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Aluminum Oxide Replacement Rod Tips

Aluminum oxide rods are valuable in a number of commercial applications including sacrificial anodes and manufacturing. Aluminum oxide forms when aluminum metal comes into contact with oxygen, forming a hard coating around the metal. According to the University of Illinois, aluminum production is expensive and relies on cheap electric power to be cost effective. Case Western Reserve University points out that aluminum oxide results as a part of natural electrochemical processes between aluminum metal and the earth's atmosphere. Researchers at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, add that aluminum oxide rod characteristics are relevant to their replacement needs.

Aluminum Oxide Properties
- Aluminum oxide, which is derived from the interaction between aluminum metal and oxygen gas, effectively forms a hard shell around an aluminum substrate. Coating an aluminum rod with aluminum oxide forms an aluminum oxide rod capable of withstanding environmental and physical forces. It will not rust and will decay very slowly, even when immersed in water. It is lightweight and sufficiently flexible to avoid fracturing under conditions of fairly high compressive or torsion stresses.
Aluminum Oxide Rod Uses
- Aluminum oxide rods are commonly used to construct the framework for lightweight ships, boats and airplanes. Due to their ability to resist breaking under stress, aluminum oxide rods are better for reinforcing a structure than aluminum-based sheets. They are also used as sacrificial anodes in water tanks to degrade before the metal of the tank itself. Because they are so common and can be recycled, their replacement is cost effective in many cases.
Aluminum Oxide Rod Replacement Sizing
- When replacing an aluminum oxide rod, it is important to make sure the replacement is the right size. Even a very small diameter differential can lead to mechanical weaknesses in the structure the replacement is integrated into. Length is another major issue because if a replacement rod is too long, it may be difficult to work it into a tight space. The weight should also be taken into account. Weight-sensitive structures such as aircraft will experience changes in handling characteristics if their weights change significantly.
Aluminum Oxide Rod Composition Tips
- The actual ratio of aluminum oxide coated onto the rod in relation to the amount of elemental aluminum present within the rod can have a major effect on the mechanical properties of the rod as a unit. Longer exposure to oxygen will result in a greater percentage of the aluminum oxidizing. This means that more aluminum oxide will be present in the rod. It is essential that the percentage of aluminum oxide present matches the structural requirements of the system taking on the replacement rod because a rod that is too brittle or too flexible can lead to system failure in some circumstances.

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