Aluminum Market: Top 7 Uses of Aluminum | Specialty Materials

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Aluminum Market Top 7 Uses of Aluminum
Specialty Materials
As the most abundant metallic element naturally
found on the Earths crust and the most
extensively used nonferrous metal, aluminum and
its alloys are extensively utilized across
various sectors. These include building
materials, aircraft construction, consumer
durables, chemical and food-processing equipment,
and electrical conductors. According to Inkwood
Research, the global aluminum market is
predicted to grow with a CAGR of 4.97 during
the forecast years of 2022 to 2030.
On account of the metals unique properties,
including corrosion resistance as well as
high tensile strength and heat capacity,
aluminum is used in a diverse range of
commercial products, as well. Moreover, since
it is also 100 and infinitely recyclable,
the metal constitutes a distinguished part of
the global foundational infrastructure.
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Read on for a comprehensive compilation of the
top 7 uses of aluminum spanning different
industries

1. Consumer Products Smartphones, laptops,
   flat-screen televisions, tablets, computer
   monitors, and other consumer products widely
   use aluminum, primarily due to its
   potential to dissipate and absorb heat. Also,
   since the material is lighter than steel and
   stronger and more reliable compared to
   plastic, leading market manufacturers are
   increasingly making use of aluminum in their
   production processes.
2. Automotive Transportation With the
   automotive industrys rising focus on fuel
   efficiency and minimizing carbon-dioxide
   emissions, aluminum has become a preferred
   material in the production of vehicles. The
   use of aluminum in the automotive
   transportation sector not only helps enhance the
   vehicles durability and safety but also serves
   as a more cost-effective solution for
   manufacturers. Accordingly, as per Inkwood
   Research, the automotive transportation segment
   under the end-user category held the highest
   market share of 03 in 2021.
3. Electrical The low density of aluminum makes it
   an excellent choice for long-distance power
   lines. Since it is anti-corrosive, ductile, and
   lighter than copper, aluminum can be formed into
   wires for electrical purposes with ease.
   As a result, copper wiring is increasingly
   being replaced by aluminum in transformers, in
   addition to the majority of all updated wiring
   systems. Aluminum is also being used in satellite
   dishes, fuse boxes, and sound systems, among
   other electrical devices.
4. Building Construction The applications of
   aluminum in the building construction sector
   include foil insulation, roofing, windows, doors,
   cladding, shopfronts, architectural hardware,
   balustrading, as well as guttering.
   Furthermore, aluminum is used for treadplates
   and industrial flooring, as well. Inkwood
   Researchs estimates suggest that building
   construction is expected to be the
   fastest-growing end-user, progressing with a CAGR
   of 5.18 during the forecast period, 2022 to
   2030.
5. Foil Packaging Owing to its non-toxic
   property, aluminum is ideal for packaging food.
   As a result, high amounts of aluminum are
   utilized for the packaging of medication, food,
   and beverages, without causing any impact on
   their respective tastes. Aluminum also plays a
   vital role in repelling water, in addition
   to extending the shelf life of food items, as
   well.
6. Household Appliances Aluminum is highly
   energy-efficient and is, therefore, a
   suitable material for household appliances that
   use heating and cooling processes, such as air
   conditioners and refrigerators. The metal is
   also ideal for holding certain temperature
   levels, a key factor that helps create the
   efficient cooling that modern refrigerators
   require.
7. Aerospace The aerospace industry utilizes
   aluminum to build navigation instruments as well
   as aircraft parts. Moreover, the
   consumption of aluminum for manufacturing
   aircraft, especially in the United States and
   Europe, is likely to witness significant growth

over the upcoming years. While the metals high
resistance to corrosion helps to ensure
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the safety of aircraft and its passengers,
aluminum is also used by NASA for its
properties, such as lightweight and strength
under tremendous pressure. Aluminum Market
Trending Usage Combined with Tech
Developments Various technological developments
associated with the use of aluminum and its
alloys are emerging across the globe. For
example, in the field of 3D printing
technology, aluminum powder is utilized to print
separate as well as fully functional parts that
are intricate, strong, and capable of handling
details as small as 0.25 mm. As a result, the
growing popularity of 3D printing technology is a
notable factor expected to fuel the demand for
aluminum over the upcoming years. Additionally,
in the current market scenario, metal additive
manufacturing (AM) processes, like selective
laser melting (SLM), enable arbitrary 3D
structures fabrication. Aluminum alloys comprise
the material systems in this regard, and are also
being favored in several high-value applications.
In addition to achieving the objectives of
lightweighting, part reduction, and increased
functionality, AM techniques also deliver the
advantages of potential savings on raw materials
and minimal waste since it only utilizes the
material required to fabricate the part of
interest. Hence, such technological developments
are anticipated to create lucrative opportunities
for the global aluminum market growth during the
forecast period.
Sustainability Factor What Does the Future Hold
for the Green Metal? Over the last decade,
the world has witnessed a paradigm
shift in terms of global consciousness.
Besides, with the global economy rapidly
transitioning towards a greener,
cleaner, and more sustainable régime, the
demand for energy-efficient, durable, and
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environmentally safe mechanisms and
infrastructures are on the rise. In this regard,
the 100 recyclability of aluminum, especially
without any losses to the materials property,
makes it an ideal choice compared to other
non-recyclable substitutes. Accordingly,
secondary or recycled aluminum holds tremendous
market value since the scrap acquired from
machinery, equipment, and automotive can be
effectively reprocessed and used owing to its
cost efficiency. As the reprocessing of secondary
metal consumes only a fraction of the energy
needed to produce new metal from the ore,
this factor causes substantially less harm to
the environment. Furthermore, given the
fact that the mining of bauxite (aluminum
ore) is highly eco-friendly, the surging adoption
of the green metal is set to be a major step
towards a more sustainable world. Hence, these
factors are expected to further augment the
use of aluminum across various applications,
thereby propelling the global aluminum market
growth during the forecasted years. By Shruti
Vanjare FAQs What are some of the key
properties of aluminum? Aluminum is non-toxic,
non-magnetic, lightweight, and non-sparking, with
excellent corrosion resistance and high thermal
conductivity. Moreover, the metal has a low
density and can be easily machined, cast, and
formed. Which are the leading players operating
in the global aluminum market? Hindalco
Industries Ltd, Rio Tinto, Aluminum Corporation
of China Ltd (CHALCO), and others are among the
leading players operating in the global aluminum
market.