With 75% of all aluminium ever produced still in use today, it’s a wonder as to where it all goes. Aluminium is lightweight, less susceptible to corrosion and highly recyclable. It offers a strength to weight ratio far above any other metals commonly used in manufacturing. It is readily available without the need to mine the earth for further resources, saving time, energy and money.
The constant cycle of aluminium means that any one drink can could contain aluminium that has been used in hundreds of products previously. By combining the aluminium with other metals, you can create stronger alloys with varying qualities. This allows the metal to be used in thousands upon thousands of products, from the miniscule to the gigantic.
So, other than more cans, what else do recycled aluminium cans become?
Transport
Due to the lightweight property aluminium holds, it is the perfect material for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. The lighter a vehicle, the less fuel it spends. Although it isn’t the strongest metal, when compounded with other metals it creates lightweight, super strong alloys which are more than suitable for the job and weigh much less than their steel counterparts.
In car manufacturing, steel has reigned supreme for a century. As the industry pushes to reduce CO2, the engineers are tending to favour aluminium and aluminium based alloys in an attempt to reduce weight and subsequently, emissions. It is estimated that by 2025 the overall aluminium content will have increased by 60% in any given motor vehicle.
Trains, in particular the highspeed engines have favoured aluminium for its lightweight properties. In reducing the weight and friction the train experiences, they can reach greater speeds with the least resistance. This leads to lower operating cost, and quicker times between point A and B.
Aircraft have been made using aluminium since the very early days of flight. The frame for Zeppelin Airships were made completely out of aluminium. In modern aircraft, you can expect between 75-80% of their structure and components to be made out of aluminium and its alloys.
It doesn’t stop there; the sky is not the limit. Space shuttles are also made with up to 90% aluminium or aluminium alloys. There is a very real potential that a can you drank several years before, could have become part of something now orbiting the earth as you read this blog.
Consumer Goods and Gadgets
With a more superior strength that plastic and more lightweight than steel, aluminium is being used in consumer goods more frequently than ever before. From smartphones and TV’s, to kitchenware and furniture, aluminium is replacing traditional materials as quickly advancements in technology and engineering will allow.
In gadgets, the sleek, highly polished finish is much more desirable than that of the plastic alternative. It also disperses heat at a much quicker rate than both plastic and steel, allowing for cooler operating temperatures.
Boasting excellent heat conductivity, aluminium is a popular choice for pots and pans. In addition, its non-toxic, rust resisting elements makes for easy cleaning. With 75% of all the aluminium ever mined still in use, your kitchen is likely to be crammed with repurposed cans.
Construction and Electrical
Excellent thermal efficiency and corrosion resistant properties make aluminium an architect’s dream. Widely used since the 1900’s, aluminium plays a huge roll in some of our most advanced structures. Aluminium’s reduction in weight alone allows for quicker, easier practices even in the biggest of builds.
In high-rise buildings and bridges, less weight up top means less foundation in the ground. By reducing the hours spent digging and piling, construction costs and times fall drastically. The easily manipulated and aesthetically pleasing finish only add to its popularity in developments.
Although aluminium holds around 60% less connectivity than copper, it is now a healthy alternative in cable production. It is easier to work with than copper on all fronts, from binding the wire to the structures that will support it, aluminium presents a more cost-efficient way for transporting electricity between locations.
Making the Most of the Material
As technology advances, aluminium replaces more and more of the traditional elements in all walks of life. As a still-relatively-new element, it has been responsible for much of the advancements we’ve made over the last one hundred years.
With the world continuing its quest for a cleaner, greener society that demands less from the planet, aluminium recycling plays a big part in meeting the demands. For more on how we use aluminium to play our part of that quest, click here.
