Adding Value to Secondary Aluminum Casting Alloys: A Review on Trends and Achievements

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Nunes, H (Author) Other; Emadinia, O (Author) Other; Soares, R (Author) Other; Vieira, MF (Author) FEUP; Ana Reis (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Materials

Vol. 16

Final page: 895

ISSN: 1996-1944

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-R98

DOI: 10.3390/ma16030895

Abstract (EN): Aluminum is a critical element of the circular economy as it can be recycled several times. Moreover, Al recycling is a more economically and environmentally efficient procedure than the primary Al production from ores. Secondary aluminum alloys are mostly used in casting applications since it is possible to accommodate their chemical composition through secondary manufacturing processes. However, the quality of the alloys may be considerably altered during the different steps of the recycling process. Inadequate waste sorting might result in excessive contamination. Iron is the most dangerous contaminant because it causes brittle and fragile intermetallic phases, which significantly impacts the mechanical characteristics of alloys. In addition, the microstructure of the alloy changes significantly after multiple cycles of remelting. These issues lead to the downcycling of aluminum, i.e., in other words, the reduction in the overall quality of the alloys. Thus, it has been shown that a number of procedures, including ultrasonic melt treatment and microalloying with rare earths, can somewhat alter the shape of the Fe-rich phases in order to reduce the shortcomings of downcycling. However, a solid mechanical characterization is still missing in order to improve the Fe-rich phase alteration.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 24