2001 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 309-312
To examine the effect of Mg content on extrudability in 7xxx aluminum alloys, hot extrusion experiments and then microstructure examination by XRD, SEM and EPMA have been performed. The finite element analysis has been also carried out for comparison of extrusion pressure in direct and indirect extrusion process. The total energy consumption from cradle to gate in Al extrusion process has been estimated after calculating the standard data of unit process in LCA inventory analysis. The extrudability and the tensile strength are equal to, or above that of conventional A 7003 alloy even the content of Mg varied from 1.1wt.% to 0.5wt.%. alloy. This means that minimizing the content of Mg in A7003 alloy can enhance recovery efficiency during Al scrap recycling. It has been found that energy consumption of unit process can be reduced when the indirect process is used. However, there are little differences in total energy consumption related with increasing Mg content or changing extrusion process at the range from cradle to gate. Thus, for LCA inventory in the extrusion process, a range within the process except mining and extraction has to be introduced.