All aluminum (Al) has the atomic number 13, which means the Al atoms contain 13 electrons. Aluminum is available in pure form as well as can be alloyed with other metals, but high purity aluminum, such as 99.99% minimum, also known as “4N Aluminum,” has wide-ranging uses in various industries. Its unique attributes, such as high reflectivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and high temperature resistance, make it an ideal choice for many specialized applications.

Let's delve deeper into the world of high-purity aluminum, exploring its normal use in everyday life, its diverse characteristics, and its environmental impact. We will also discuss the opportunities associated with high-purity aluminum giving you a comprehensive understanding of this remarkable material.

Pure Aluminum Properties

High-purity aluminum is essential in various industries. Its excellent corrosion resistance and capability to withstand high temperatures make it the ideal material for a number of critical applications, such as chemical, electronics, supercomputing, and sputtering. Its use in protective coatings and electrodeposition processes highlights its tight control capability, meeting today’s standards and likely future environmental regulations. With high electronegativity and light weight, pure aluminum is of special interest in a wide range of industries. 

The Role of Standard Grade Pure Aluminum in Everyday Life

Aluminum plays a crucial role in our everyday lives, even though we may not always realize it. For instance, it is often present in kitchen utensils. Its use in inorganic coatings offers higher temperature resistance, protection, and wear resistance in various applications.

Aluminum plating is a process where aluminum coats another material for corrosion resistance and strength, and this is makes it an ideal choice for packaging, insulation, and electrical purposes. The use of plating ensures superior protection and performance in diverse industries while providing a sustainable solution due to its recyclability.

High Purity Aluminum Descriptions

While 1100 is the common grade assigned by the Aluminum Association for 99.0% minimum purity, 1199 is the grade assigned to designate high purity aluminum with minimum purity 99.99%.  However, since the Aluminum Association does not distinguish between the higher purities beyond 99.99%, there is no other Aluminum Association designation beyond 1199 for such high purity aluminum purities.  

For the specialized world of High Purity and Ultra Pure Aluminum, we commonly use numbers followed by N (for the 9) to distinguish the various high purities levels.  For example, 4N6 would be 99.996% minimum purity and 6N would be 99.9999% minimum purity.  Throughout our website and articles, we will use these two types of designations interchangeably.

What Is 99.99 Pure Aluminum and What Makes It Different from Other Types of Aluminum?

99.99 pure aluminum has been refined to have a purity level of almost 100%, which means it contains minimal impurities. The high level of purity makes it suitable for applications that require high strength, conductivity, and resistance to corrosion.

Exploring the Diverse Characteristics of High-Purity Aluminum

Pure Al offers a multitude of advantages, including exceptionally high wear resistance, which makes it suitable for applications that require abrasion resistance. Its strength and versatility enable it to withstand high loads and stresses. Plus, the material's high ductility allows for intricate designs. Another noteworthy feature of pure aluminum is its high electronegativity, which significantly impacts its performance in electrical conductivity applications. Finally, its corrosion-resistant properties make it suitable for outdoor applications like window frames or roofing panels.

Advanced Uses of Standard Grade Pure Aluminum Metal

Standard grade pure aluminum protects against severe environments commonly encountered in the aerospace industry. In particular, standard grade pure aluminum foil is useful for aircraft bodies, structural aluminum, and coatings. Its high thermal conductivity makes it ideal for heat exchangers and cooling systems, whereas its tight control capability means pure aluminum layers are valuable in composites where strength, weight, and performance are critical. In electrodeposition processes, pure aluminum protects the surface of other structural metals, extending their lifespan in harsh environments. Furthermore, pure aluminum’s high aspect ratios make it ideal for heat sinks in applications where heat dissipation is essential.

Standard grade pure aluminum coating is commonly used in the automotive industry. Its high reflectivity and low emissivity properties make it an ideal choice for coating car radiator surfaces, helping to improve heat dissipation and overall cooling efficiency. Additionally, pure aluminum coatings can provide a protective barrier against corrosion, extending the lifespan of automotive parts exposed to harsh weather conditions.

The Environmental Impact of Pure Aluminum

It's important not to overlook the environmental impact of pure aluminum. Its corrosion resistance properties, for example, can impact environmental regulations in industries where corrosion control is required. In commercial aircraft bodies, the use of pure aluminum affects lifespan, maintenance, and environmental considerations. Additionally, pure aluminum’s properties such as low atomic weight and abundance in the environment have implications for material performance, new application possibilities, and environmental sustainability.

High Purity Aluminum Cost Differences

Aluminum is a very cost effective metal for standard grades, however, there is a significant processing cost to produce 99.99% purity compared with standard grade 99.7% purity.  As applications require even purer applications, the cost differences increase dramatically from 4N and 4N6.  In the case of 5N, 4N is the starting raw material, and much of the 4N aluminum is discarded during the processing process so 5N is much more expensive than 4N.  The purification process to produce 5N5, 6N, and especially 6N5 is very high.  The price difference between 6N and 6N5 can be as much as 10 to 25 higher depending on which trace limits are required.  Generally, customers will ask us for specific purity levels, and they would know that the higher purity required will result in very different pricing accordingly.

High Purity Aluminum Alloys

There are several very popular High Purity Aluminum Alloys that customers are interested in for Sputtering and other electronic applications.  Popular alloy combinations include AlCu (Aluminum Copper), AlNi (Aluminum Nickel), AlMgSi (Aluminum Magnesium Silicon), AlSi (Aluminum Silicon), as well as AlSiCu (Aluminum Silicon Copper).  We generally produce these alloys with 5N (99.999%) or even 5N5 (99.9995%) aluminum, as required by our customers.  The non-aluminum metal would be a small amount such as 0.5 to 2% to give some properties to the pure aluminum since high purity aluminum is so soft and a very small amount of Copper, Magnesium, Nickel, or Silicon, would strengthen the high purity aluminum.   For examples of the typical analysis of these various alloys, please click – Chemical Properties | High Purity Aluminum | Laurand)

Aluminum vs Copper: A Comparison of Two Popular Conductive Metals

Aluminum and copper are both widely used in electrical and thermal conductivity applications. However, aluminum offers advantages such as being lighter and less expensive. Additionally, aluminum has a higher thermal conductivity and is more resistant to corrosion than copper. Lastly, aluminum has the advantage of being lighter in weight compared to copper, making it a preferred choice in industries where weight is a crucial factor.

Aluminum vs Magnesium: Another Versatile Metal

Aluminum and magnesium are both lightweight metals that have numerous applications. However, aluminum has higher strength and better corrosion resistance compared to magnesium. Additionally, aluminum is more abundant and cost-effective, making it a more widely used material in various industries.

Conclusion

While standard grade pure aluminum is a versatile metal that plays a crucial role in various industries and everyday life. Its exceptional characteristics, such as high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and light weight, make it ideal for applications in electronics, aerospace, construction, and more.  High Purity Aluminum (99.99% minimum) is critical for a number of very technical and specialty applications that require high purity aluminum for their application.  As the demand for high-purity aluminum continues to grow, there are both opportunities and challenges in ensuring its availability and cost-effectiveness. Understanding the significance and potential of 99.99% pure aluminum can pave the way for advancements in technology, infrastructure, and sustainability.

Acquire the High Purity Aluminum (4N, 5N, 5N5, and 6N) Products you need by contacting Laurand Associates.