Eli5 why is aluminium not used as a material until relatively recently whilst others metals like gold, iron, bronze, tin are found throughout human history?
In: 7474
The process to pull aluminium out of the ground and refine it requires a good amount of science and is a multi level process. And its expensive.
Other metals you mention are relatively simple and can be refined in crude ways.
However, the process to make aluminnum is worth it because Aluminium can be recycled an unlimited amount of times. As it never loses its integrity after its melted down and formed into different shapes.
Other metals like tin, iron and copper become too weak after being re-used and melted down after too many times.
For aluminium, a can of pop recycled can become a part of a car engine. 20 years later can be melted down and turned into a component in a aeroplane’s landing gear. 20 years later can be melted down into foil for sandwich wrap. And if that wrap is salvaged it can end up again as a painter’s ladder. And if that ladder ends up being recycled it can end up a piece of medical equipment or back to a pop can.
And if someone took a piece of that pop can took and put it under a microscope the molecules will look the exact same from when it was first refined 100 years earlier.
Its truly magical.
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