Difference between revisions of "Aluminum"

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== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
  
[[Lunar Metal Casting]]
+
[[Lunar Alumminium Casting]]
  
  

Revision as of 14:42, 8 November 2010

Aluminum
Al
In situ availability: abundant
Necessity: useful
Atomic number: 13
Atomic mass: 26.981538
group: 13
period: 3
normal phase: Solid
series: Poor Metals
density: 2.70 g/cm3
melting point: 933.47K,
660.32°C,
1220.58°F
boiling point: 2792K,
2519°C,
4566°F
N/ABC
Mg ← Al → Si
ZnGaGe
Atomic radius (pm): 125
Bohr radius (pm): 118
Covalent radius (pm): 118
Van der Waals radius (pm):
ionic radius (pm): (+3) 54
1st ion potential (eV): 5.99
Electron Configuration
1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p1
Electrons Per Shell
2, 8, 3
Electronegativity: 1.61
Electron Affinity: 0.44
Oxidation states: 3
Magnetism: Paramagnetic
Crystal structure: Face centered cubic

Aluminum is a Poor Metal in group 13. It has a Face centered cubic crystalline structure. This element has a stable isotope of 27

Often pronounced Aluminium outside the United States.

"Aluminum is a comparatively new industrial metal that has been produced in commercial quantities for just over 100 years. It weighs about one-third as much as steel or copper; is malleable, ductile, and easily machined and cast; and has excellent corrosion resistance and durability. Measured either in quantity or value, aluminum's use exceeds that of any other metal except iron, and it is important in virtually all segments of the world economy. Some of the many uses for aluminum are in transportation (automobiles, airplanes, trucks, railcars, marine vessels, etc.), packaging (cans, foil, etc.), construction (windows, doors, siding, etc), consumer durables (appliances, cooking utensils, etc.), electrical transmission lines, machinery, and many other applications."- USGS Aluminum Statistics and Information[1]


Lunar Aluminum Production

Lunar Aluminum production could use an adaptation of the Hall-Héroult or Deville process.

Hall-Héroult process in Earth is the electrolysis of molten alumina (bauxite processed in the Bayer process) with cryolite (Sodium hexafluoroaluminate).

It is critical to find fluorine on the moon in order to produce artificial cryolite for the Hall-Heroult process on the moon.

Other options are importing fluorine which would be stringently recycled and an ion-sputtering process to produce aluminum. Al203 and carbon can be processed at high temperatures into Al4C3.[1] [2] This breaks down into Aluminum and Carbon between 1900 and 2000 centigrade. Carbon monoxide given off in processing[3] can be recycled into carbon.


See Also

Lunar Alumminium Casting


References



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