Recycled aluminum can
Aluminum recycling is the process in which scrap or waste aluminum is reused to form other structures or components. Many areas of the U.S. economy use recycled aluminum products and applications. Aluminum is strong (if optimally alloyed), lightweight (approximately one third as dense as iron), corrosion resistant and a good conductor of heat and electricity. Recycled aluminum provides an attractive alternative to primary aluminum, or raw aluminum, in terms of cost effectiveness, energy conservation and environmental advantages, according to the Aluminum Association. Much of the aluminum recycling market relies on used aluminum beverage cans as raw material.
Transportation Equipment
The aerospace and airplane industries use recycled aluminum to make various components, including trucks, tractors, trailers, railroad cars and buses. According to the Aluminum Association, the transportation sector owned a 28.1 percent share of the total aluminum consumption in North America in the year 2009. Recycled aluminum transport equipment and vehicles are fuel efficient, lightweight, environmentally friendly and safe--due to aluminum's high torsional rigidity and greater resistance to twisting. According to AutoSpeed, aluminium cars keep their occupants safe in a collision. More than 85 percent of automotive industry aluminum scrap is recycled and employed in the manufacture of brand new automotive parts.
Containers and Packaging
The container and packaging industry uses recycled aluminum to make industrial and household aluminum foils, food containers, water bottles, canisters, vitamin bottles, cosmetic bottles, spray containers, spice jars and beverage cans. Using recycled aluminum for containers and packaging material is energy and resource efficient. Recycled aluminum containers can withstand high temperature differences; are sturdy, leak resistant and easy to clean and can be used in conventional ovens without compromising the original flavor or texture of food. According to a study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, a German research institute, aluminium containers can be microwavable and safe.
Construction Materials
The construction industry uses recycled aluminum for exterior and interior applications, such as siding, facades, roofing, window frames, air conditioning and heating. Other applications of recycled aluminum include the construction of bridges, electrical transmission towers, structural applications, domes (for churches, arenas and storage facilitates) and doors. According to the website AZOM (the A to Z of Materials), one of the main advantages of using recycled aluminum in the construction industry is its high strength to weight ratio. Other advantages include corrosion resistance, lack of protective coating required and greater durability, as compared to steel or iron.
Durable Goods
The electrical market uses recycled aluminum; in fact, recycled aluminum has partially replaced predominant copper wire transmission cables. Manufacturers also use recycled aluminum to make machinery, garden tags, furniture, walking poles, candle holders, baseball bats, sailing ship masts, room dividers, bags/wallets, floor tiles and consumer durable goods, such as cookware.
