Aluminum

Aluminum is a refined metal with very high thermal conductivity, making it one of the best materials for moving heat. Its conductivity is 205, higher than Diamond and second only to Thermium, so it is especially useful for heat-conducting Metal Tiles, Tempshift Plates, Radiant Liquid Pipes, and Radiant Gas Pipes. Its drawback is a comparatively low melting point, about half that of Iron, which limits its use in extremely hot environments.

Like other refined metals, Aluminum can be used in advanced Power systems, buildings, and Automation systems. It also has a few specialized recipe uses: Exosuit Forge consumes 300 kg Aluminum and 2 Reed Fiber to produce an Atmo Suit, and Molecular Forge uses 5 kg Aluminum, 90 kg Graphite, and 5 kg Sulfur to produce 100 kg Fullerene.

Aluminum is produced from Aluminum Ore in several ways:

• Metal Refinery converts 100 kg Aluminum Ore into 100 kg Aluminum at 100% efficiency.
• Smooth Hatches eat 100 kg Aluminum Ore and excrete 75 kg Aluminum.
• Rock Crusher converts 100 kg Aluminum Ore into 50 kg Aluminum and 50 kg Sand.

Because it combines strong thermal performance with refined-metal functionality, Aluminum is a versatile mid- to late-game material. It is most valuable when heat transfer matters more than raw temperature resistance.