In response to the challenges facing the market and the world, Hydro Aluminium Metal created both certified low-carbon and recycled aluminium offerings. Using renewable energy sources like hydro power, the carbon footprint per kg primary produced aluminum is reduced to less than a fourth of the global average. Through recycling of aluminium, the energy use is reduced drastically while still being able to offer high-quality products. Developments of efficient scrap sorting technologies allow for introducing larger shares of sorted Post Consumer Scrap (PCS) in recycling of aluminium, and production of the most CO2 efficient aluminium casthouse products.

Through the production of aluminium with low CO2 footprint, and focus on development of recycling friendly alloys, Hydro Aluminium Metal is supporting the decarbonization initiatives seen in the automotive industry. A series of recycling friendly alloys for extruded profiles towards automotive are the results of many years of development work. Examples are 6xxx HyCrushTM alloys towards axial crush with tensile yield strength levels up to 320 MPa and 6xxx HyBeamTM alloys for lateral impact, e.g., bumpers and structural components with ultimate tensile strength levels up to above 400 MPa. These levels of strength can be achieved by alloy design and thermo-mechanical processing which ensure engineered microstructure through dispersoid control.

The presentation will discuss both decarbonization initiatives to produce casthouse products with low CO2 footprint as well as the development of recycling friendly alloys for automotive extruded profiles.