Page Four
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AC«UA«NTEO.
H-^OL^y
which found its use in embroidery, lace,
passementerie, and epaulets on soldiers'
uniforms.
All the aluminum had been produced
up to this time by Deville’s method,
which was slow and expensive. The
real birth of aluminum as a metal of
common use dates from the year 1886,
when Mr. Chas. M. Hall, of Oberlin,
Ohio, applied for a patent on a process
for producing aluminum by the elec
trolysis of aluminum oxide in a fused
bath of aluminum fluoride. A company
was formed, under the name of the
“Pittsburgh Reduction Company,” and
put a plant in operation at New Ken
sington, Pa., in 1889. By this process,
which is essentially the one used today,
aluminum could be produced in quantity,
and fairly cheaply. Its uses soon began
to multiply, as its properties became
more generally known. Military lead
ers all over the world began to experi
ment with it as a means of lightening
their field equipment. Because it was
not easily corroded, it was used to cover
the hulls of sea-going ships. Several
small vessels were made entirely of
aluminum. The yacht Defender, which
defended the American cup against the
English yacht Valkyrie III., had a hull
of aluminum bronze, and upper frames
and deck beams of aluminum alloy.
The statistical record of aluminum,
especially for its early life, is very inter
esting, and shows clearly the value of
chemical research. Each drop in price
from 1856 to 1894 is due to some inven
tion or improvement in the process of
manufacture.
Year
Price per lb.
Output in lbs.
1856
$90.90
50
1859
17.27
1,440
1886
12.00
4,800
1887
8.00
7,000
1889
2.00
29,686
1894
.35
240,000
1913
.30
136,000,000
At
present, aluminum
is produced in
vast quantities, its production and manu
facture giving employment to thousands
of men. Its properties of lightness and
durability are commonly known and ap
preciated. Besides this, aluminum can
be rolled easily in sheet, drawn into wire,
stamped, spun, welded, and soldered. A
large number of aluminum alloys are
now being made, which retain the best
qualities of aluminum and add the best
qualities of other metals. The most fa
mous of these is “duralumin,” which is
used in making large castings. Much
aluminum is also used as an electric
conductor for power lines, as weight for
weight aluminum is twice as good an
electrical conductor as copper, and has
the added advantage of having more
radiating area for the same weight.
In recent years, the use of aluminum
in the automobile business has increased
rapidly, being used for crank cases,
bodies, fans, and other smaller parts.
There are a few makes of cars in which
the percentage of aluminum to other
metals is very high.
Aluminum pipes are used in mar
chemical plants, to carry corrosi][Jj
liquids and gases, especially nitro^
gases. Aluminum is used in maki5[
many scientific instruments. Imports®
among these are the balance and weigb^
galvanometer cases, and sextants.
Aluminum has been repeatedly
posed for use in coinage.
Aluminum is used extensively in deo^
idizing steel.
Everyone has used aluminum in
kitchen. Every country store has ^
large assortment of shapes and si^^i
to choose from. The manufacture
these utensils absorbs a large tonn^^
of aluminum each year. This popul^’;
ity, however, is based on several
good reasons rather than on clever ^
vertising.
First—Aluminum is non-poisonous. ^
Second—It is easily cleaned. It ^
very seldom anything sticks to alu®''^
num, and if it should happen to a
soaking removes it entirely. i
Third—Aluminum is not corrod^j
None of the acids found in food have
perceptible corrosive action on it.
Fourth—Aluminum utensils do ^
scorch. This is due to the high
conductivity of aluminum, which
vents a high local heat.
Fifth—Because of the high heat
ductivity, aluminum utensils cook
ly- j
Sixth—They are light—about
third as heavy as others.