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"Abstract Most baby-boomers have some familiarity with the classical stigma surrounding aluminum conductors in residential and commercial applications: fire hazard. Mention aluminum wiring in a building or residence and, not surprisingly, a lot of folks will react as if the structure in question should be condemned. How did aluminum get this reputation? Was it deserved? Is it still a valid assumption with today's modern aluminum alloys? Many of the historical stigmas associated with aluminum can be attributed to technical design problems of the older alloys that have now been overcome by higher quality materials and/or addressed by aluminum specific design considerations. This paper addresses the aforementioned issues and investigates the current status of aluminum conductor technology as applied to subsea power cables with a specific emphasis on the following: The Element Aluminum; Early History of Aluminum; Historical Stigmas; Technical Advances; Aluminum (Al) versus Copper (Cu); Aluminum Subsea Cable Experience"

"The new standard has removed rare earth high-Fe aluminum alloy cable in favor of AA8000 series aluminum alloys defined under the US ASTM standard. Applications of AA8000 series aluminum alloy - widely used in low-voltage cable in North America nowadays - will become more common in China once the new standard takes effect, SMM understands. Henan Zhongfu Aluminum Alloy, Jiaozuo Shenghao Aluminum, and other producers of such aluminum alloy rod will benefit from the new standard, SMM aluminum analyst said. "

"Copper-clad aluminum wire which is composed of aluminum core clad with ETP copper was exploited to solve the problem of the copper price increasing by replacing traditional copper wire with copper-clad aluminum wire in the alternator for vehicle application. The aluminum winding alternator parameter was designed and the alternator was tested. The test data show that copper-clad aluminum can offer most of the advantages of aluminum, such as having lighter weight and lower cost than copper, but without the main perceived disadvantages of aluminum. With right parameter and well welding, aluminum winding can replace copper winding to reduce the alternator cost. "

Bill Baldwin -- Baldwin Anthony -- Analyst When we see the price of aluminum in relation the price of copper become more favorable for aluminum, does that show up in your demand for aluminum fairly quickly or not at all or over a period of time? Daniel Jones -- Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Well that's been debated over time. We prefer Encore Wire consistently and will continually prefer to ship and sell copper. That's just the way it is. The aluminum piece of that that you're referring to is a substitution depending on the relationship between the cost of each. Normally if aluminum is more expensive so is copper and vice versa. When copper gets to a certain dollar amount, there's no question that in the conversation the substitution question comes up. There are other costs involved with that most of the time. It's not a new scenario, but it doesn't necessarily increase the demand for aluminum beyond what the increase in the demand of copper would be. But it does enter into the conversation in the quote stage pretty early on when copper gets really expensive about what would it take to substitute aluminum for this piece of copper. And so in that, it's definitely in the conversation.

"By far, the replacement rate of copper with aluminum alloy and Aldrey alloy is up to 70% to 75%. In contrast, that of China is only 3% to 5%. In 2014, the aluminum alloy cable value is near RMB130 billion. In the global market, aluminum alloy cable is a common product for electric transmission line. With new energy gaining more popularity in China, the application of aluminum alloy will become wider and wider. In this report, ASKCI will further disclose market potential and commercial opportunities for aluminum alloy cable industry in China. Recommendations will be given at the end of the report to describe the prospect and provide suggestions for strategy making."

"SHANGHAI, Aug. 11 (SMM) - There is huge market potential to replace copper with aluminum in China's cable industry, cableabc.com reported. Market value of China's aluminum alloy cable approached 13 million yuan ($2.1 million) in 2014. However, China's rate of substituting aluminum alloy for copper in cable is just 3%-5% at present, well below 55% in Japan. Currently, the rate of using aluminum alloy and Al-Mg-Si alloy to replace copper cable has reached 70%-75% in the US, cableabc.com added, quoting data from Research and Markets. "

"SHANGHAI, Jun. 5 (SMM) -Speculation is running high that aluminum will replace copper in wire & cable now that China's new standards for aluminum alloy cable will take effect September 1. However, the new standards will do little in boosting aluminum applications in wire & cable, Shanghai Metals...... "

"A peer-reviewed life-cycle assessment (LCA) study shows a major decline in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions for primary aluminum production in the U.S. and Canada. The study covers all life cycle impacts from aluminum production through semi-fabrication."

