Aluminium Chloride (AlCl3) Uses

Introduction 

Aluminium chloride is used in the production of pure aluminium metal. The complex can be subjected to a chemical process, one of the by-products being pure aluminium. Aluminium chloride has a wide range of industrial uses. Other aluminium chloride uses are producing various paints, petrochemicals and synthetic rubber. 

It is also used in the treatment of water. One of the most prominent examples of aluminium chloride use is the deodorant. It condenses into a gel, temporarily clogs sweat glands and seals pores. The blockage of sweat glands prevents sweating. 

Industrial uses

Aluminium chloride is mainly used in the industrial manufacturing sector, in the manufacturing of aluminium metallurgy. Also, it can be used as a constituent in the smelting of aluminium. Moreover, it is utilised in producing petrochemicals such as alkyl benzene and ethylbenzene. 

Aluminium chloride is required as a component in certain medications. It is also used to manufacture paint, lubricants, synthetic rubber, wood preservatives and certain organic compounds. 

This is a multipurpose substance. Some of the essential industrial aluminium chloride uses are as follows:

• Chemical synthesis: Aluminium chloride is used to make a variety of organic and inorganic compounds such as ethylbenzene, titanium dioxide and isopropyl benzene.
• Pharmaceuticals: Aluminium chloride is utilised to produce a variety of pharmacological intermediates.
• Paints and Dyes: Aluminium chloride aids in the production of dyestuffs by its usage in the Friedel-Crafts process.

Home uses

Many antiperspirants contain a trace of aluminium chloride, which may be more familiar to most individuals. It is found in higher concentrations in prescribed antiperspirants. Aluminium chloride used in deodorant functions by reacting with electrolytes present in the skin to form a gel block in sweat ducts. 

It also has a somewhat astringent impact on the pores, forcing them to tighten, preventing sweating. It is also used in cosmetic astringents due to its propensity to shrink pores.

Other uses of aluminium chloride

Aluminium chloride has a wide range of other applications as well. Some other examples of aluminium chloride use are:

• It is primarily employed as a Lewis acid catalyst in the Friedel-Crafts process (alkylations and acylations).
• This chemical is also utilised as a catalyst in producing organometallic compounds.
• The Gattermann-Koch procedure can be utilised to insert aldehyde groups on aromatic rings.
• It is used in the production of paints.
• It is found in medications as well as insecticides.
• It is used to polymerise light molecular mass hydrocarbons.
• One can use it as an antiperspirant.
• It is used to produce lubricants, rubber and wood preservatives, among other things.
• It is utilised as a flux in the smelting of aluminium.

Conclusion

Aluminium chloride has diverse uses. Whether industrial or domestic, this chemical compound can be helpful in several ways. Generally, the chemical compound is white coloured but often turns yellow in contact with iron. The chemical compound is a poor conductor of electricity in a molten state but a good conductor at aqueous solutions. Following its metal synthesising property, the chemical is widely used for industrial purposes. The chemical property of Aluminium chloride  makes the chemical compound non-explosive.It is used to produce lubricants, rubber and wood preservatives, among other things and also used  as a flux in the smelting of aluminium.