Brushed metal

Brushed or dull polished metal is metal with a unidirectional satin finish. It is produced by polishing the metal with a 120–180 grit belt or wheel then softening with an 80–120 grit greaseless compound or a medium non-woven abrasive belt or pad.

Commonly brushed metals include stainless steel, aluminium and nickel. Brushed finishes are popular in both small appliances and whiteware, and feature in architecture and automotive design. The Gateway Arch and DeLorean DMC-12 are both clad in brushed stainless steel. The intensity of the brushed finish is specified as a surface roughness and is typically 0.5–1.5 micrometres R_a.

Advantages

Brushing gives metal a distinctive look, as it retains some but not all of its metallic lustre and is given a pattern of very fine lines parallel to the brushing direction. For this reason, it is commonly used for decorative items like jewelry and watches.

Disadvantages

A brushed finish is susceptible to damage. Brushed finishes also typically have a detrimental effect on corrosion resistance. In particular the brushed texture limits the ability of fluid to bead on the material surface. In the case of stainless steel the grooves of the finish can accumulate chloride ions which break down the chromium oxide passivation layer, enabling rusting to occur.

Aluminium

Aluminium (or aluminum; see different endings) is a chemical element in the boron group with symbol Al and atomic number 13. It is a silvery-white, soft, nonmagnetic, ductile metal. Aluminium is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon), and the most abundant metal, in the Earth's crust. It makes up about 8% by mass of the crust, though it is less common in the mantle below. Aluminium metal is so chemically reactive that native specimens are rare and limited to extreme reducing environments. Instead, it is found combined in over 270 different minerals. The chief ore of aluminium is bauxite.

Aluminium is remarkable for the metal's low density and for its ability to resist corrosion due to the phenomenon of passivation. Structural components made from aluminium and its alloys are vital to the aerospace industry and are important in other areas of transportation and structural materials, such as building facades and window frames. The most useful compounds of aluminium, at least on a weight basis, are the oxides and sulfates.

Aluminum (disambiguation)

Aluminum may also refer to:

Aluminum (album)

Aluminum was the second album from NYC band Gods Child, littered with damaged guitars, distressed mellotron, and raw vocals. Produced by Tim Palmer (who has worked with such acts as Pearl Jam, Sponge, and Mission UK) the album features a spaced-out aura, solid musicianship and soaring sonics. Aluminum was critically acclaimed, but singles “Female Elvis” and “This is the Real World?” only charted regionally. Song “Need” was featured in the Fox Network television series Melrose Place. After this album, the band moved from NYC to Los Angeles and recorded their follow up album Dream This under the new moniker Joe 90 in 1999.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Chris Seefried unless noted. 

Credits and personnel