June 6, 2007
Recycling win-win: Alcoa’s new aluminum foam process can convert low-grade scrap into a new material that's light, strong and durable.
Product
Aluminum Foam
Challenge
Extend the recyclability of aluminum scrap by developing a process for converting low-grade scrap into a useable new material.
Alcoa technologies
Proprietary
Alcoa is currently determining the technical and economic feasibility of producing aluminum foam in a continuous casting process. The goal is to leverage low value aluminum scrap in products that can benefit from the foam’s unique properties. This new material must be competitive with existing materials in cost and performance, providing the homogeneous properties and exemplary quality consistent with Alcoa’s reputation.
Aluminum Foam Advantages:
- Consistent cells sizes - about 1.0 mm diameter
- Utilizes non-exotic reagents
- 75% to 85% density reduction relative to aluminum
- High energy absorption
- High rigidity
Benefits:
- Not flammable
- High melting point
- Floats
- Impervious to water
- Resistant to mildew, fungus and bacteria
- Absorbs impact energy
- Noise & vibration damping
- Reduces electromagnetic interference
- Lightweight
- Recyclable
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And…it floats!
Alcoa scientists Scott Harris and Dan Bryant show how aluminum foam could be the next new light, strong, workable building material for many applications.
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