Refining Smelting Processing Aluminium Properties Alloys Casting Rolling Extrusion Recycling Maps Pure aluminium is a silvery-white metal with many desirable characteristics. It is decorative. It is easily formed, machined, and cast. Alloys with small amounts of copper, magnesium, silicon, manganese, and other elements have very useful properties.
Strength depends on purity.
Although not found free in nature, Aluminium is an abundant element in the earth's crust. A key property is low density. Aluminium is only one-third the weight of steel. Aluminium and most of its alloys are highly resistant to most forms of corrosion. The metal's natural coating of aluminium oxide provides a highly effective barrier to the ravages of air, temperature, moisture and chemical attack.