The history of aluminum casting is an interesting and fascinating one, with the evolution of various technologies and processes dating back to the 18th century.
One of the first to try to cast aluminum was English chemist Henry Bessemer, who in 1854 developed a production process for aluminum based on pressure casting. However, his process required a very powerful energy source, which at the time was difficult to find.
In the years that followed, other inventors continued to work on aluminum production processes, such as French chemist Paul Hèroult, who in 1886 developed an electrolytic casting process for aluminum. This process, based on the electrolysis of an aluminum chloride solution in a fluorine bath, allowed for the production of large amounts of aluminum at low cost, and paved the way for large-scale aluminum production.
Another important contribution was that of Alexander Hall, who in 1892 developed a process for extracting aluminum from bauxite, a mineral that contains large amounts of aluminum. This process, based on the thermal decomposition of bauxite with caustic soda, made it possible to produce aluminum at even lower prices, making aluminum accessible to an ever-widening range of consumers.
In the 20th century, aluminum casting technology further progressed thanks to scientists such as Wilhelm Wilm, who in 1952 developed a pressure casting process for aluminum production. This process, based on the melting of aluminum in a closed container under pressure, allowed for the production of aluminum at an even faster rate, making it possible to produce large amounts of aluminum at even lower costs.
Today, aluminum casting is one of the most important industries in the world, with a production of over 60 million tons of aluminum per year. Thanks to continuous technological innovations, aluminum casting is able to produce aluminum at increasingly lower costs, making it an extremely versatile material used in many sectors, from automotive to aerospace, construction to electronics.
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