Metallurgical Assessment of Acid Etch as Anodizing Pretreatment

A test programme took place to measure the response of the acid etch process to various alloy compositions. The impact of acid etch and combined caustic etch times was assessed along with the surface topography produced by these treatments.

This paper won the Robert L Kersman Award for Best Paper at the 2010 International Anodizing Conference, Montreal, Canada.

By Nick Parson, Marc Lebleu and Frederic Savard

Extending equipment life at alumina refinery

Weld overlay cladding and fabrication company Arc Energy Resources has recently completed a complex on-site repair to a set of expansion bellows for an alumina refinery. This article reviews the problems encountered and explores solutions provided. By Alan Robinson*

Krasnoyarsk Congress report

The III International Congress and Exhibition: Non-Ferrous Metals 2011 was held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia between September 7 – 9.

Austrian foil rolling plant upgraded

In 2004 Austrian company the Constantia Group decided its foil rolling plant could not keep pace with long term increasing demand. To ensure a reliable foil supply to its Mühlhofen plant,
near Vienna and the rest of the group, it decided to build a new aluminium foil rolling plant on its greenfield site.

ALFED Update Sept/Oct 2011

Discussions are underway between the industry and UK government over the next stage of the Climate Change Agreement.

Industry argues that any new changes could harm the competitiveness of business and is working to minimise the impact.

Checking system finds all defects

Increasing competition has forced aluminium producers and processors to increase production efficiency and product quality.

Manufacturing and processing aluminium requires precise defect detection and classification, as well as continuous production improvement.