Alloying aluminium with other elements reinforces its distinctive properties and broadens the range
of its applications across various industries. Aluminium alloys, which are used to create products
that fit the end user requirements, are seeing a strong growth in demand. RUSAL responds to this by
continuously boosting the range and the output of alloys. One of the company’s strategic goals, set
in its technical policy, is increasing the share of produced alloys to 75% in the overall output.
The growth in energy consumption in Russia requires the construction of new power transmission
lines as well as moving the load to wider wires. This requires substantial investments and is not
always feasible, as old poles often can’t tolerate heavy steel wires. In addition, during the peak hours
the steel cores tend to overheat and expand, causing the wire to extend and break or short to earth.
The issue can be addressed through the creation of a highly conductive, durable and light
wire. RUSAL’s Engineering and Technology Centre is now working on the development of
new aluminium-zirconium and aluminium-silicon-magnesium alloys that boost the electrical
conductivity of aluminium wire rods, without losing their strength. The enhanced aluminium wire
rods will be able to replace expensive and heavy copper wires and ensure a 20-40% increase in the
lifespan of the power transmission lines.
One of the major projects of RUSAL’s Engineering and Technology Centre is the development of
new alloys with excellent physical and mechanical properties for producing wheels for automobiles.
The automotive industry is one of the major consumers of aluminium. Lightweight and durable,
aluminium makes cars safer and lot more energy efficient. The unique properties of aluminium
ensure a continuous growth of aluminium content in various cars components.