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Aluminum is an example of a material that has seen rapid growth in demand in recent years, and that demand has been met by expanded primary production. Aluminum has a density of 2.7 kg/dm3 at room temperature, which is about one-third of the density of iron and steel. With proper alloying and microstructure, as described in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy, a high strength-to-weight aluminum ratio can be achieved — along with great flexibility for efficient formability — into complex shapes using contemporary design features.
But production of the group of metals that includes aluminum stands for 40% of all industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Its production is characterized as energy intensive, as its processes require significant electrical energy for their operation. This…
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