MidTerm Extraction Aluminium

Possitive and Negative Side of Aluminium Widespread Application
Mokhamad Salman Al Farisi (06171043)
Aluminium is the white metal with symbol Al and atomic weight 26,97. Aluminium is
obtained from bauxite (mineral of aluminium). It is the most widely distributed of the elements
next to 𝑂2 and silicone, occurring in all common clay. Aluminum metal is produced by first
extracting alumina (aluminium oxide) from the bauxite by a chemical process. The alumina is then
dissolved in a molten electrolyte, and an electric current is passed through it, causing the metallic
aluminum to be deposited on the cathode [1].
Aluminium was found by Sir Humprey Davy in the year of 1809 as an element, and reduced
as a metal by H. C. Oersted in the year of 1825. In industrially year 1886, Paul Heroult in france
and C. M. Hall in United State of America separately obtained aluminium from alumina with
electrolysis of the fused salt. So far, Hall Heroult process still in use until now because this process
is more efficience and produce more aluminium from alumina [2].
Aluminium is the commonly used material. Now, aluminium has a second order of metal that if
often used after steel, it is because the properties of aluminium. Aluminium has low density,
corrosion resistance, wear resistance, good electrical conductivity. Aluminium has an FCC crystal
structure, its ductility is retained even at very low temperatures. The chief limitation of aluminum
is its low melting temperature [660𝑜 C (1220𝑜 F)] and characteristic of these materials is specific
strength, which is quantified by the tensile strength–specific gravity ratio [3]. Those properties can
increase with alloy addition like Mangan (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), Silicone (Si), Copper
(Cu), and many more. So the application of aluminium in the world is prodigious which is based
on the type. The type of aluminium is classified by the alloy.
Aluminium has become one of the most widely used metal, both in industrial,
transportation, electricity, packaging and many more. In aerial industry, aluminium sheet is used
for body of the aircraft. It is because aluminium has low density and corrosion resistance but have
good mechanical properties. Al 2024-T3 (T3 it means solution heat treated, cold worked, and
naturally aged to a substantially stable condition) is commonly material that used to make
aircraft’s bodies. Example for Airbus A320-200 [4].
Designation of aluminium alloy can be seen by the name. Those designation is devided in
to wrought alloy and casting alloy. 1XXX is the pure aluminium (99,00% aluminium). 2XXX is
copper (Cu) alloy. 3XXX is manganese (Mn) alloy in wrought alloy but in casting alloy is silicone
with added copper (Cu) or magnesium (Mg). 4XXX is silicone (Si) alloy. 5XXX is magnesium
(Mg) alloy. 6XXX is magnesium (Mg) and silicone (Si) in wrought alloy and zinc (Zn) in casting
alloy. 7XXX is zinc (Zn) in wrought alloy and tin (Sn) in casting alloy. 8XXX is others element.
For wrought alloys the first digit identifies the alloy group and the second digit any modification
to the original alloy, which is identified by the last two digits. The system is slightly different for
casting alloys. The first digit again identifies the group, the second two digits identify the alloy
and the last digit, preceded by a decimal point, indicates the product form (0 for casting and 1 for
ingots)[5].
Aluminium can be recycled. Recycle aluminium also called scrap. Recycling is the process
converting waste or scrap material into new material and object. The purpose of recycling is to
prevent the waste material that has value and use, in the other side is to prevent damage of nature
due to mining to look for metal minerals. Recycle aluminium can only be used as an initial product,
this is because recycle aluminum has an alloy whose application is limited and mechanical
properties are also different. For example used can must be can of the same quality. Numerous
studies were conducted concerning the sustainability of aluminium recycled by smelters in
comparison with primary aluminium from mining. Outcomes about global and local environmental
impacts show a decrease up to 90% by using recycled aluminium [6]. It is because the recycle
aluminium is not through the mining and bayer process which cause soil and air pollution and also
can destroy most of nature. So that, recycle aluminium is more eco friendly than new aluminium.
Beside that, the prices is cheaper because it does not require more energy.
Aluminium has several disadvantage. The tensile strength of the aluminium is lower than
steel. For the aerial industry, aluminium needs special treatment and alloys to increase the
mechanical properties. Therefore, aluminum for aircraft applications is more expensive than
general aluminum. In aluminum alloys, the welding process is prone to cause porosity which takes
place during the cooling process it is because hydrogen gas dissolves into the welding seam during
the welding process. Porosity will reduce the mechanical properties of the material, especially in
the connection area. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) also known as metal inert gas (MIG), is the
welding that can be used in aluminum, the protective gas used in GMAW or MIG welding is argon,
helium or a mixture of the two. The basic function of the protective gas is to protect the arc and
molten welding metal from oxygen and nitrogen contamination in the atmosphere.
Another disadvantage of aluminium is Mining activities cause damage to forest

ecosystems. The Indication of damage is the amount of land left open without vegetation. As a
result, soil erosion occurs in the area around the mine. Another negative effect is open mine waste
in the form of overburden and tailing [7]. Overburden (OB) is topsoil from a mineral, usually
overburden (OB) dug out and moved to a disposal area and after the mining process can be utilized
again as a disource of reclamation and reforestation. To decrease the negative effect of open
mining, the pit hole must be closed again and carried out reclamation of ex-excavated land and
carried out control so that the land can be inhabited by plant or animal vegetation. Another way,
make the former excavated area as an artificial lake whose mineral content is controlled so that it
can be inhabited by creature.
Refference
[1] Schwartz, Mel. 2002. “Encyclopedia of Materials, Parts and Finishes 2 – ed ”. USA : CRC
Press.
[2] Surdia, Tata ,Shinroku Saito. 1999. “Pengetahuan Bahan Teknik”. Jakarta : PT. Pradnya
Paramita.
[3] Callister,William D. 2007. “Materials Science and Engineering”. New York: John Willey &
Sons, Inc.
[4] Bukit, Oktafianus, dkk. 2016. “Airframe After Bird Strike Pada Airbus A320-200 PK-AXM”.
Bandung : Universitas Nurtanio Bandung.
[5] Smallman, R.E., A.H.W. Ngan. 2007. “Physical Metallurgy and Advanced Materials 7 – ed”.
Elsevier Ltd.
[6] European Aluminium Association. 2010. “Sustainability of the European aluminium industry”.
[7] Soehoed, A.R. 2005. “Sejarah Pengembangan Pertambangan PT. Freeport Indonesia Di
Provinsi Papua, Jilid 3, Tambang Dan Pengelolaan Lingkungannya”. Jakarta : Aksara Kurnia.

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Possitive and Negative Side of Aluminium Widespread Application

Mokhamad Salman Al Farisi (06171043)

Another disadvantage of aluminium is Mining activities cause damage to forest

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