About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Circular Metallurgy: Design, Technology, Application
|
| Presentation Title |
Aluminum alloy products, recycling, and the circular economy |
| Author(s) |
Robert E. Sanders |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Robert E. Sanders |
| Abstract Scope |
In the last 100 years, aluminum alloy products have transformed our lives in innumerable ways ranging from packaging and transportation to buildings and infrastructure. In the 21st century, our industry has moved towards recycling and alloy substitution as our customers demand a lower carbon “footprint” for their product. Different alloys and products present different challenges to the adoption of secondary (recycled) aluminum for wrought products. Industrial reality requires that recycling does not add to the cost or reduce the functionality of the final product. There is not one aluminum scrap loop, but many, based on the alloy specifications (e.g., impurity limits) and the degree of difficulty encountered in the recycling process itself. This presentation describes the current state of recycling for major products in our industry. The limits to increasing the recycled content of our current products imposed by metallurgical structure and processing technology are considered. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Sustainability |