Back to Mining
& Materials Processing News
By Ember Sullivan
HOUGHTON, MI--Researchers at Michigan Tech's Institute of
Materials Processing (IMP) are developing ways to
recycle
aluminum wastes to create commercially valuable products.
The project is directed by Dr. Jiann-Yang (Jim) Hwang
(Director of IMP) and funded
by the
Department of Energy as well as aluminum and recycling companies
such
as Custom Alloys, TST Corporation and IMCO Recycling (the worlds
largest
aluminum recycler). The goal is to develop the technology to
utilize aluminum
wastes, giving them economical value for reuse, and ultimately
enhancing
the bottom line of the aluminum industry.
"Many people think that recycling is merely collecting reusable
material,
but it is not that simple," said Hwang. "We're developing
technologies
that do the actual separation of aluminum wastes into product
forms that
can be sold."
Hwang explained that aluminum, in its chemical form, is more
valuable
than in its mass form.
"Mass aluminum sells for about 60 cents per pound, but the value
of a
chemical form of aluminum is between one and two dollars," he
said. "Our
focus is to give the material its greatest economical value."
One major thrust of the research is combining the chemical form
of aluminum
with concrete. This compound forms a lightweight, porous substance
that
can be used for masonry block, flowable fill, and backfill for
mines.
The foam-like substance has many advantages over conventional
materials
with the major advantage of producing more volume with less mass,
which
corresponds to lower cost per volume benefits, according to Hwang.
"The material is less expensive to move from place to place
because it
is lightweight," he said. "It can also increase production because
the
labor used to transport it and set it is much less than that of
heavier
materials."
Hwang also stressed that masonry blocks made from this substance
are
also practical because their porosity is a natural insulator and
absorbs
sound.
The $2 million, four year project is funded by a $1.2 million
grant from
the Department of Energy; industry partners provide $800,000 in
funds.
###
10/19/00-MTN380