In some languages a different word is used for nonferrous metals – they are called „colored metals“, for example in German „Buntmetalle“ or in Russian „Cvetnye metalli“. But for he 21th century we can add another term: „The green metals“. In spite of the fact that no real metal bears the colour “green” it is obvious that NF-metals are playing an important role in a green world. They are to be found in many solutions for protecting the environment and climate: Some of them, like solar cells are very new while other, for instance the recycling of metals, have been well known for centuries. But even this old example has made its changes over the years: Today’s recycling technologies in industrials countries are highly sophisticated, clean processes that have nothing in common with the dirty technologies of the past. Meanwhile, producing steel from scrap means 86% less air pollution. The creation of secondary raw materials via the recycling route also expends far less energy than production based on primary raw materials. But primary producers of metals have done their homework too: New metallurgical plants extract metals from ore in a very clean and effective way that minimizes CO2 emissions, residuals and energy consumption.
Modern aluminium smelters need only 13 to 14 kWh to produce one kilogram of the light metal while in the 1950ies 21 kWh were needed. And alongside this NF-Metals protect our world in several applications, illustrated by the following examples:
NF-Metals ensure a long lifetime for many products: Zinc coating helps steel constructions to resist corrosion attacks for a long time. The main feature of copper roofs of old churches is their low maintenance, caused by a protective layer of patina. With this layer roofs are safe for centuries. Due to its excellent conductivity copper is one of the key materials for an efficient transport of electrical energy. According to Eurocopper 60% of copper currently produced is used in electrical applications.
The use of renewable energy sources would be impossible without metals: A large wind-driven turbine alone incorporates more than a tonne of copper, to find in the rotor, bearings and cables. The C in CIS- photovoltaic cells stands for copper, I for Indium and S for selenium. Copper tubes are necessary in solar heating systems and zinc coated beams hold solar devices safe on a roof. Extruded aluminium frames raise curved mirrors in Solar Power Plants off the ground and allow them to track the sun throughout the day. Catalysts on the base of precious metals are used in the purification of technical gases and the reduction of emissions from combustion engines, chemical industry and households. And it should be not forgotten that NE-metals deliver an optimal performance for improving fuel economy, reduction of emissions in automobiles – and this not only in the well-known example of the light metals Magnesium and Aluminium. NF-Metals are also the secret behind high-strength steels which would not exist without their alloying partners titanium, niobium and other.
This way metal producers must show to the public: NF-metals are not the problem, NF-metals are the solution. As a consequence METALL will show new solutions in this year with specials pages in every issue under the headline: Green Metals – green solutions. This issue starts with this important topic on the pages 8 and 9.
Das internationale Magazin ALUMINIUM befasst sich mit allen Fragen, die den Werkstoff, seine Gewinnung, Verarbeitung, Recyclebarkeit sowie seine Anwendung betreffen.
Weitere Informationen zum Magazin ALUMINIUM
Informiert als führende Fachzeitung für den gesamten deutschsprachigen Raum über die werkstoffspezifischen Eigenschaften von Aluminium, neueste Verarbeitungstechnologien und innovative Anwendungen in den unterschiedlichsten Branchen und Industriezweigen.
