold (die) at high velocity and pressure.
Rolling: The process of passing an aluminum ingot through rotating rollers to reduce its thickness, transforming it into sheet, plate, or foil.
Surface Treatment: Processes applied to protect the surface, improve aesthetics, or modify the electrical properties of aluminum.
Anodizing (Anodization): An electrochemical process that forms a controlled, protective, hard, and decorative oxide layer on the surface of aluminum.
Powder Coating: A process where dry paint particles are electrostatically charged and sprayed onto the aluminum surface, then cured in an oven to form a hard, durable coating.
Machining: The process of producing precision parts by removing material from aluminum through turning, milling, or drilling.
4. Mechanical Property Terms
Strength: The ability of a material to withstand a load without breaking or undergoing permanent deformation.
Yield Strength: The stress level at which a material begins to deform plastically (permanent deformation) after the applied load is removed.
Tensile Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand before breaking or failing.Hardness: The resistance of a material to scratching, abrasion, or localized plastic deformation (indentation).
Density: Mass per unit volume Aluminum has a density approximately three times lower than that of steel.