The main characteristics of aluminum are:

 

Lightness
Aluminum has a very low weight: it weighs only a third of the steel for the same volume, allowing, in this way, to achieve significant savings in terms of weight in almost all kinds of applications, especially the mechanical one.

Durability

The aluminum, thanks to its ability to develop an impenetrable film of oxide on the exposed surfaces, is not subject to problems of atmospheric corrosion, common to iron and copper, and does not require any kind of protective coating. For this reason it is particularly suitable for architectural and naval applications, and for the production of windows and curtain walls.

Conductivity
Aluminum has an excellent specific electrical conductivity and it is essential for electronics and electrical applications. In fact, It allows to realize lines of great length with aluminum cables capable of conducting electrical current in double measure of those of copper of the same weight. It also lends itself to applications of heating and cooling.

Non-toxicity
It is a non-toxic material widely used to contain food and beverages.

Workability
The aluminum is flexible and can be shaped with all the common processing techniques, more easily than the majority of the other metals.

Versatility
The possibility of using the metal alloys, which can be rigid or elastic, particularly robust and resistant to corrosion, allows to adapt the aluminum to a wide range of needs.

Recyclability
The aluminum is easily recyclable with a low energy cost: currently a quarter of the needs in Europe is satisfied by using second hand aluminum which can be recycled indefinitely