About Aluminum
Aluminum Sheet
Aluminum Plate
Aluminum Tube and Pipe
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A Brief History

 

  • Aluminum compounds have been in use for thousands of years.
  • Extracting aluminum was difficult until the late 1800s.
  • New extraction and smelting methods made aluminum commonplace.
  • 1890s aluminum cookware began replacing copper and cast iron.
  • Aluminum became building materials in passenger boats, railroad cars, and automobiles.

 

History Timeline

  • 1821 Discovery of bauxite
  • 1825 Aluminum extraction by electrolysis
  • 1866-1888 Hall Heroult and Bayer processes, Smelter established in Pittsburgh. Later becomes Alcoa.
  • 1889 Aluminum cookware begins to replace copper and cast iron
  • 1891-1906 Boats, railroad cars, automobiles, and airplanes begin using aluminum
  • 1907 First production of aluminum foil
  • 1911 Tobler uses aluminum foil in chocolate bar packaging
  • 1917 first airplane with aluminum body produced
  • 1931 Empire State Building first to feature extensive use of aluminum in design, and first aluminum railcars appear
  • 1958 First aluminum beverage can
  • 1967 Coke and Pepsi begin using aluminum cans
  • 1970 First jumbo aircraft, the 747, with over 60 tons of aluminum per plane
  • 1994 First car produced with aluminum chassis
  • 2007 Apple iPhone introduced with aluminum/steel/glass/plastic body
  • 2015 Most popular truck, Ford F150, lightened by 700 lbs. using aluminum

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