Powders and flakes of aluminium

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR governs foreground data packages for dry metallic aluminium powder and dry aluminium flake powder delivered at the manufacturing factory gate. It covers unalloyed and aluminium-alloy grades made by atomization and dry flake production by milling atomized powder or clean aluminium foil scrap. The actual route and product specification shall be identified; this PCR does not define a generic market mix.

Aluminium paste or slurry, formulated pigment or pyrotechnic mixtures, aluminium compounds, coarse granules, and downstream consolidation, coating, additive manufacturing, or use are excluded. Upstream aluminium production and off-site treatment are represented by separate datasets.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.powders-and-flakes-of-aluminium
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41531, Powders and flakes of aluminium
covered_products	Dry metallic aluminium and aluminium-alloy powders; dry aluminium and aluminium-alloy flake powders
excluded_products	Aluminium pastes and slurries; aluminium compounds; coarse granules; formulated mixtures; consolidated or downstream-processed products
representative_product	One declared dry aluminium powder or flake grade meeting its composition, particle-size, morphology, surface-condition, and moisture specification
production_route	Gas atomization with compressed air, nitrogen, or argon; or dry milling of atomized powder or clean aluminium foil scrap, followed by classification and packing
market_state	Dry powder or dry flake in declared packaging at the manufacturing factory gate

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Dry metallic aluminium powder or dry aluminium flake powder meeting the declared saleable-product specification at the manufacturing factory gate
How much	1 kg net product, excluding packaging mass
How well	Conforming to declared grade/composition, particle-size distribution, morphology, surface treatment or lubricant content, moisture, and contamination limits
How long or cycle	One representative production campaign within the dataset reference period
reference_flow_link	reference_product output of powder_flake_manufacture

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net dry product
Reference product flow	Powders and flakes of aluminium
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	powder or flake; aluminium or alloy grade and composition; particle-size distribution; morphology; surface coating, passivation, or lubricant content; moisture; production route and atomizing gas; feed origin and recycled content; packaging; geography; reference period

All required qualifiers shall be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, the reference-flow comment, the product description, or an equivalent data-package field.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_net_mass	reference product and normalized exchanges	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Determine conforming product mass on the declared moisture basis, exclude packaging, and normalize exchanges to 1 kg net dry product.
material_mass	solid feed, additive, packaging, and waste	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Use calibrated scale records on a consistent dry or as-received basis and disclose moisture correction.
gas_reference_volume	nitrogen, argon, compressed air, and natural gas	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	Report reference pressure and temperature and apply one documented conversion basis across the campaign.
electricity_energy	purchased electricity	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66	MJ	Convert native meter readings to MJ using a declared exact unit conversion; disclose voltage, grid geography, and upstream loss boundary.
cooling_makeup_mass	process-water input	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Record boundary-crossing make-up or once-through water, not recirculating throughput; document any volume-to-mass conversion.

5. System Boundary

The foreground boundary shall apply these rules:

1. Include on-site feed receipt and preparation, melting and atomization when used, dry milling when used, classification or sieving, homogenization, internal recycling and dust collection, cooling make-up, and packing through factory-gate saleable product.
2. Model compressed air, nitrogen, and argon as separate route-conditional inputs and never aggregate them as one atomizing-gas choice.
3. Keep purchased aluminium powder used to make flakes visible as a same-category input, stop recursive tracing at its receipt, and link it to a disclosed upstream dataset.
4. Do not report internal returns, oversize, or collected powder as waste outputs while they remain inside the campaign; retain their effects through gross feed, energy, yield, and exported-waste records.
5. Exclude upstream aluminium and input production, capital equipment, employee travel, downstream transport, use, and end-of-life from the foreground process; disclose linked datasets separately.

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Aluminium feed, purchased aluminium powder, or clean aluminium foil scrap received at the site
starting_condition_role	Foreground starting input whose upstream production is represented separately
product_classification_scope	Dry metallic products classified under CPC 3.0 code 41531
recursive_input_rule	Purchased powder used as flake feed remains explicit aluminium_powder_feed; tracing stops at receipt and the upstream dataset is disclosed
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link every purchased material, energy, gas, water, and packaging flow to a geography-, technology-, and state-appropriate dataset
disclosure	Declare route, alloy and grade, feed origin, internal recycle convention, atomizing gas, packaging, geography, period, and exclusions

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
powder_flake_manufacture	Aluminium powder or flake manufacture	required	Always include; select route-dependent rows without duplicating shared exchanges	reference_process	1 kg net dry conforming product

Process: Aluminium powder or flake manufacture (powder_flake_manufacture)

Inputs

Product flows

Aluminium feed for atomization (aluminium_feed)

Record unwrought aluminium or alloy feed only for melting and atomization; identify grade and recycled content.

