One of the fields in which aluminium has had a huge impact is in the design of radiators for heating homes and buildings. Prior to the ability to manipulate aluminium on a mass scale, traditional radiators had only been manufactured from cast iron. Cast iron radiators were invented in the 1860s when Joseph Nason and Robert Briggs patented the first steam-powered radiator and although this invention led to the revolutionising of heating up a home, cast iron did come with its problems. The most notable of these issues is the heavy weight of the metal and the large amount of time it took to heat up and radiate substantial heat.
Aluminium on the other hand is a very lightweight material that can be reshaped and manipulated without compromising its considerable strength. Therefore, an aluminium radiator is much easier to manufacture, transport and install, making it a cheaper option than steel and cast iron from start to finish.
Another function of aluminium radiators is the fact that they require far less energy to heat up. Aluminium is an excellent thermal conductor and has the ability to heat up very quickly. This property lends itself perfectly to radiators, meaning you don’t have to switch it on a long time before it has an effect on the temperature of a room. This avoids the wasted energy of heating an unoccupied room and, in turn, results in less expenditure on water, gas and electricity. Indeed, looking on any radiator retailer’s website will show you that the BTU or Watt output of an aluminium radiator is considerably higher than an iron and steel radiator of similar dimensions. Because aluminium radiators are so quick at getting to the desired temperature, it makes them very suitable for areas of a house that are only used occasionally such as an attic or a conservatory.
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