What: TMS2013 Aluminum Keynote Session: Impurities in the Aluminum Supply Chain, Presented by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)

When: Monday, March 4, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Where: Lila Cockrell Theatre, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

Speakers: Stephen Lindsay, Alcoa Inc.James Metson, University of AucklandKarl Bartholomew, KBC Advanced Technologies, Inc.Andrea Weber, Rio Tinto Alcan – Sebree WorksStewart Hamilton, New Zealand Aluminium SmeltersMuhammad Akbar Rhamdhani, Swinburne University of TechnologyJohn Grandfield, Grandfield Technology

Newswise — Warrendale, PA – Approximately 4,000 materials science and engineering professionals from around the world will gather at the TMS 2013 Annual Meeting & Exhibition, a must-attend global forum providing an outstanding exchange of technical knowledge that leads to innovative solutions in the workplace and in society.

In addition to the more than 3,000 technical presentations scheduled for TMS2013, several spotlight sessions will examine issues of importance to both the broader materials science and engineering community and society in general. One of these key sessions – Impurities in the Aluminum Supply Chain – will include invited presentations from leading industry experts that examine the role and outlook for managing and mitigating impurities across the aluminum supply chain.

"Whether impurities are introduced through raw materials, in the smelting process or through recycling of aluminum, they have an impact and some are more difficult to deal with than others," said Les Edwards, vice president of Technical Services, Rain CII Carbon, and session chair. "The primary goal is to bring people together from the bauxite/alumina, reduction, electrode, and cast house areas to make the point that we need to think about impurities holistically rather than something that affects each area separately," he added. "Taking this approach can change the way we develop solutions to impurity problems. While we would all like impurities to go away, the reality is that they will not and we need to learn how to deal with them." Topics slated for this event include:

• "Raw Material Impurities and the Challenge Ahead" • "Impacts of Impurities Introduced into the Aluminum Reduction Cell"• "Changes in Global Oil Refining and Its Impact on Anode Quality Petroleum Coke"• "Impact of Higher Vanadium Levels on Smelter Operations"• "Impact on Smelter Operations of Operating High Purity Reduction Cells"• "Management of Impurities in the Aluminium Cast House"• "An Initial Assessment of the Effects of Increased Ni and V Content in AA6063 and A356 Alloys"

For additional information about the TMS2013 Aluminum Session, visit www.tms.org/meetings/annual-13/AM13spotlightSessionsAlum.aspx.

Members of the press are welcome to attend this and other sessions. For information visit www.tms.org/meetings/annual-13/AM13pressRoom.aspx or contact Angela Fenwick at [email protected].

For general and detailed TMS2013 conference information, visit www.tms.org/tms2013.

ABOUT TMS The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) is a member-driven international professional society dedicated to fostering the exchange of learning and ideas across the entire range of materials science and engineering, from minerals processing and primary metals production, to basic research and the advanced applications of materials. Included among its 11,000 professional and student members are metallurgical and materials engineers, scientists, researchers, educators, and administrators from more than 70 countries on six continents.