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Period: 105 BCE to
pre-aluminium
Before the true potential of aluminium was realised, it was merely and interesting metal compared to silver, albeit more expensive and desirable. -
30
first rumours
Pliny the Elder describes a silver-like material being given to Emperor Tiberius, however it was much, much lighter. -
1500
alum: before aluminium
This aluminium salt made wood flame resistant, spreading throughout Europe. Also used as a tanning agent, for dermatology, cosmetology and stomatology. -
official discovery
First discovered in the 19th century, only made possible through advancements in chemistry and electricity. It was named by Humphrey Davis, who theorised a way to produce aluminium. -
the ore: bauxite
Pierre Berthier found one of the primary ores for aluminium in France, inside the region named Les Baux. -
aluminium's production
Hans Christian Oersted began the process, producing an alloy. Friedrich Woehler continued the experiment to extract aluminium 18 years later. -
industrial aluminium
Henri-Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville (quite a long name) improved Woehler's process and was able to produce aluminium in industrial amounts. This was possible through a partnership with Charles and Alexander's Production Facility in Rouen, France. This led to 200 tonnes of aluminium being produced over 36 years. -
quote: Charles Dickens
"Aluminium may probably send tin to the right about face, drive copper saucepans into penal servitude, and blow up German-silver sky-high into nothing". -
quote: Sainte-Claire Deville
"There is nothing harder than to make people use a new metal. Luxury items and ornaments cannot be the only sphere of its application. I hope the time will come when aluminium will serve to satisfy the daily needs." -
better production: Hall-Héroult
A more efficient and economic method was found by Paul Héroult and Charles Hall, respectively engineer and student. They each did this separately, without collaboration.
The new method of electrolysis was efficient, but simply required too much energy. Héroult used a waterfall to bypass this.
Alumina is taken and placed within a carbon-lined cathode container. Carbon anodes react and produce carbon dioxide, with molten aluminium depositing at the bottom. -
even better production
Austrian Karl Josef Bayer chemically devised a method to extract aluminium oxide, or alumina, from bauxite.
Bauxite ore is heated together with sodium hydroxide, producing sodium aluminate and water. From this point, Deville's method was to precipitate with carbon dioxide, but Bayer seeded the solution, crystallising and using a rotary kiln to produce aluminium oxide. -
finally commercialised?
The prices of aluminium in the 1855 was $10 000 Australian dollars for 450 grams. Since then, the prices have tumbled, now commercially available. -
hulls, seats, bodies: vehicles
The Le Migron was created, the first boat with an aluminium hull. The Sokol was then created three years afterwards, a torpedo boat of 58 metres, even achieving the highest water speed record.
By 1984, the aluminium craze was introduced to trains, in the form of seats.
1989 saw the first aluminium-bodied car - a sports car, shown at an exhibition in Berlin. -
marketing aluminium?
To produce and fabricate aluminium, specific techniques and skills were needed of factories and companies. From the mid 19th century to the beginning of the 20th, many aluminium-based companies grew and died, only some lasting. But thus began the aluminium market. -
Period: to
aluminium's advent of applications
The time period where aluminium was researched, developed and used. -
flight and wright brothers
Lightweight aluminium engines were conceptualised and produced, even used in the Wright brothers' first biplane: the Flyer-1.
In 1910, even aluminium foil began to sell. -
dur-alumin-ium
Alfred Wilm, of the Germans, exceeded standard aluminium in strength, hardness and elasticity. It was even better than aluminium for aircraft, and aluminium was already great! -
aluminium: alloys
From this point on the research into alloying metals would begin to involve aluminium, improving properties and increasing possibilities. -
soderberg
A group of scientists, plus the Hall Héroult method, equals:
a new, cheaper, production method known as the Soderberg process! -
constructive aluminium
The Empire State Building extensively employed aluminium throughout its construction, perfectly exemplifying the potential of aluminium as a structural material. -
aluminium's advent in war
World War 2 saw the use of aluminium within this time period to construct aircraft frames, tank hulls and engines, ship infrastructure and radars. The material, Duralumin, was even a military secret! -
sustaining aluminium
From this point on, the recycling of aluminium truly started. The production methods were complex, if not expensive, and so recycling the material was much more efficient. -
household aluminium
The applications of aluminium further widened; even reaching homes in the forms of frying pans and saucepans. -
metallic astronaut
The space race between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. was only allowed by the existence of aluminium. Its high strength and lightweight nature made it the only metal for the job. -
soft cans
Coca-cola and Pepsi, an eternal rivalry, began, with aluminium cans. -
age of aluminium?
Aluminium, once unknown, once precious, is now second best, if not best of all the metals in terms of societal use. Seen in household appliances, vehicles, devices of all shapes and sizes and even nanotechnology, aluminium has yet to stop growing. The future awaits.