"Copper is losing about 2 percent a year of demand to less costly materials such as aluminum, or about 500,000 tons, London-based researcher CRU estimates. Aluminum is a third the cost of copper and supplies of aluminum in warehouses monitored by the London Metal Exchange are almost 12 times higher."

"SHANGHAI, Jun. 4 (SMM) - China has launched pilot applications of rare earth high-Fe aluminum alloy cable in Fujian Province, local media reported. Rare earth high-Fe aluminum alloy cable, self developed by China, has broken US monopoly over the past more than 40 years. "

"In my personal opinion, most plants are unlikely to actually cut back because of profit factors. The smelters agreed to cut back mainly because of tight power and high power costs, but for some, supply is not much affected, only costs have gone up. But the cost of shutting down and restarting might be even higher than the increased power prices," a source from Shaanxi Tongchuan aluminum said July 11. A source from Chuangyuan aluminum said, "We also signed the agreement, but that's just a piece of paper; there is no definite ruling to say we must cut output. We have no plans to cut output at the moment or in the short term, but we may consider cutting back in the future." The Chuangyuan source also cited the power versus shutdown cost ratioand noted that in any case the company has its own power plant. "We don't expect many of the other smelters at the meeting to cut either, including Chalco ... everyone will wait and see," he said. "Domestic prices have risen slightly, but mainly affected by the rise on the LME yesterday - there seems to be little fundamental impact within China itself," an analyst from Beijing Antaike said July 11. "People are all very uncertain and maybe confused now since there are no definite details on what the cutbacks will be." A Chinese trader said domestic demand and trade activity were also expected to slow due to the Olympics, and those plants that actually shut may be able to restart in the fourth quarter, so the impact on domestic prices would be minimal.

Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended an obscure clean water regulation that restricted use of aluminum in automobiles because of a potentially harmful byproduct created in the manufacturing process. Car makers treat aluminum to increase protection from corrosion in multiple ways, but the cheapest is an adhesive bonding process that uses zinc phosphate.

Aggregate production of primary aluminum all over the world from January to November 2014 exceeded 48 million tonnes, making it predictable that annual production of aluminum will top 50 million tonnes.

"Aluminum (or aluminium) is the world's most common metal by crustal abundance, making up 8.2% of mass. It's more common than iron (5.6%) and a whopping 1200x more abundant than copper."

"Ten cables in total are being introduced, with five using copper as a conductor material and five using aluminum. New aluminum cable connection technology is also being launched at the show."

Aluminum may have been responding to two different events in the week ending July 11 when it hit a succession of all-time price highs , but the market remains divided over the medium-term direction, given that world fundamentals point to weak demand and rising stock levels. \n\nFundamentally, however, analysts and market players were mixed in their impressions of whether the price could be sustained, especially as word emerged from China that the cuts may not be a certainty. \n\nAluminum finished floor trade for the week at $3,318/mt, up $150 from the July 4 closing price of $3,168. Fundamentally, however, analysts and market players were mixed in their impressions of whether the price could be sustained, especially as word emerged from China that the cuts may not be a certainty. \n\nPointed out a US broker, "When you hear producers [in China] are shutting production because demand is weak, that's normally bearish," yet the market saw "insane" price moves. "I hear metal just continues to pour into warehouses, and not all of it reported, obviously, [since] otherwise you'd see it in the stock numbers. A lot is going off warrant," he pointed out. \n\n\n

CHINA will not approve new aluminum plants or expansion projects for the next three years as part of a plan to revitalize the nonferrous metals industry. The government also aims to create three to five major nonferrous metals companies by 2011, with the top 10 domestic players controlling 90 percent of copper production, 70 percent of aluminum, 60 percent of lead and 60 percent of zinc in their respective markets, the State Council, China's Cabinet, said yesterday. A draft of the nonferrous sector rejuvenation plan was unveiled in February when it was approved.