Steel vs. Aluminum
Difference between Steel and Aluminum: – Steel and aluminum are very common elements that we use on a daily basis and are present in many of the things around us. While one is the most popular of its kind, the other is the most abundant metal on Earth, although often used in a similar way, it is good to make it clear that these are different substances.
Difference between Steel and Aluminum
If you have doubts about it or just want a little more information, continue reading, because then we explain to you what is the difference between steel and aluminum.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an element found in the earth’s crust. It is the third most abundant among all that are recorded in the periodic table, but the most abundant of all metals. Not soluble in water and its color goes from silvery to opaque gray.
It is a soft substance, resistant, light, non-magnetic and ductile in nature since it is highly reactive in its pure state. Normally it comes combined with more than 270 types of metals among which bauxite prevails.
Although believed to have been used for different purposes by the ancient Greeks and Romans, aluminum was first successfully extracted in its pure state in the year 1827 by Friedrich Wohler.
Due to its low density and corrosion resistance, aluminum is often used in applications for vehicles, airplanes, home appliances, and structural materials. Also, its reactive characteristic is used as a catalyst and additive in explosives.
Steel
On the other hand, steel is an alloyed metal, which means that it is the result of mixing one or more metal elements with non-metallic elements. It is usually made by combining iron and carbon, although it could also be mixed with manganese, chromium, tungsten, and vanadium. The hardness, ductility, and resistance of the zero will depend on the way in which the elements that compose it have been mixed.
Although this metal has been known for about 4,000 years, it was not widely produced until the 17th century thanks to the introduction of the Bessemer process which makes steel production cheaper, more efficient, and easier. Finally, both aluminum and steel are recyclable and do not lose their properties during the recycling process.