• Selected flow: Aluminium material 269bf9df-c7d0-4621-ac7b-71ce409cfb9a
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted feed charged to the campaign, net of stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009

Purchased aluminium powder feed for dry flake milling (aluminium_powder_feed)

Record one specified dry powder feed only when making flakes from purchased or separately produced powder; stop recursive category tracing at receipt.

• Selected flow: Aluminium powder feed
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured powder issued to the campaign, net of stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming flake product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009

Purchased electricity (electricity)

Record site-metered electricity for all included operations.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or equipment-rated consumption reconciled to campaign hours and allocated under section 7
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Nitrogen gas (nitrogen_gas)

Record gaseous nitrogen only for atomization, inerting, or closed-cycle dry milling; disclose purity and supply state.

• Selected flow: Nitrogen gas 96ba4c16-fd7c-424e-b318-d87484d3d7c0
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered supply at declared reference conditions, net of stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product for the nitrogen route
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009; ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Argon gas (argon_gas)

Record gaseous argon only for the documented atomization or inerting route; disclose purity and supply state.

• Selected flow: Argon gas
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered supply at declared reference conditions, net of stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product for the argon route
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Compressed air (compressed_air)

Record compressed air only for air atomization or directly metered process service; avoid double counting compressor electricity.

• Selected flow: Compressed air 46e2b1e4-5a4e-4579-b6a2-65b03f9ce825
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered delivery at declared conditions, or compressor electricity when volume is unavailable, without double counting
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product for the air route
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009

Natural gas (natural_gas)

Record gaseous natural gas only when burned on site, for example for tundish preheating.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered site consumption assigned to the campaign at declared reference conditions
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product when direct gas firing is used
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_and_gas_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Process-water make-up (process_water)

Record boundary-crossing cooling make-up or once-through water, not recirculating throughput.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered make-up or once-through water less separately metered non-process uses
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Stearic acid milling additive (stearic_acid)

Record stearic acid only when added as a process-control agent in dry flake milling; other agents require separate rows.

• Selected flow: Stearic acid
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: weighed quantity issued to the campaign, corrected for returned stock
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming flake product when used
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009

Polyethylene product bag (polyethylene_bag)

Record the polyethylene bag transferred with the product; add other packaging components as separate exchanges.

• Selected flow: Polyethylene bag 10647902-9822-4b06-bc95-f1f30f10c261
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: bag mass multiplied by bags supplied, excluding reusable packaging not transferred
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming bagged product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Waste flows

Clean aluminium foil scrap feed (aluminium_foil_scrap)

Record clean foil scrap only when it crosses the site boundary as dry-flake feed; disclose composition and contamination.

• Selected flow: Aluminium Scrap 96c5f842-ea53-419b-b1cd-c02c479efb45
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: weighed accepted scrap charged, net of rejected deliveries and stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming flake product for the scrap route
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009

Elementary flows

No elementary input is prescribed. Add any measured site-specific elementary input as a separate atomic exchange.

Outputs

Product flows

Reference dry aluminium powder or flake (reference_product)

This is net saleable dry product conforming to the declared specification; its category-level UUID remains unresolved.

• Selected flow: Powders and flakes of aluminium
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: exactly 1 kg net dry conforming product after normalization; packaging is excluded
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: reference flow identity
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
• Collection protocol:
• Sources: mass-balance-identity

Waste flows

Off-spec aluminium powder sent off site (offspec_aluminium_powder_waste)

Record off-spec powder only when it leaves for treatment or disposal; internal recycle is not an output.

• Selected flow: Off-spec aluminium powder waste
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: weighed mass dispatched off site and reconciled to transfer records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product when exported
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: mass-balance-identity

Spent refractory sent off site (spent_refractory_waste)

Record spent refractory only when removed from included equipment and dispatched off site.

• Selected flow: refractory 7eb01b83-1b1d-43e4-a5bc-258755063c11
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: weighed dispatched mass assigned by documented service life or operating time
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming atomized product when applicable
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_solid_mass_records
• Sources: ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025

Elementary flows

Direct fossil carbon dioxide to air (fossil_carbon_dioxide_air)

Record direct on-site fossil carbon dioxide from natural-gas combustion; exclude upstream emissions.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: stack measurement or verified site emission record assigned to the campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product when fossil fuel is burned
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_emission_records
• Sources:

Aluminium particulate to ambient air (aluminium_particulate_air)

Record aluminium-bearing particulate released to ambient air after controls, not captured and recycled dust.

