Aluminum Currency practicable?

[Polycarp]

@boytyperanma

Do they do anything to prevent the aluminum from oxidising? In my experiance dealing with aluminum it tends to rub off black dust on everything.

I’d be quite curious as to the circumstances in which you’re experiencing this (e.g., tooling aluminum, so that metal dust is formed.

Not to throw cold water on you (heh ;)), but in the case of aluminum surfacing and in appliances, you want it to oxidize, as “raw” metallic aluminum is a highly reactive metal, but in a (normal terrestrial) oxygen atmosphere, it is my understanding that aluminum immediately forms a very thin hard transparent erosion-resistant surface layer of aluminum oxide (alumina) which protects the metal beneath from reacting with the environment. The black dust may be powdered aluminum oxidizing as individual colloid-size particles.

Anyone with more expertise in the subject care to sort this one? I am stating what I read as “factual” years ago, and hope I’m not perpetuating an UL.

[boytyperanma]

@Polycarp

I’d be quite curious as to the circumstances in which you’re experiencing this (e.g., tooling aluminum, so that metal dust is formed.

Not to throw cold water on you (heh ;)), but in the case of aluminum surfacing and in appliances, you want it to oxidize, as “raw” metallic aluminum is a highly reactive metal, but in a (normal terrestrial) oxygen atmosphere, it is my understanding that aluminum immediately forms a very thin hard transparent erosion-resistant surface layer of aluminum oxide (alumina) which protects the metal beneath from reacting with the environment. The black dust may be powdered aluminum oxidizing as individual colloid-size particles.

Anyone with more expertise in the subject care to sort this one? I am stating what I read as “factual” years ago, and hope I’m not perpetuating an UL.

I’ve worn/made many aluminum chainmaille shirts. As a general rule wearing a white T-shirt under it results in black one

[boytyperanma]

@Polycarp

Not to throw cold water on you (heh ;))

BTW I think your the first person on this board to threaten the cold water.