Is aluminium a good conductor of heat

Complete answer:
Aluminium is a bad conductor of heat and electricity in comparison with other metals such as gold, silver and copper. Overall aluminium is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
As aluminium has three electrons in free state, it shows good conductivity for electricity and heat, but as it is less dense than copper its conductivity is lower.
Noble metals like gold and silver are far more conductive of electricity, but they are expensive so they cannot be used in daily life products. Copper has lesser conductivity but it is way cheaper than gold and silver, thus it is widely used in household products.
Although aluminium is a bad conductor of electricity relative to copper, it is cheaper than copper and thus it is also used in daily life products sometimes. Another reason to use aluminium over other metals is that it has low density and high resistance to corrosion.
Insulated power supply cables use aluminium as it is cheaper and has low density, also heat sinks for semiconductors are also made up of aluminium as it has relatively more conductivity for heat than copper.

Note:
The answer here should be considered as relative and not in the form of directness, aluminium is a good conductor, but not relative to other metals. Also aluminium has its own benefits, despite being relatively poor conductor it is still widely used.

Subject: Is aluminum or iron a better conductor of heat?

Aluminum has a much higher conductivity rating than iron (235 vs. 80) but iron 
transfers heat to other objects much more effectively.  On one hand, heat moves 
through aluminum faster than through iron giving it a higher conductivity 
raiting.  On the other, if a metal rod connected a flame and an object, 
wouldn't the object at the end of an iron rod get much hotter than the object 
at the end of an aluminum rod?  Doesn't this make iron the better conductor of 
heat?  Doesn't aluminum's inability to transfer heat from one object to another 
make it a poor conductor.  How can aluminum be said to conduct heat well if 
that heat dissipates before it can be transferred to another object. Or, 
perhaps, it is this diffusion which defines conduction regardless of its 
ability to transfer heat to other objects.  So if aluminum is a better 
conductor of heat than iron, then iron would be defined as being a better 
what?  As with electricity, copper is a good conductor due to its excellent 
ability to transfer electricity from one object to another completing a circuit 
just as iron can well transfer heat.  I guess my question is this: Is 
conductivity defined as A) the speed at which heat moves through an object or B)
the effectiveness with which an object can transfer heat to another object?  It 
seems to me the characteristics which define aluminum to be a good conductor 
are exactly those which actually deem it a poor one.  I'm very confused.  
Please help!

Re: Is aluminum or iron a better conductor of heat?

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Physics.

Physically, chemically and mechanically, aluminum is a metal similar to steel, brass, copper, zinc, lead or titanium. It can be melted, cast, formed and machined in a similar way to these metals and conducts electric currents. In fact, often the same equipment and fabrication methods are used as for steel.

Light Weight

Aluminum is a very light metal with a specific weight of 2.7 g/cm3, about a third of that of steel. This cuts the costs of manufacturing with aluminum. Again, its use in vehicles reduces dead-weight and energy consumption while increasing load capacity. This also reduces noise and improves comfort levels.

Its strength can be adapted to the application required by modifying the composition of its alloys. Aluminum-magnesium-manganese alloys are an optimum mix of formability with strength, while aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloys are ideal for automobile body sheets, which show good age-hardening when subjected to the bake-on painting process.

Corrosion Resistance

Aluminum naturally generates a protective thin oxide coating which keeps the metal from making further contact with the environment. It is particularly useful for applications where it is exposed to corroding agents, as in kitchen cabinets and in vehicles. In general, aluminum alloys are less corrosion-resistant than pure aluminum, except for marine magnesium-aluminum alloys. Different types of surface treatment such as anodising, painting or lacquering can further improve this property.

Electrical and Thermal Conductivity

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Aluminum is an excellent heat and electricity conductor and in relation to its weight is almost twice as good a conductor as copper. This has made aluminum the first choice for major power transmission lines. It is also a superb heat sink for many applications that require heat to be drained away rapidly, such as in computer motherboards and LED lights.

Reflectivity

Aluminum is a good reflector of visible light as well as heat, and that together with its low weight, makes it an ideal material for reflectors in, for example, light fittings or rescue blankets. Cool roofs made of coated aluminum are invaluable in reducing internal solar heat within a house, by reflecting up to 95% of sunlight.

Ductility

Aluminum is ductile and has a low melting point and density. It can be processed in several ways in a molten condition. Its ductility allows aluminum products to be formed close to the end of the product’s design. Whether sheets, foil, geometrical configurations, tubes, rods or wires, aluminum is up to them all.

Strength at Low Temperatures

In contrast to steel, which rapidly becomes brittle at low temperatures, aluminum shows increased tensile strength as temperatures drop.

Impermeable and Odorless

Aluminum foil is only 0.007 mm in thickness, but is still durable and completely impermeable, keeping any food wrapped in it free of external tastes or smells. It keeps out ultraviolet rays as well.

Moreover, the metal itself is non-toxic and odorless, which makes it ideal for packaging sensitive products such as food or pharmaceuticals. The fact that recycled aluminum can be used reduces the carbon footprint for this stage of food and beverage manufacturers as well.

Non-magnetic

Aluminum is non-magnetic, making it useful for electrical shieldings as in computer disks, dish antennas, busbars or magnet housings.

Non-toxic

Aluminum is non-toxic and is used to make woks, pressure cookers and many other cooking utensils without fear. It is easily cleaned and does not contaminate the food at any stage.

Sound and Shock Absorption

Aluminum is an excellent sound absorber and is used for constructing ceilings. It is also used in auto bumpers due to its shock-absorbing properties.

Non-sparking

Aluminum produces no sparks when it comes into contact with itself or non-ferrous metals.

Recyclability

Aluminum is 100% recyclable and recycled aluminum is identical to the virgin product. This makes it a much more cost-effective source material for production runs. The re-melting of aluminum requires little energy: only about 5% of the energy required to produce the primary metal initially is needed in the recycling process.

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