Aluminum in US coins

1. Aluminum in US coins By Daniel Borodin, Mustaffa Jaffar, et al.

2. Sustainability-Team Definition • Sustainability is a method of economic use of Earth’s resources by creating more efficient systems, through technological advancement • It is a way to ensure that humans live in harmony with nature and that future generations will have access to important resources for survival

3. Rationale for Change • Our team was looking for something that was both very common and useful if made more sustainable • Our goal was to choose a product which could easily and effectively be changed without causing further waste of resources • We want to make changes on a bigger scale, not only at University, to help economy and the environment

4. Original Design-Comparison • The coin design and the method of producing a master hub from which the coins could be duplicated will be the same • However, aluminum-containing coins could help save money because of the usefulness of certain properties of the metal

5. New coinage • In the new design we will attempt to change the composition of Dimes, Quarters, and Nickels • Dimes and Quarter, which consist of 8.333% nickel and rest copper, will be changed to containing 2.5% Cu, same Ni, and rest Al • Due to uncertainty in the alloy’s properties, the % of Al might have to be lowered • Nickels, with 25% Ni and rest Copper will be changed to having 2.5% Cu, same Ni, and rest Al

6. Advantages of Aluminum • Aluminum is one of the most malleable metals and has lower melting point: it’s an advantage because making coins requires heating the alloy to make stamping possible, so with Al less heat can be used • Alloys are known to be harder that pure metals, so Al-Cu-Ni alloy would also not wear out because of its resistance to corrosion • Aluminum is the most conductive metal per weight, which could make coins easily detected by vending machines, examined for fakeness, and counted with lasers

7. Since Aluminum is lighter than Copper, the main component of US coins, using Aluminum could reduce transportation and handling costs and would be easier to handle by regular people • Aesthetic look to Al alloys would make good-looking coins • Since heating tarnishes the coins in normal production, they must be fed to a tank filled with chemicals that would restore its shine • Al alloys, with their luster, could make away with the tank and reduce spending even further

8. Cost estimate―Old design vs. New • As previously shown, less energy could be used overall: electricity, chemicals, fuel • When coins are punched, the remaining scrap will be easier to recycle, adding to overall efficiency and sustainability • The new coin manufacturing may rely on fewer machines due to properties of Al metal

9. * Production cost assumed to be the same

10. Implementation • Our team’s future research on the specific alloy and the method of preparing it could be submitted to the US bursary • Make a prototype coin and measure energy costs and savings • Test the coin for physical properties such as impact absorption, tensile strength, reduction in area, conductivity, specific heat, etc. • Spread news about possible savings and make a report with all the steps thoroughly explained and comparisons stated • Make a survey/ surveys to see how many people support the idea of changing the metal in coins to aluminum

11. Simple block diagram Stamping coins, easier than before Forming alloy into Metal Sheets Creation of Alloy Washing, drying, and upsetting, also easier Heating coins, easier than before Arranging and transporting Purification of aluminum and reuse Lower boiling point of aluminum allows easier fractional distillation Craps are collected