Although pure aluminum is utilized in many important products (such as electrical cables), alloying aluminum with other elements is crucial to achieve the mechanical, formability, and other performance specifications that are required for the use of aluminum in a majority of applications (including B&C, automotive, aerospace, packaging, and other markets).1 Each element is therefore crucial to the domestic aluminum supply base. The U.S. is highly dependent on foreign imports for many of these alloying elements. This article will demonstrate the need to reduce the country's dependence on foreign sources of these elements and the need to increase recycling as a way to retain them.
展开▼
