[6] Alumina on its own cannot easily be made glassy with current techniques, however with the addition of a second compound many types of aluminate glasses can be formed.
Such an achievement ensures a reduction in energy and natural resource usage, decreasing of the negative environmental impact and creating new fields of work.
Aluminium recycling is a beneficial activity for the environment, since it recovers resources from both manufacturing and consumer waste.
Slag and scrap which were previously considered as waste, are now the raw material for some highly profitable new industries.
There is added-value in materials made using an aluminium residue which is currently considered as a hazardous waste.
Current research is investigating the use of this waste to manufacture glass, glass-ceramic, boehmite and calcium aluminate.