Technological improvements to increase the energy efficiency of smelting include work on the anodes and cathodes used to apply the current. This work includes the use of inert metal anodes to replace the current anodes that line the container. A parallel effort is underway to find ways to recycle these so-called spent potliners . A large percentage of aluminum is recycled, but there is room for improvement in aluminum recycling technologies, both in ways to treat aluminum scrap and in methods to handle the waste products from recycling, called dross and salt cake . Processing Aluminum Alloys Aluminum alloys are welded, brazed, rolled, and cast to form products.
Coatings help reduce corrosion in the final products.