Boeing and Alcoa have formed a closed-loop program to significantly increase the recycling of internal aluminum aerospace alloys used during the production of Boeing airplanes. The recycling program will entail inter-modal transport of aluminum alloy scrap material, including advanced alloys, from Boeing facilities in Auburn and Wichita as well as third-party processors in Auburn to Alcoa’s Lafayette, Ind., facility for melting and recycling into new aerospace materials. The program calls for recycling of 2XXX- and 7XXX-series aluminum alloys used in the production of wing and fuselage components. The forms will include aluminum extrusions, sheet and plate products. Approximately 8 million pounds of aluminum per year is expected to be recycled.

In other news, Alcoa and Russia’s OJSC RUSNANO will produce technologically advanced oil and gas aluminum drill pipe finished with a life-extending anti-wear coating under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the companies. With the help of the Alcoa Technical Center, the parties intend to pursue the potential application of a nanotechnology-based coating for the aluminum drill pipe to enhance its wear resistance in harsh, corrosive drilling environments.