ABSTRACT
Aluminium is a metal which has seen the greatest growth and usage in the last 50 years since the Second World War. From its application in high-level engineering in the aircraft industry a number of products have been designed which use its high strength:weight ratio. One great landmark in aluminium and engineering was the development of the Burlington Zephyr train built in 1933. For the first time an aluminium diesel engine had been developed that was light enough to mount on a moving locomotive frame. Aluminium is low in the electrochemical series and considered one of the base metals which implies it would corrode at a great rate. Cast alloys which are not heat treated are used in general sand and die castings. The advantage of this group of alloys is that they can be processed into complex shapes while ductile, before natural age hardening gives them increased stiffness. Zinc provides effective protection by giving a durable weathering coat.
