Is Aluminum Better Than Stainless Steel?

Because of the physical and visual similarities, stainless steel and aluminum are commonly mistaken for one another. But the technical differences between their properties make aluminum and stainless steel much different. It is important to know the differences between the two metals if you are intending to use them for an upcoming construction, fabrication, or remodeling project.

Continue reading to learn the differences between aluminum and stainless steel metal, and what you can do to earn some cash for your scrap metal here in Indianapolis.

Indiana Metal Recycling Center 317-244-0700
Indianapolis Metal Recycling Center 317-244-0700

Aluminum Versus Stainless Steel:

Strength

When considering strength to weight ratio, in most cases aluminum is weaker than steel, even stainless steel. However, you must also consider that although not as strong, it is one third the weight of stainless steel. For this reason, it is commonly applied in aviation industries for manufacturing airplanes and similar commodities. But just for the record, steel is obviously stronger than aluminum.

Resistance to Corrosion

We all know that stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion, namely oxidation, or rusting. For this reason, stainless steel is often used in commercial kitchen and food industries, and commonly used as the primary metal in our kitchen appliances. Stainless steel is layered with a coating of chromium that gives it it’s resistance to corrosion. As for aluminum, it retains a passivation layer, which means it is highly resistant to corrosion as well as oxidation.

Thermal Properties and Conductivity

Thermal conductivity refers to an element’s ability to hold and disburse heat. When it comes to conducting heat, aluminum is better than stainless steel. It is that simple. For this reason, aluminum metal is often used to manufacturer automotive parts that involve high key applications, such as car radiators and even air conditioning units. However, stainless steel has much better thermal properties, as it can be used at much higher temperatures and heat levels compared to aluminum, up to 400°F.

Electrical Conductivity

Aside from heat and thermal properties, there is also the consideration of electrical conductivity. When it comes to aluminum and stainless steel, aluminum takes the cake. Stainless steel is just a very poor conductor of electricity, while aluminum retains properties like high conductance and low weight ratios, making an excellent conductor of electricity.

Workability and Welding

Aluminum is much lighter and less dense than stainless steel, therefore much easier to work with and mold. However, when it comes to welding, stainless steel is better than aluminum because aluminum tends to just weaken and fall apart. It takes a master welder to work with aluminum.

Do you have left over construction materials made of metal or a heap of scrap metal that you wish to get rid of? Contact Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 to get paid instant cash on the spot for scrap metal recycling in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Indianapolis Metal Recycling
Indianapolis Metal Recycling

Top Aluminum Can Facts That Will Motivate You to Recycle

The world produces and consumes an unimaginable amount of aluminum each year. Don’t believe it? Continue reading to learn the top aluminum can facts that will shock you so much, you will be motivated to start your own home or office recycling initiative right away!

Indianapolis Metal Recycling Center 317-244-0700
Indianapolis Metal Recycling Center 317-244-0700

Mining and Production of Aluminum Ore

Aluminum is a metal that is derived from the Earth’s crust. Aluminum metal is a silver-like in color, as well as, malleable, nonmagnetic, and ductile. These desirable properties provide a wide range of advantages for society, which in turn gives aluminum infinite applications in various industries all across the world, including manufacturing, construction, electronics, automotive, food and beverage, medical technology, art, and much more. In fact, it is hard to identify an industry that does not rely on aluminum metal in some form or another.

But did you know that the process of mining and producing aluminum takes more energy than any other metal? It’s true! The amount of energy used to produce just 4 cans of soda is hypothetically equal to filling up a single soda can with gasoline.

Here are some additional aluminum facts that will make you think twice before tossing your next soda can into the trash:

♻ Soda and Beer

Among all of society, an average of 200 billion aluminum cans are consumed in just soda and beer alone. This number breaks down to 6,700 cans per second! Another way to comprehend this gigantic value: hypothetically, we could wrap a single-file line of cans around the perimeter of the world every 17 hours.

