Message from the Director

Welcome to our first Light Metals Update for 2006.

The year began on a positive note with the Ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Partnership (AP6) on Clean Development and Climate, in Sydney in January (http://www.dfat.gov.au/environment/climate/ap6/).

That meeting brought together six countries – the USA, China, Australia, India, Japan and Korea – to address the serious and long-term challenges of climate change, energy security and air pollution in ways that support sustainable economic development.

The partnership established eight public-private sector task forces covering cleaner fossil energy, renewable energy and distributed generation, power generation and transmission, steel, aluminium, cement, coal mining, and buildings and appliances.

One of the Light Metals Flagship’s goals is to reduce energy consumption within the aluminium industry by 30%, so it is encouraging to see aluminium included in the AP6 agenda.

Several projects in our research portfolio related to energy reduction are included in this Update.

An innovative coating technology to prevent anode carbon burn in aluminium electrolytic cells – which has the potential to reduce carbon consumption and improve process economics – is approaching smelter trials.

A key to reducing energy consumption is to improve the design of electrolytic cells and reactors through sophisticated mathematical and physical models that complement our understanding of physical chemistry and metallurgy at very high temperatures. This Update includes an article on the broad range of modelling expertise across CSIRO which the Light Metals Flagship is drawing upon to help industry reduce its energy requirements.

New ways to remove organics from the Bayer process for alumina production are being investigated to increase refinery productivity and decrease energy usage.

A novel measurement technology to determine and, in the longer term, control the amount of unwanted electrolyte bath contamination in aluminium metal during metal tapping from the electrolytic cell has undergone a promising smelter trial.

Industry’s interest in all of the above projects is most encouraging.

A major focus of the Flagship is to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from cars through the use of light alloys. A team headed by Dr Roger Lumley has developed a heat treatment process for high-pressure diecastings that should help reduce the weight of many aluminium car components.

The quality of our science and scientists is critical to the achievement of our goals. It is a pleasure to acknowledge Dr Paul Fraser’s election to the Fellowship of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in recognition of his extensive work on climate change.

Enjoy the reading, and please feel free to contact us for further information.

Raj Rajakumar, Director Light Metals Flagship

CONTACT
Raj.Rajakumar@csiro.au
Phone: +61 3 9545 8625    

UPDATE Home

Message from the Director 

Heat treatment the road to lighter cars

Low-cost coating to save aluminium industry millions

Model solutions to fit all situations

'Bath' sensor keeps quality in focus

Bauxite to alumina: a cleaner pathway

In brief...

The Light Metals Flagship is a CSIRO initiative and part of the National Research Flagships program that aims to deliver scientific solutions to advance Australia's most important national objectives. One of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia, it aligns closely with the Federal Government's National Research Priorities. The initiative brings together our national research resources to deliver breakthroughs in fields ranging from healthcare to light metals and the environment.

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