Passing TimeChinese smelters cutting back and we are starting up a brand new huge smelter. You have to laugh as many other countries are starting up brand new smelters. Something has to give as there is only so much concentrate to go around. Good thing we have it all under one roof........................... lots of concentrate and lots of smelting capacity on our mine site. All in costs will be going down when this starts up.
Anyone with half a noodle would never sub copper for aluminum. Great for body panels etc and strength but that's about it. They thought aluminum was the best thing going when they allowed it in house wiring many years ago ......................... then the overheating and house fires started to spring up. So then they banned it in house wiring.
Copper is the ticket folks and will be for a very long time.
Many here may know this but high voltage overhead power transmission lines are ACSR ( aluminum conductor steel reinforced) There is and never has been any copper content in these lines. The copper comes into play when you transform the power down to a level where industry can use it.
Ask RF how much aluminum wiring was used in the building of all of our plants, Besides the main transmission lines feeding the substation the answer would be ZERO!!!! In all my years in the electrical field I have never seen or installed aluminum wire ................................NEVER!!