Aluminum has been promoted as a sustainable material. This is because this versatile and malleable metal can be recycled and reused as a component for various industrial and consumer products. While the material can be extracted from raw bauxite ore through mining activities, aluminum is also processed from scrap metal as a post-consumer material.
What is Aluminum Recycling?
Aluminum recycling involves the processing of the post-consumer metal for other purposes. The recycled material comes from used beverage containers and cans. It also comes from scrap metal derived from appliances, vehicles, and equipment. These post-consumer materials are collected, separated from other nonmetal parts, and remelted. When recycled into other products, aluminum is often combined with other materials to form an alloy. It is often combined with other metals such as zinc, magnesium, and copper before it can be processed into another product.
Processing of the recycled aluminum depends on the end product. The process could be done in several ways. The heated material can be poured into casts or molds to create the desired electrical, mechanical, or products parts. The material can also be subjected to an extrusion process to form tubes or rods for various industrial uses. Stronger aluminum components are also forged and compressed.
Where is Aluminum Used?
There are a lot of mainstream applications for the metal. Aluminum is used as a component in manufacturing cars, planes, boats, trucks, bicycles, and other transportation-related products. With its non-toxic properties, aluminum is also used as a component for packaging materials such as wrapping foils and beverage cans. It is also widely used by the building and construction industry due to its none corrosive properties. Aluminum use has been expanded to solar energy technology.
Aluminum is also extensively used in the building and construction industry. It is extensively used as a component in siding, roofing, and other building materials. Many home appliances and telecommunications products also have aluminum parts. Industry equipment and tools, as well as electrical parts, are also made from aluminum alloys. For those who are looking for suppliers, there are providers of recycled aluminum st paul mn.
Benefits of Recycling Aluminum
There are several benefits for procuring recycled aluminum. First, processing recycled aluminum requires less energy compared to processing the metal from raw bauxite ore. It is also considered as a sustainable material since it can be repeatedly reused and recycled. As a lightweight material, it is extensively used for manufacturing fuel-efficient cars and other vehicles. Aluminum is also used for manufacturing efficient photovoltaic cells.
It is also used as a material for green buildings. Roof structures with an aluminum coating can reflect more than 90 percent of sunlight for improved insulation. Using the material for this purpose also contributes to the energy efficiency of the building. As a versatile material, aluminum can be found in many types of products. It also has a variety of applications across different industries. From transportation, telecommunications to home consumer manufacturing, aluminum has been extensively used for different purposes.