♻ Energy Consumption

To produce 1 million tons of aluminum cans from natural materials, 5 million tons of bauxite ore is required. This has the energy equivalency of 32 million barrels of crude oil! In contrast, recycling aluminum cans saves all of our natural bauxite deposits, as well as, more than 75% of the energy. It also reduces nearly 75% of the related pollutant emissions.

♻ Aluminum Recycling

Aluminum cans are 100% recyclable and can be recycled, infinitely! In fact, nearly 75% of all the aluminum ever produced is still being used to this very day. An average of 105,800 aluminum cans are recycled every minute in the United States. In 2011 alone, enough aluminum was recycled to have produced 13 aircraft carriers!

Recycling just 1 aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a laptop computer for 4 hours or power your television for 1 hour. That is a lot of saved energy! If you recycle aluminum for just one year, it is virtually equivalent to 6 years of power!

Where to Recycle Aluminum

Don’t just stop at cans! Aluminum comes in all sorts of versions. From power tools and electronics, to junk cars, appliances, sheet metal, and more, aluminum can be recycled in any form or condition! All you have to do is contact a local and reputable Indianapolis metal recycling center to recycle your junk metal for cash on the spot! That’s right; recycling metal earns you instant cash!

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700
Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

Call Zore’s Recycling division at 317-244-0700 to recycle metal in Indianapolis, Indiana for cash. We have been a family owned and operated company for over 75 years, and continue to make customer satisfaction our number one goal in our metal recycling division. And to make recycling easier for you, we offer several customer conveniences at no extra charge! Request a free estimate, today.

Fun Facts About Aluminum

Aluminum is not just the foil you use for cooking. It is so much more than that! Aluminum metal has a lot to offer society, as has been bestowing its advantages upon us for hundreds of years. In fact, the use of aluminum dates back all the way to the early 19th century! Continue reading to learn some more interesting and fun facts about aluminum!

Aluminum Recycling 317-244-0700

Aluminum Recycling 317-244-0700

Here are a Few Aluminum Facts You Might Not Know…

🌐 Its atomic symbol is AI, and its atomic number is 13.

🌐 It has a melting point of 1,220.58 degrees Fahrenheit.

🌐 It is the 3rd most abundant mineral on Earth, right behind oxygen and silicon.

🌐 It is the most abundant naturally-occurring mineral on the planet.

🌐 It makes up nearly 8% of the Earth’s crust.

🌐 It is present in over 270 minerals.

🌐 It reflects roughly 92% of light, and 98% in infrared rays.

🌐 Aluminum was first extracted from Earths core in 1825 by Danish chemist, Hans Christian Oersted.

🌐 It is the most-used non-ferrous metal used in the entire world.

🌐 Australia is the world’s leading aluminum manufacturer.

🌐 It is lightweight; one third the weight of steel and copper.

🌐 It is resistant to corrosion.

🌐 There are hundreds of aluminum alloys; the most common include zinc, copper, silicon, magnesium, and manganese.

🌐 It is found in thousands of products and commodities, from soda cans and cell phones, to cars, airplanes, and more.

🌐 A standard Boeing-747 contains an average of 147,000 pounds of aluminum.

🌐 The top of the Washington Monument is made of an 8.9 inch aluminum cap.

🌐 “White Dross” is the term used for the byproduct produced by producing and reprocessing aluminum.

🌐 It only takes 5% of the energy used to extract new aluminum, to recycle it.

🌐 Aluminum is virtually 100% recyclable!

🌐 Thanks to recycling, virtually 75% of the aluminum ever made is still used to this very day.

Indianapolis Aluminum Recycling

Indianapolis Metal Recycling

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

Call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 to receive a free quote for your scrap aluminum materials. We pay cash on the spot for all scrap metal and metal-containing commodities, like appliances, vehicles, construction equipment, watercrafts, and more. If you have questions about recycling aluminum cans and bottles, we are the professionals to trust for accurate and honest answers. Call 317-244-0700 to get started today.