This multimedia presentation is a component of the August 2000 (vol. 52, no. 8) JOM. To best experience this presentation, you should employ the latest version of RealPlayer. As the audio plays, images from the presentation will automatically load in the window to the right.

ATTENTION MAC USERS: Due to incompatability issues regarding the auto-launch of RealPlayer, Mac users may experience some difficulties with this on-line presentation.

C. Edward Eckert

Editor's Note: During the 2000 TMS Annual Meeting, the TMS Light Metals Division broke with tradition by striking all of the Monday morning sessions from its traditional programming grid in favor of presenting an all-division plenary plenary session. The goal of this session was to provide insight into critical issues in modern aluminum processing technology and industrial development. In further striking from tradition, the proceedings from that symposium are not available in print format. Instead, they are archived here in Real Audio format. Just click on the play button to hear the speaker and watch as the overheads from the presentation automatically click by in the right frame. The session was organized and moderated by Ray Peterson of IMCO Recycling. More detail, and other papers from this symposium, may be experienced by visiting the August issue's table of contents.

Essentially all commercially significant aluminum produced shares a common processing history: melting and metal treatment. These two operations, therefore, have a monumental impact on production costs, the ultimate quality of end-use products, and also have an ancillary influence on environmental issues. This presentation focuses on the technological heritage of metal treatment and significant technical milestones are identified. These milestones are associated with specific product/commercial imperatives or a revolutionary development. An example of the former is the emergence of the aluminum beverage container in the 1960 timeframe, while the later is exemplified by rotary impeller in-line treatment. Finally, an inventory of contemporary metal treatment technology is presented, critical needs are assessed, and a projection of future developments is offered.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C. Edward Eckert is president of Apogee Technology, Inc., and Quantum Environmental Dynamics, Inc. He is also an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and provides retained consulting services for several companies