Evening star., 1932-10-30
aluminium Most Widespread Metal

consumers who do net own deposits usually con-
tract for their supplies for considerable periods,
in order to assure adequate supply, only a
small market exists for new or sporadic produc-
ton.
Bauxite finds its chief market east of the
Mississippi River and is sold chiefly to the
manufacturers Of alumnum, abrasves, COM
mercial chemicals and refractories. The manu-
facturers of alumina cements are largely sup
piled by imported bauxite. High -alumina clays
produced in Missouri now used in the manu-
facture of refractorieS and sold according
to their alumina content.
Certain established uses for aluminium ha !e
recently showed decreases in demand for the
metal, but these have been more than offset by
gains in other uses. Builders of truck and bus
bodies for example, have incorporated alum
mum strength members in body frames in addi-
ton to lew stressed parts such as paneling and
roofing. Tank trucks for gasoline haulage and
trucks for heavy commodities, such coal and
sand, as we'll as those for lighter merchandise,
now utilize aluminium in the form of Strcng
alloy sheets and structural shapes, heat treated
to develop maximum physical properties.
The introduction of new piston alloy of low
expansion ccefficient further insures the market
for aluminium pistons. 1t is reported that more
than IS per cent of the automobile passenger
car manufacturers in this country are at pres.
ent using aluminium alloy pistons.
Large structural shapes of strong aluminium
alloys. available in sizes up to 85 feet in length
and ii inches in derth have been produced
for use in railroad and railway car construction.
for trucks and buses and for such units as
cranes and hoists
Strong aluminum-alloy wire has been intro
duced by prominent fence manufacturer as q
new material for woven fence and barbed wire.
Another manufacturer started the production
of aluminium window screening. In both in
stances durability is the prime advantage of
OH, Tho ~ oh, 70 OF
mospheric corrosion is also responsible for a
steady increase in the use of the metal as a
roOfing and sheet-metal material and for an
even sharper increase in its use an orra-
mental metal on the exteriors of Office and
public buildings. Aluminium spandrelS window
frames and sills skylights finals, grilles, balus
trades, store fronts and other ornamental metal
applications. both exterior and interior, satisfy
the architects demand for q durable white
metal that Is strong. but easily fabricated. In
connection with architectural uses the progress
made in aluminium furniture IS Of interest.
The consumption of the metal in aluminium
cable and bus bar accounts each year for sn
average Of about 16 per cent CT the countrys
production of aluminium.
Electroplating on aluminium and chemical or
electrochemical processes Of coloring aluminium
have been commercalzed These finishes are
extending the use of the metal by providing q
change or modification of its characteristic
color Chrominum- plated aluminium hub caps
for automobiles illustrate how aluminium is sur
faced to match in finish other hardware parts
Of the car.
Heavy aluminium fell or thin sheets of alum
mum have been found to offer q protective
coating for oil tank cars, pipe lines, storage
tanks and similar structures. This aluminium
foil, applied like wall paper with proper ad-
hesives, is used to protect the underlying sur
face against sulphur fumes or general atmos-
pheric corrosion and to furnish q radiant-heat
rejecting surface. On an oil or gasoline con-
tainer the lasting brightness Of the foil absorbs
little solar heat and reduces evaporation losses
by keeping the temperature Of the volatile con-
tents at minimum