Difference between revisions of "Aluminum"
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Aluminum oxides are abundant on Mars as on Earth. Aluminium is the third most common element in the martian crust. Most aluminium is incorporated into alumina-silicates, such as feldspar. | Aluminum oxides are abundant on Mars as on Earth. Aluminium is the third most common element in the martian crust. Most aluminium is incorporated into alumina-silicates, such as feldspar. | ||
| − | == Production of aluminium == | + | ==Production of aluminium== |
Traditionally aluminum requires high electric power to reduce it from its oxides using electrolysis. Work has been going on for several decades on the carbothermic process, which uses carbon and just thermal power, to try to make it as economical on Earth as electrolytic reduction.<ref name="Genuth">Green, ed., 2007, ''Aluminum Recycling and Processing'', pp. 198-9 [http://books.google.com/books?id=t-Jg-i0XlpcC&pg=PA198&dq=carbothermic+aluminum+metal+reduction&num=100#v=onepage&q=carbothermic%20aluminum%20metal%20reduction&f=true] </ref> If thermal power is cheaper than electric power on Mars relative to Earth, due for example to being more suitable for an import-minimizing economy, the carbothermic process will be relatively more attractive. | Traditionally aluminum requires high electric power to reduce it from its oxides using electrolysis. Work has been going on for several decades on the carbothermic process, which uses carbon and just thermal power, to try to make it as economical on Earth as electrolytic reduction.<ref name="Genuth">Green, ed., 2007, ''Aluminum Recycling and Processing'', pp. 198-9 [http://books.google.com/books?id=t-Jg-i0XlpcC&pg=PA198&dq=carbothermic+aluminum+metal+reduction&num=100#v=onepage&q=carbothermic%20aluminum%20metal%20reduction&f=true] </ref> If thermal power is cheaper than electric power on Mars relative to Earth, due for example to being more suitable for an import-minimizing economy, the carbothermic process will be relatively more attractive. | ||
Alcoa has announced in 2018 the production of aluminum using a new process that does not produce CO<sub>2</sub> or require carbon anodes. This might be applicable on Mars. | Alcoa has announced in 2018 the production of aluminum using a new process that does not produce CO<sub>2</sub> or require carbon anodes. This might be applicable on Mars. | ||
| − | Once it has been produced, aluminium is relatively easy to recycle. | + | Once it has been produced, aluminium is relatively easy to recycle and less prone to corrosion than iron and steel. |
| − | == Uses == | + | ==Uses== |
| − | * Construction material, window and door frames | + | *Construction material, window and door frames |
| − | * Mobile equipment | + | *Mobile equipment |
| − | * Cans | + | *Cans |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 08:55, 11 April 2019
Aluminum oxides are abundant on Mars as on Earth. Aluminium is the third most common element in the martian crust. Most aluminium is incorporated into alumina-silicates, such as feldspar.
Production of aluminium
Traditionally aluminum requires high electric power to reduce it from its oxides using electrolysis. Work has been going on for several decades on the carbothermic process, which uses carbon and just thermal power, to try to make it as economical on Earth as electrolytic reduction.[1] If thermal power is cheaper than electric power on Mars relative to Earth, due for example to being more suitable for an import-minimizing economy, the carbothermic process will be relatively more attractive.
Alcoa has announced in 2018 the production of aluminum using a new process that does not produce CO2 or require carbon anodes. This might be applicable on Mars.
Once it has been produced, aluminium is relatively easy to recycle and less prone to corrosion than iron and steel.
Uses
- Construction material, window and door frames
- Mobile equipment
- Cans
