Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust but, because aluminium was isolated experimentally only in 1827 and produced in commercial quantities only after 1886, its production and use is many times less than that of iron. However over twice as much aluminium is produced as copper and the annual percentage growth in its consumption between 1985 and 1998 at 2.8% is significantly greater than that of iron and steel.The aluminium industry provides an in-depth overview of the international aluminium trade at the turn of the millennium. Its clearly presented information, analysis and statistics bring the industry into sharp focus – from extraction and refining to applications, markets, prices and future trends.The aluminium industry is essential reading for: - Professionals whose businesses participate in, supply or buy from any part of the aluminium industry - The finance community with investment interests in the metals or raw materials industries - Engineers needing an overview of the structure and commercial operation of the aluminium industry - Government policy makers and all those needing an introduction to the industry or a training resource for new entrantsRead this guide and find out about: - How the aluminium industry has developed from its earliest beginnings - How the key raw materials, bauxite and alumina are processed - Why technical trends are changing the production of aluminium - How primary aluminium is priced - The role of recycled aluminium metal - How demand is changing and the main applications for aluminium products today and in the future - The organisation of international trade, industry corporate structures and the key issues that will determine the industry's future

Aluminium was one of most cartelised industries in the international economic panorama of the 20th century. Born following the discovery of electrolytic smelting process in 1886, this industry, even in its infancy, established a cartel which characterised its history until nearly 1980. Managers of the aluminium industry from various historical eras and countries shared the same vision about the development of their industry: to keep prices as stable as possible in order to encourage expansions and to provide return on investments. Price instability, which characterised the trade of other commodities, was unknown to the aluminium industry. This book neither argues that cartels are fundamentally evil, nor attempts to demonstrate that cartels are optimal business organisations. It instead provides an in-depth and frank analysis of the internal working of industrial organisations and of the interplay between cartels and political powers and institutions. The International Aluminium Cartel offers explanations for the construction and collapse of cartels, descriptions of their operations, and an historical interpretation of their experiences. Incorporating information gleaned from a unique collection of private and public archives from several countries, this unique study will appeal to a wide variety of readers, including academics interested in industrial and business history.

As the key component in aluminum production, bauxite became one of the most important minerals of the last one hundred years. But its effects on people and economies varied broadly – for some it meant jobs, progress, or a political advantage over rival nations but for many others, it meant exploitation, pollution, or the destruction of a way of life. Aluminum Ore explores the often overlooked history of bauxite in the twentieth century, and in doing so examines the forces that shaped the time, from the mineral’s strategic development in the First World War and throughout the Cold War, to its role in the globalization of markets, as companies from the northern hemisphere vied for the resources of the south. In this wide-ranging collection, scholars from around the world consider multiple international perspectives on this history – from Guinea to Nazi Germany to Jamaica – all while examining the central place of one commodity in a time of change.

Separation processes—or processes that use physical, chemical, or electrical forces to isolate or concentrate selected constituents of a mixture—are essential to the chemical, petroleum refining, and materials processing industries. In this volume, an expert panel reviews the separation process needs of seven industries and identifies technologies that hold promise for meeting these needs, as well as key technologies that could enable separations. In addition, the book recommends criteria for the selection of separations research projects for the Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technology.

As a heavy user of electricity the primary aluminium smelting industry is a leading example of the effects of variations in energy costs. This title tells the story that with the rise in energy costs, three regions—Japan, the United States, and Western Europe –have become high-cost locations for primary aluminium production relative to three other regions—Australia, Brazil, and Canada. First published in 1988, this volume presents an analysis of the public policy choices regarding the aluminium industry and electric power in both low-cost power countries and high-cost power countries. The World Aluminium Industry in a Changing Energy World is ideal for policy makers and students interested in environmental studies.

Aluminium is an important metal in manufacturing, due to its versatile properties and the many applications of both the processed metal and its alloys in different industries. Fundamentals of aluminium metallurgy provides a comprehensive overview of the production, properties and processing of aluminium, and its applications in manufacturing industries.Part one discusses different methods of producing and casting aluminium, covering areas such as casting of alloys, quality issues and specific production methods such as high-pressure diecasting. The metallurgical properties of aluminium and its alloys are reviewed in Part two, with chapters on such topics as hardening, precipitation processes and solute partitioning and clustering, as well as properties such as fracture resistance. Finally, Part three includes chapters on joining, laser sintering and other methods of processing aluminium, and its applications in particular areas of industry such as aerospace.With its distinguished editor and team of expert contributors, Fundamentals of aluminium metallurgy is a standard reference for researchers in metallurgy, as well as all those involved in the manufacture and use of aluminium products. - Provides a comprehensive overview of the production, properties and processing of aluminium, and its applications in manufacturing industries - Considers many issues of central importance in aluminium production and utilization considering quality issues and design for fatigue growth resistance - Metallurgical properties of aluminium and its alloys are further explored with particular reference to work hardening and applications of industrial alloys