Can aluminum be harder than glass?

Humanity is constantly evolving and people are always seeking for new ways to improve their lives. We are witnesses of modern technology and gadgets taking over people`s lives, enabling them to do things that were once unimaginable. We see lots of new inventions emerging every day and some of them are even too good to be real. Sometimes the simplest things are the best ones and there are some pretty exciting things coming up.

Science fiction shows such as Star Trek laid the foundations of lots of new inventions and motivated people to constantly search and improve their creativity. One thing that was seen in that show and that it became reality today is the transparent aluminum sheet. American scientists worked hard to produce this transparent aluminum and it promises to be one of those great inventions of this century. This transparent aluminum can be best described as a magnesium aluminate, which in essence is a type of mineral.  The greatest advantage of it is that it is much harder, tougher and stronger than the glass. Other positive characteristics are that it is resistant to erosions from rain or sand and that it can serve as a great protection in harsh environments.

 
Due to the fact that the aluminum sheet is made of materials that are more durable, it will definitely deliver better results and better performance in comparison with the glass. If someone takes drone vehicles and mounts this type of material as a shield – you can be positive that this type of technology will dramatically improve the way we see the world. 

The manufacturing process is also relatively easy. The main thing is to place the powder on a hot press. Then it is being pressed under vacuum and the powder is squashed together. If the powder is squashed correctly, you can easily get rid of the unwanted air that is entrapped inside. After that you will see it coming out as clear as it can be. When it gets out of the hot press, it should be grounded and well polished before the next process for further refinement. It can also serve as a strong bulletproof glass. At the moment, the cost of making it is high, so scientists are looking for ways to cut costs down. If the cost of making it gets reduced in the foreseeable future, then other applications will benefit a lot from it. We can see this type of technology used in watches, vests, smartphones and other electronic appliances. 

As a conclusion, we can safely say that aluminum can really be harder than glass. Today anything is possible, and things that once seemed like a long distance future are now a reality. Aluminum is a well known material, commonly used everywhere in the world. Luckily, the planet still has lots of aluminum for exploitation and for different uses. Thanks to the scientists who work hard on new inventions we can rest assured that lots of other exciting things are coming up.  

Source URL: https://aaluminum.com/

The Aluminum Can—One Of The Greatest Food Storage Inventions

Did you know that there are over 180 billion aluminum beverage cans produced globally each year? Aluminum cans were originally developed for frozen juice in 1960, but in 1963 the first 12-ounce beverage can was distributed. A few years later in 1967, Coca-Cola and Pepsi transitioned from glass to cans made out of thin aluminum sheets—and everything changed.

Why Aluminum Cans?

There are many reasons why this is the metal most preferred for beverage containers. Unlike glass, it does not break. It is lightweight yet durable, and you can ship more cans per box. It is the easiest beverage container to open, and does not require a bottle opener. 

Easy To Recycle

Once used, it is 100% recyclable, and easy to recycle. It can be crushed so that it doesn’t take up too much room in your recycling container. Not only that, but a recycled can requires 95% less energy to repurpose than creating from alloy. It can also be repurposed for any type of aluminum product after being recycled.

Decorative Benefits

Beverage cans are sometimes made out of colored aluminum, but most companies brand their cans with decorative printing. This allows far more versatility than steel or glass containers that can only have limited glass designs or paper labels. 

BPA-Free

Plastic began to infringe upon the aluminum can industry, but this didn’t last long. Although plastic bottles are recyclable and resalable, concerns about BPA has cause many to abandon plastics altogether. The resalable problem has been solved by a Japanese company that found a way to produce a resalable bottle can—it looks just like a classic soda bottle, but is made from lightweight aluminum. 

Fresh Factor

The shelf life of this beverage container is 9 months longer than glass, when stored at room temperature, and a full 2 years if refrigerated. Cans also do not alter the flavor profile of the beverage inside. 

Beverage cans are one of the many food containers made from this versatile metal. Order the supplies you need now, and create your own aluminum innovations!

Source URL: https://aaluminum.com/

3 Fun Things You Can Do With 4x8 Aluminum Sheets

Raw, colored, white painted, and clear anodized aluminum sheets have become a popular medium for creative projects. There is a reason why aluminum sheets are available in sizes similar to that of plywood—however, the creative applications with these versatile sheets expand far beyond that of plywood.

Aluminum Art Installations

Next time you are in an art gallery, or see an outdoor work of metal art—take a look to see if it is made fully or partially from raw or anodized aluminum. A few large-scale aluminum artists and their artworks from around the world include:

• Japanese artist and architect Sou Fujimoto’s “Many Small Cubes”
• Paul Villinski’s large scale bird installations using found aluminum cans
• Jan Hendrix of Mexico City, who creates aluminum sculptures such as “Algae”
• Sol LeWitt, whose most popular aluminum installation is “1 3 5 7 9 11”
• Matt Dehaemer’s spike-inspired “Catalyst”
• Rachel Thomas’ illuminating “Light Filter”

Aluminum Feature Wall

Adding a feature wall to your home or office is an excellent way to personalize your space. Most feature walls are painted in a standout color or pattern, adorned with a textured wall covering, or have the design elements built-in, such as decorative crown-molding detail. If you are searching for something a bit different, consider using white painted aluminum sheets, or colored or raw aluminum sheets. Simply apply to your wall to give a sleek and modern look. Cut, layer, texturize or emboss for more visual appeal.

Print Or Paint Clear Anodized Aluminum Sheets

One of the fastest growing trends in wall coverings are creative wall decals that cover the majority of the wall. While the options are endless in these wallpaper-like decals, also consider 3D printing your desired design on aluminum sheets. One design can even be printed across multiple sheets to create wall-to-wall art. Hand painting metal sheets is also another way Toronto artists create large-scale wall art.

Aaluminum has the largest online selection of 4x8 aluminum sheets in Canada. From raw, anodized, colored, painted, and polished—we are sure to have the size and style of sheets you require.

Source: https://aaluminum.com/