Aluminum could replace 20% of copper applications

　　Around 20% of copper applications could be replaced by aluminum, the chief executive of U.S. aluminum producer Alcoa Inc said Tuesday.

　　Klaus Kleinfeld told the American Metals Markets aluminum summit in New York that the aluminum industry is capable of replacing several applications, citing the high price of copper as being a key driver of requests to switch metals.

　　"The industry has been super successful in replacing numerous other materials," he said, noting that in China, aluminum and not copper is being used for cables. "On a per pound basis, aluminum is twice as conductive as copper and much lighter," he added.

　　Areas such as electricity transformation, mainly in low voltage installations, are using aluminum instead of copper, he told the summit.

　　Kleinfeld noted that copper prices have soared in the last several years, more than trebling through the last decade and driving consumers to seek alternative materials.