How do I keep aluminum from oxidizing

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Oh. Your very first post was kind of vague then. "Those aluminum pop cans are actually aluminum rust. " makes it sound like the whole can is made from rust. This is oxidation is just like what happens with solide sodium or potassium right?

Similar (but they are on completely different regions of the table of elements, so they are not exact). Aluminum is highly reactive with oxygen and rust forms nearly immediately. But, the aluminum oxide is highly stable and doesn't let oxygen pass through it. Thus, aluminum is partially self-protecting. It rusts on the outside which protects the inside. A highly corrosive environment (water + acid + oxygen) and could break through the aluminum oxide layer, thus soda cans use protective liners.

I'll edit the first post to make it more clear.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: dullard
From my education as a PhD in chemical engineering. Sorry, I don't have all my textbooks here for references, but you can do a quick Google search if you want.

Nice reply, but it's about a different subject than I asked you about. Everyone knows aluminum oxidizes. That's what this thread is about.

My contention was with your reply, which you have now edited. It read, "Those aluminum pop cans are actually aluminum rust."

The pop cans are NOT made of aluminum rust. They are made of aluminum, coated with plastic. Sure, there will be a minute amount of aluminum oxide coating the metal that formed before the plastic coating was applied. But to say that the can is made of "aluminum rust" is wrong. My car isn't made of rust, it's made of steel. There might be a bit of rust on the exhaust manifold but the car isn't made of rust.

I see that you have now changed your reply to read, "Those aluminum pop cans are actually partially aluminum rust." Obviously that would be correct, since adding "partially" changes the meaning, now that it doesn't necessitate there being a lot of aluminum oxide.

 

[rezinn]

I happen to have a pop can that IS made out of aluminum rust.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: rezinn
I happen to have a pop can that IS made out of aluminum rust.

Must be delicate