articleProgress in Materials ScienceApr 7, 2022HYBRID OA

Making sustainable aluminum by recycling scrap: The science of “dirty” alloys

DRDierk RaabeDPDirk PongePJPeter J. UggowitzerMRMoritz RoscherMPMario Paolantonio

Max-Planck-Institut für Nachhaltige Materialien · Montanuniversität Leoben · +12 more institutions

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Abstract

There are several facets of aluminum when it comes to sustainability. While it helps to save fuel due to its low density, producing it from ores is very energy-intensive. Recycling it shifts the balance towards higher sustainability, because the energy needed to melt aluminum from scrap is only about 5% of that consumed in ore reduction. The amount of aluminum available for recycling is estimated to double by 2050. This offers an opportunity to bring the metallurgical sector closer to a circular economy. A challenge is that large amounts of scrap are post-consumer scrap, containing high levels of elemental contamination. This has to be taken into account in more sustainable alloy design strategies. A “green…

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Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Scrap
  • Metallurgy
  • Materials science
  • Alloy
  • Circular economy
  • Aluminium
  • Casting
  • Precipitation
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