Climate protection without aluminium? Difficult! This light metal is enormously important, not only as a material for renewable energy such as in the solar industry, but also because it contributes to climate protection in industries such as vehicle manufacture through its special material properties. Why is this the case? The lighter construction methods and longer-lasting products made possible by reduce energy consumption – which is good for the climate!
Aluminium: Increasingly the material of first choice
The advantages of aluminium over other metals mean that it is increasingly the material of choice in industries that promote climate protection. In areas previously reserved for steel and stainless steel, for example, a wide variety of aluminium alloys are used today. These alloys have to meet high demands – and this is where alimex aluminium comes into play. The high-precision cast plates and components produced by alimex guarantee excellent dimensional stability for sensitive applications and cost savings resulting from the elimination of distortion, less waste, faster turnaround times and longer product life cycles. This makes the use of aluminium as a material (even) more attractive.
How does aluminium help the automotive industry with climate protection?
It’s very simple: Simply consider the fact that it is a light metal, with a density of less than 5.0 g/cm³. By contrast, steel, with a density of 7.85-7.87 g/cm³ for example, is significantly heavier. “Nowadays, three times more aluminium is used to make a car than was used 20 years ago. Amongst other factors, this trend was fuelled by the tightening of CO2 limits,” said alimex CEO Dr Philip Grothe. “When cars become lighter, they consume less fuel and thus protect the climate.” alimex aluminium, whose material properties are continuously being further developed through research on new alloys and annealing processes, can be found in chassis and engine parts and in bodywork elements. “It’s very simple; the more attractive we make aluminium as a material, the better it is for the climate,” says José Ceballos, Head of Research & Development at alimex. Because the material has another advantage: its high recyclability. It can be reused very easily and thus makes an important contribution to sustainable product cycles.
Aluminium: A decisive building block for the solar industry
The solar industry is gaining in importance worldwide, with the value chain encompassing various sectors, from industrial corporations to service providers. Here, too, aluminium is one of the decisive materials – it is used in façade constructions, in support frameworks and in high-tech elements, but also in tools and machines for the production of solar energy systems. This is due to its outstanding material properties: Stability, good machinability, low weight, corrosion resistance and its antimagnetic and heat-conducting properties – all this makes aluminium essential for various applications in the solar sector. alimex develops innovative cast materials specifically for the solar industry and is constantly carrying out materials development research. Because the same applies here: If the use of aluminium is made (even) more attractive and the longevity of components is increased even more, for example, this is conducive to climate protection.
