On the Sustainable Choice of Alloying Elements for Strength of Aluminum-Based Alloys

Anders E.W. Jarfors, Andong Du, Gegan Yu, Jinchuan Zheng and Kaikun Wang
Additional contact information
Anders E.W. Jarfors: Jönköping University, School of Engineering, Department of Materials and Manufacturing, Box1026, 55111 Jönköping, Sweden
Andong Du: China Academy of Machinery Sciences and Technology (Jiangle) Institute of Semi-solid Metal Technology, No 22 Huancheng East Road, Jiangle County, Sanming City 353300, China
Gegan Yu: China Academy of Machinery Sciences and Technology (Jiangle) Institute of Semi-solid Metal Technology, No 22 Huancheng East Road, Jiangle County, Sanming City 353300, China
Jinchuan Zheng: China Academy of Machinery Sciences and Technology (Jiangle) Institute of Semi-solid Metal Technology, No 22 Huancheng East Road, Jiangle County, Sanming City 353300, China
Kaikun Wang: University of Science and Technology Beijing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Processing and Control Engineering, Xueyuan Road No.30, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: Aluminum alloys are today entirely recyclable and are seen as a sustainable material. However, there are limitations in the use of aluminum from material strength and cost perspective. Nickel, copper and rare earth metals are alloying elements that may provide strength at room and elevated temperatures. These are, however, often seen as harmful from a sustainability viewpoint. Additionally, these alloying elements are commonly costly. The current paper makes an analysis of the sustainability–strength dimension of alloying, together with a cost perspective, to guide alloy producers and alloy users in making an educated choice of direction for future materials and material development.

Keywords: aluminum; alloys; alloying element; cost; strength; sustainability; embodied energy; CO 2 -footprint; water usage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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