Use of aluminium in household applications

It is no surprise to know the use of aluminium spread across a wide range of products - right from cars to cans, kitchenware to beer kegs, and window frames to aeroplane parts, thanks to its corrosion resistance, lightweight, and recyclability properties. Since the list of aluminium application is endless and the time is very little, we will restrict ourselves to discuss the usage of aluminium in household commodities.

1. Talking of household appliances made of aluminium, what comes to our mind first is kitchen utensil, which includes plates, bowls, pans, pressure cookers, spoons and knives. Aluminium wrought utensils are commonly used in developing countries for the purpose of mass cooking, while aluminium foil is used for cooking and food packaging in both developing and developed countries.

2. Furniture made of aluminium is a common sight these days, and the main reason is its corrosion resistant properties. Aluminium atoms form the outer layer of aluminium oxide, which prevent the internal aluminium from being corroded. Outdoor furniture made of aluminium for decks and patios are usual, but gradually the metal is becoming promising for indoor furniture as well due to durability and high strength to weight ratio. Table, chair, shutter, picture frame, door knob, lamp, and wall panel are some of the indoor furniture where aluminium is commonly used. Designers use aluminium because it gives them a lot of freedom in choosing the shape for their creations, easy to process, and aesthetically pleasing.

3. Home electronic appliances have also embraced aluminium because of its heat absorption capacity that is inevitably being generated by running devices. Besides, the combination of strength and lightness is an important factor for the increasing use of aluminium in home electronic appliances, while retaining beauty and practicality. Smart Television, refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, microwave are some of the devices that contain aluminium. Aluminium chassis for HDTVs provide the strength and protection necessary for the delicate electronics and screen of an HDTV.

4. Aluminium is also used in antennas and satellite dishes due to its low weight and corrosion resistance properties.

It is needless to say that the use of aluminium is rising with each passing year, week and day. In 2021, aluminium consumption increased from 86.9 million tonnes in 2020 to 93.5 million tonnes, driven by the various industrial sectors like building and construction, packaging, and transportation. In the years ahead, the use of the white metal is expected to increase further due to the growing awareness of recyclability.