- OTL Udec

ADVANCED MATERIALS
RECYCLING SCRAP
ALUMINUM INTO AN
ALUMINUM COMPOSITE
WITH IMPROVED
MATERIAL PROPERTIES
OTL UdeC
Oficina de Transferencia y Licenciamiento
75% of aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Recycling of aluminum reduces
the production of more than 90 million tonnes of CO2 annually. Global recycling rates
are high with greater than 98% in Brazil, more than 90% in Argentina and most other
countries exceeding 60%. Recycling is favored because there is no loss in quality and
the process for recycling is up to 95% less energy intensive than obtaining aluminum
from bauxite ore. Almost all cans recycled are turned into more cans.
Researchers at UdeC have determined a way to use that same scrap aluminum and turn
it into a value added product in the form of structural materials. The process uses only
aluminum scrap at comparable conditions, produces no waste, and generates a
composite which exhibits microstructure properties suitable for structural use.
The de novo process produces a material that is similar in tensile strength to 6063 and
6061 aluminum alloys and has greater rigidity than those alloys.
OTLUdeC is seeking a manufacturing partner to implement this technology at scale.
RESEARCHER
Claudia Carrasco Carrasco
Department of Materials Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Patent application filed in Chile,
CL201102630
Sandra Araya Tapia
Executive Director
Office of Technology Licensing
[email protected]
(56 - 41) 2207489
Edificio Empreudec
Barrio Universitario s/n
Concepción, Chile
(56 - 41) 2204509
www.otludec.cl