The aluminum has a combination of properties that make it an extremely useful material in various industries and engineering. One of the advantages of aluminum is its electrical properties that make it suitable for various applications within the electrical industry; in addition, its relatively low price, plus its useful properties, make this metal one of the most important at the industrial level. Currently, there is a universal trend to give various uses to aluminum due to its versatility, as well as attractive characteristics.
Knowing these characteristics, at Ulbrinox we have aluminum production and aluminum alloys for applications in the electrical and electronic sector.
Electrical and electronic applications of aluminum
At Ulbrinox we consider that aluminum is like an energy store (15 kWh/Kg), therefore it has enormous value that should not be wasted, so recycling translates into energy recovery.
The physicochemical properties that make aluminum such a beneficial metal are:
- Lightness
- Corrosion resistance
- Good conduction of electricity and heat
- It is not magnetic
- It is not toxic
- Very ductile
It should be noted that aluminum only presents 62% of the electrical conductivity of copper for wires of a specific size, but weighs less than half.
Therefore, weight is of great importance in the transmission of high voltage electricity over long distances and currently aluminum conductors are used to transmit electricity at 700,000 V or more.
In addition, aluminum is also present in antennas for satellites and televisions. In the electronics industry, aluminum is often used in the manufacture of microchips, thermal sensors, motion sensors, electric sensors, memories, robotics, process automation, amplifiers and batteries.
The main characteristic that proves this use is its high electrical conductivity. Apart from that, aluminum is found in compact discs, computer thermals, front structures and heat sinks, videos, televisions, printers and electronic equipment. The functions incorporated in the aluminum profiles reduce the number of components and simplify assembly, along with an ideal finish and high thermal conductivity.
Aluminum alloys in electrical components
The tensile strength of pure aluminum is restricted but when it starts to mix with other elements, it becomes a stronger metal. Some of these alloys can also strengthen and harden it through heat treatment, which greatly increases its tensile strength.
In everyday life, hard aluminum (AAC) is used. In Mexico and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), steel-reinforced aluminum (ACSR) is mostly used.
The use of aluminum alloys with copper are especially used for medium voltage installations as it has very good properties such as electrical conductivity, lightness, corrosion resistance, unlike aluminum which, at this magnitude, is more expensive because it presents greater electrical energy losses.
At high voltage, the most used conductor is ACSR (aluminum with steel reinforcement), for its excellent electrical and mechanical properties, high mechanical strength, high current capacity, good weight support of the conductor, among others. However, as the ACSR is reinforced with steel, in extremely corrosive environments only aluminum is used.
In the electronic equipment industry, aluminum should be considered as a highly acceptable material to carry out its processes. It is optimal for various products such as microchips, sensors, batteries, wireless products and heat sinks, among many other options.
At Ulbrinox we have aluminum alloys and ideal presentations for your product, contact us on our website.
