Download center Contact us Global site About aluminium Products Our future Investor relations Careers Press room About Hydro Home About aluminium How it's made How it's made Bauxite Aluminium production starts with the raw material bauxite, a clay like soil type found in a belt around the equator. The bauxite is mined from a few meters below the ground. Bauxite grinder The bauxite is then transported to plants where the clay is washed off and the bauxite passes through a grinder. Alumina Alumina, or aluminium oxide, is extracted from the bauxite through refining. Refining process Alumina is separated from the bauxite by using a hot solution of caustic soda and lime. Pure alumina The mixture is heated and filtered, and the remaining alumina is dried to a white powder. PROCESSING Next stop is the metal plant. Here, the refined alumina is transformed into aluminium. Refinement process Three different raw materials are needed to make aluminium, aluminium oxide, electricity and carbon. Electricity is run between a negative cathode and a positive anode, both made of carbon. The anode reacts with the oxygen in the alumina and forms CO2. The result is liquid aluminium, which can now be tapped from the cells. PRODUCTS The liquid aluminium is cast into extrusion ingots, sheet ingots or foundry alloys, all depending on what it will be used for. The aluminium is transformed into different products. Extrusion The extrusion technique has almost unlimited possibilities for design and offers countless application opportunities. Process In the extrusion process, the aluminium ingot is heated and pressed through a shaped tool called a die. Rolling Aluminium is very ductile. Foil can be rolled from 60 cm to 2-6 mm, and final foil product can be as thin as 0.006 mm. It still will not let light, aroma or taste in or out. Process Sheet ingots are used to make rolled products, such as plates, strip and foil. Primary foundry alloys Aluminium foundry alloys are cast in different shapes. The metal will be remelted again and made into, for example, wheel rims or other car parts. The content in foundry alloys can be customized to fit their further use. Recycling Recycling scrap aluminium requires only 5 percent of the energy used to make new aluminium. Aluminium can be recycled over and over again with 100 percent efficiency. In other words, none of aluminiums natural qualities are lost in the recycling process. The recycled product may be the same as the original product, or it can become something completely different. Aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, boats, computers, household appliances, wire and cans are all sources for recycling. TOP Ever wonder how aluminium is made? AND HOW IS IT TRANSFORMED INTO CANS, CARS OR TAILOR MADE PARTS? Get the highlights on aluminium's journey from bauxite, through production, use and recycling. SCROLL DOWN About Hydro Hydro worldwide The Hydro Way Our history Corporate governance UK Modern Slavery Act Contact Contact us Sales contacts Media contacts Investor relations contacts External links Renew by Hydro Customer portal Extruded solutions Shapes Follow us Facebook Flickr LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Twitter Facebook (Shapes) Instagram (Shapes) Twitter (Shapes) Privacy Terms and conditions Accessibility Sitemap © 2017 Norsk Hydro ASA