Aluminium is a low-density metal with high thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.
Core Principles & Analysis
Hans Christian Oersted first produced impure aluminium in 1825, and the metal stayed more precious than gold until the Hall-Heroult electrolytic process of 1886 made it cheap.
It is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust, and a self-healing oxide skin makes the lightweight metal highly corrosion-resistant.
Aluminium forms aircraft skins, beverage cans, and overhead power lines, and recycling it takes only about 5% of the energy needed to smelt new metal.