Mining iron ore to make steel, and mining bauxite, to make aluminum, are both very expensive processes. Of course the bayer process involved in the process of reducing bauxite ore into aluminum is a very expensive process. More expensive than the process of reducing iron ore into steel. Both processes require enormous amounts of energy to produce their prospective raw materials.
By recycling steel, almost 75% of the energy used to convert iron ore into steel can be saved through recycling. That's enough energy to power eighteen million homes annually. At least 25% of all steel contains recycled steel. That means, that any bicycle made of steel is comprised of at least 25% of its ancestral material. Steel is 100% recyclable. That means, that though there is only a finite amount of the iron element within the earth, we don't ever have to fear running out of iron, or its alloy steel, because we can recycle it forever.
Aluminum, is also a finite element found in nature. It is exceedingly abundant, making up about 8% of the earth's crust. Though aluminum's extraction from the earth and its processing is cost prohibitive, the recycling of aluminum is much easier than that of steel. The recycling of aluminum has an energy savings of just about 95%. That means that, very little aluminum has to be mined in order for aluminum to remain in circulation. It is present as a constant raw material source via recycling. This fact saves manufacturers who utilize aluminum in the production of their products, hundreds of thousands of dollars, per month.
Watch how at least 25% of every steel bicycle you're ever going to see, is processed prior to manufacturing, via these videos:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/scie...teel-video.htm
Steel
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/disc...teel-video.htm
Steel
Recycling steel saves the nonrenewable element iron, it saves energy, and it saves the money that our nation so desperately needs to remain strong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOpGhAdQFEY
Aluminum
Also watch how almost 95% of the aluminum bicycles your ever going see, are processed prior to manufacturing, via the above video.
- Slim
