Re: aluminum oxide

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:30:02 -0700 (PDT), Derek Nilsen
<dereknilsen@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>this might be a stupid beginners question but, does aluminum oxide
>have any uses is pyrotechnics. Also, if not, is there any way to
>remove the oxygen from the Al2O3 so that i will just be left with
>Aluminum.

Yes. Aluminum oxide abrasives are useful for making milling media.
Aluminum is made from the oxide by electrolysis, the Hall process. In
a carbon tank with carbon electrodes.Takes a large ammount of juice,
and you find aluminum mills where electricity is cheap. Probably find
more this on the net. No, you can't do it at home. Turning Al into
fine pyro grade powders is not so easy, either. The actual pyro
experts may know of other uses for it.

Casady