Alkemi Recycled Surfaces Made From Aluminum Shavings
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 05.20.08
When I first saw Alkemi recycled surface material a while back, I questioned its value, thinking that aluminum was more valuable as a recyclable material rather than cast into a countertop. I was wrong; Demir Hamami of Renewed Materials tells us that flake aluminum milling scrap burns before it melts, and has to be expensively compressed before it can be recycled, so it usually goes into landfills. Hamami casts it into a solid surface material that can replace conventional counter materials with an unusual (and attractive) appearance and high recycled content. (35% by weight, 60% by volume). Demer Hamami explains in an video below the fold.
Most of the current line is cast in polyester resin, but they are developing a new version with recycled and recyclable acrylics. More information at ::Renewed Materials. More from ICFF 2008
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It really is a shame that we waste so much aluminum by NOT recycling it!
What do I do with it after it is done bing a counter top. this is not cradle to cradle design. This is the same old use it once and throw it away business model that has a different feed stock.
It is nice to know that one technology (machine shops) found a sink for its own waste, now this business has to do the same.
I'm assuming the polyester resin encompasses the aluminum shavings entirely, but is that true? And are aluminum shavings and/or polyester resin safe for food prep?
is your food or hands being in constant contact with aluminum really desirable? wasn't there that rumor that alum (or alum oxide) that causes alzheimers?
I asked for a sample of this stuff last year - it is absolutely gorgeous, but remember to use a cutting board! My knives made scratch marks on it very easily.
That's awesome! I'm borrowing this idea for a MetalMiner blurb tomorrow (full credit to TreeHugger, of course). What's the pricing like for these? Do you know anyone who has actually used them in their homes?
What do I do with it after it is done bing a counter top. this is not cradle to cradle design. This is the same old use it once and throw it away business model that has a different feed stock.
It is nice to know that one technology (machine shops) found a sink for its own waste, now this business has to do the same.
It is not true at all that aluminum shavings go to the land fill. As the the former owner of company that generated a couple cubic yard of shavings a month I can tell you we were paid as much for the shavings as you would get for aluminum cans. there is no way it was taken to a dump.
isn't virgin polyester made with ethylene glycol? same stuff we use for antifreeze in cars?
Will recyled acrylic be better?
LOL, from wikipedia
"""""""""""
Recycling scrap aluminum requires only 5% of the energy used to make new aluminium.
1 - The cans are first separated from municipal waste, using an eddy current separator.
2 - Shredded into small uniform pieces to reduce volume and simplify automated handling by machines.
3 - Mechanically and/or chemically cleaned to reduce contamination impurities.
4 - Compressed into blocks to minimize oxidation losses when melted. The surface of aluminium readily oxidizes back into aluminium oxide when exposed to oxygen.
""""""""""""""""
Translation = this should be recycled as a metal not as a fill that could be done by stones, etc.
I think polyester resin leaves white scratch lines so you won't want to use anything sharp on it.
I have requested samples many times but they claim they have too many requests to send them out....too bad really.
As for what to do with it after you're done... give it to an artist friend who has a saw or other appropriate cutting tool and let them repurpose the material as art. I'm thinking bookends, animal and people figurines, components for furniture (endtables, chair, headboard for a bed, etc.). Just use your imagination (or let your artist buddy use his/hers).
Understand that this is post industrial waste from machine shops, not material that is shredded from cans and other recyclables. I've been using this material for 14 years and all of the installations still look new. It can be repaired like other solid surface products if needed. The best thing about ALKEMI is that it is beautiful and uses waste in a sophisticated manner. By the way, none of the shavings stick out of the material.