Monday, January 5, 2009

The Heating Industry's Big Hit: Aluminium

By Tal Potishman

About eight percent of the Earth's crust is made up of aluminium. Aluminium is found in everything from the average beverage can to mechanical parts for aeroplanes. It is also becoming prevalent in the heating industry mainly since it is lightweight, flexible and conductive. In recent years many players in the heating industry have been experimenting with using aluminium for radiators and other parts.

Aluminium was first used by the Greeks and the Romans for dyeing, but the "true" form of aluminium (as opposed to the aluminium salts used by the Romans and Greeks) was first discovered in the late eighteenth century. Pure aluminium is actually quite hard to find. Even so, after half a century of experimentation with the metal, aluminium started appearing slowly but steadily in the industrial sector.

Currently aluminium can be found in many everyday objects like jewellery, computers and other electronic devices and packing materials. One of the main reasons aluminium is so popular is that it has very high corrosion resistance levels. Alongside its light weight and flexibility, resistance to corrosion is one of the major reasons that aluminium is a prime candidate for repeated recycling, making it very popular in our eco-friendly society.

Recently experts in the heating and cooling industry have begun working with using aluminium for the parts of a variety of heating and cooling equipment. One of the most popular heating products to be made with aluminium is heating coil. Aluminium tubing has also been replacing copper tubing in many installations.

Another use many heating equipment manufacturers have for aluminium involves using the metal to make radiators. Aluminium radiators have grown in popularity, stealing market share from radiators made out of traditional sheet metal. This popularity is mostly down to the fact that aluminium radiators are more efficient and can help lower the cost of heating and cooling. The radiators also withstand wear and tear better than sheet metal, though if something does break, the parts can easily be replaced or refitted because aluminium is a very pliable metal.

In addition to aluminium radiators, people aluminium windows have grown in popularity as they help lower the cost of heating and cooling as well. Windows made of aluminium prevent the temperature of a room from fluctuating with the outside temperatures. Most users who choose aluminium windows have reported that their heating and cooling costs have dropped dramatically since having the windows installed. Aluminium can also be used for refrigeration coils, the ventilation grilles of the floor panels and lining ventilation ducts with aluminium foil.

One is one of the most versatile materials in the Earth's crust. The vast deposits of Aluminium and its versatility make it the material of choice for many industrial manufacturers. The heating industry is just one industry that has proven that aluminium can be used for a large variety of products and they have begun using this metal is many applications for domestic and commercial customers.

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