Sustainable Aluminium Surface Applications

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SALSA will deal with the development of the necessary new knowledge within the area of surface science that is required in order to enable a sustainable global increase of the use of aluminium. Achievement of this principal objective will be a significa nt contribution to the realisation of the vision of the European aluminium industry in general, and the Norwegian aluminium industry in particular. It will also contribute to secure a sustainable future development of the many companies (often SMEs) that apply aluminium in its products. Realisation of the European aluminium vision involves a significant increase of recycled metal in aluminium products. The most important challenge for enabling this increase is to deal with a significant increase of trac e elements with possible determent consequences for surface related product performance with existing technology. Resolving this issue will also enable a more robust sourcing of bauxite for primary aluminium production. SALSA will address the fundamental mechanisms of how trace elements affect the surface properties of the finished product. In order to maintain product performance with an increased presence of trace elements it will be necessary to address the entire aluminium production chain including sourcing of raw materials, primary metal production, casting, homogenization, extrusion, rolling, brazing, surface treatment, coating, and product design. A true through-process approach is necessary in order to be able to propose new thermomechanical pro cess routes that compensate for the increased amount of trace elements. Corrosion resistance and coating adhesion are the surface properties of primary interest, but other properties (e.g. appearance, response to surface treatment) will also be addressed. In special cases it is expected that the SALSA approach will reveal possibilities to improve product performance by the introduction of trace elements.