Aluminum Supplier Constellium Recycles More As Metal Prices Rise | Aviation International News

Aluminum Supplier Constellium Recycles More As Metal Prices Rise

By Thierry Dubois • Writer

July 8, 2012

Aluminum product developer Constellium (Hall 4 Stand H11) is increasing the percentage of recycled metal in the aircraft parts it produces, as it vies to lower the cost and environmental impact of using metals and to prove that composites are not the answer to everything. The French group’s latest Airware technology is now at the production stage for new airliner programs such as the Airbus A350 XWB and the Bombardier CSeries.

The value of alloys has grown with the addition of elements such as copper, silver and lithium. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of aluminum costs about $2, while one kilogram of lithium– the lightest available metal–costs around $100. Despite the small proportions used in aerospace alloys (aluminum-lithium alloys contain around 2 percent lithium), alloy prices go up very easily. This has prompted Constellium to recycle more offcuts from machined work.

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