How to test aluminum metal wire. i mean is there any lab test to detect whether the metal is aluminum or not?

Question

I have a peice of wire. I want to check whether it is a aluminium or not. Is there any specific lab test for that?

Answer 1

why do you need it? how much do you want to spend to figure out what it is, or what alloy it is.

you can just do the density measurement
measure the radius of the wire and length.
do the pi r squared length deal and then weigh it, and run it through the density equation.

you need a ruler and a calipers or micrometer that reads in inches.

so lets say you have .125 inch wire. divide that by 2 to get the radius. = .0625"
then square it. .0039" and multiply by 3.14.

and multiply it by the length in inches

then weigh it. in lbs.

density of al is between .096 lb/cu in. and .100 lb/cu in

you might want to buy wire that is certified as the type of aluminum you need. the stuff is cheap. you can get at the electical supply store or maybe a hardware store.

wiring used for electical applications is 8000 series alloy for modern applications

older wire is 1350 alloy.

Answer 2

1. Go to your hardware store and pick up 2 things; Sulfuric Acid (H2SO3) and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). For the acid, make sure it is not strong enough that it burns your skin off, as is the NaOH.

2. Pour a small quantity, approximately 50 - 100 ML (Yes, please use Metric Units) of both substances into 2 separate glass containers.

3. Throw 2 fingernail length pieces of Aluminum wire into the containers

If it bubbles, or has a reaction in both, it will be aluminum.

There are no specific lab tests. This would be the only way and most simplest way.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You can also use the Archimedes method: measure its density accurately. Take a piece of the wire, weigh it; measure its volume by immersion in a graduate cylinder of water. Compute the density and compare with tables of aluminum alloys. Most aluminum wire is not pure, but there are a specific number of alloys used. Actually, if the number comes out close to pure aluminum, it is most likely an aluminum alloy wire.

Answer 4

Assuming you have no access to spectroscopic instruments, I think density would not be proof positive since many metal alloys could give false positive results. Aluminum will dissolve in dilute NaOH solution forming sodium aluminate. You can then neutralize that solution with dilute HCL then slowly add NH4OH and precipitate the Aluminum Hydroxide back out. It will look like puffy white clouds in the solution.