• Selected flow: Aluminium particulate to ambient air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: stack test, continuous monitor, or control-system mass balance for net release after controls
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net dry conforming product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_direct_emission_records
• Sources:

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
avoid_allocation	route-separated campaigns and metered operations	Subdivide records by route, campaign, or equipment before allocating shared burdens.	mass-balance-identity
internal_recycle	internally returned powder, oversize, and captured aluminium	Keep internal returns inside the boundary, give no co-product credit, and reconcile gross feed to product, exported waste, loss, and stock change.	mass-balance-identity
shared_grade_allocation	multiple saleable grades from one inseparable campaign	Directly assign grade-specific operations, then allocate shared burdens by net dry mass; perform an economic sensitivity check when prices differ materially.	mass-balance-identity
exported_material	aluminium-bearing material leaving the site	Use the actual contractual destination to classify it as co-product, recyclable material, or waste; disclose the burden or credit convention.	mass-balance-identity

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_solid_mass_records	powder_flake_manufacture	solid inputs and outputs	scale, stock, production, and dispatch records	timestamp; material; grade; lot; gross; tare; moisture; opening stock; closing stock; destination; instrument	Reconcile receipts, issues, stock change, product, and dispatch by campaign	kg	each transaction and campaign close	representative consecutive campaigns	declared line and storage	sum net mass by material and campaign, then normalize	calibration; stock reconciliation; lot and transfer records
cp_energy_and_gas_records	powder_flake_manufacture	electricity and each supplied gas	meter, invoice, tank, and equipment records	timestamp; meter; opening; closing; native unit; gas pressure; gas temperature; equipment; hours; allocation key	Prefer dedicated meters; reconcile shared totals and use documented causal allocation	native unit; MJ; m3	continuous or each shift, monthly reconciliation	same campaigns as product	line plus documented shared utilities	subtract non-production use, assign campaign, normalize	calibration; invoices; historian; allocation worksheet
cp_water_records	powder_flake_manufacture	process-water make-up	make-up or once-through meter	timestamp; meter; opening; closing; unit; density basis; discharge; hours	Meter boundary-crossing water and exclude recirculation	kg	continuous or each shift, monthly reconciliation	same campaigns as product	water connections serving the line	subtract non-process use and normalize	calibration; water balance; invoice
cp_direct_emission_records	powder_flake_manufacture	direct carbon dioxide and aluminium particulate	stack, verified emission, or control mass balance	time; pollutant; concentration; exhaust flow; duration; detection limit; control status; method; uncertainty	Match net releases after controls to operating campaigns	kg	per monitoring plan and material change	representative operation in dataset period	all direct release points	integrate campaign release and normalize	laboratory; calibration; stack test; reconciliation

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
normalize_to_reference_product	every non-reference exchange	campaign exchange amount divided by net dry conforming product mass	exchange amount; product mass; moisture correction	amount per 1 kg reference product	mass-balance-identity
reconcile_material_mass	aluminium-bearing inputs and outputs	feed equals product plus exported aluminium waste plus measured loss plus closing-minus-opening in-process stock, on one moisture basis	feed; product; waste; particulate; stock change	mass-balance difference and closure	mass-balance-identity
assign_shared_utility	shared utilities and emissions	Assign dedicated meters first, then residual shared quantity using documented operating time or another causal driver; reconcile to site total.	dedicated readings; shared total; causal driver; output	campaign-assigned amount	mass-balance-identity
convert_gas_volume	supplied gases	Convert native quantity to m3 at one declared pressure and temperature and retain native readings and inputs.	native quantity; pressure; temperature; convention	m3 at declared conditions

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_temporal	all records	Cover representative consecutive campaigns and a normal maintenance or changeover cycle when material.	campaign and maintenance logs
dq_technology	route and equipment	Identify atomizer or mill, atomizing gas, melting, classifier, dust control, and packaging represented.	equipment list, process flow diagram, procedure
dq_geography	site and upstream links	State site geography and use upstream datasets consistent with supply geography and state.	site metadata, supplier records, link review
dq_product	reference product	Report grade, composition, powder or flake, particle size, morphology, moisture, surface treatment or lubricant, and packaging.	specification and certificate of analysis
dq_completeness	inventory	Mark prescribed rows present, zero with evidence, or not applicable with route reason; add other material exchanges atomically.	signed checklist and balance
dq_uncertainty	measured and allocated amounts	Record resolution, calibration, sampling uncertainty, allocation share, and missing-data treatment.	calibration, laboratory, and calculation records

9. Validation Rules

A foreground data package conforms only when:

• the reference output is exactly 1 kg net dry conforming product after normalization and excludes packaging mass;
• all required product qualifiers and the actual atomization or dry-milling route are declared;
• each prescribed row is one atomic exchange and is present, zero with evidence, or not applicable with a route reason;
• aluminium inputs, product, exported waste, particulate, and stock change pass the disclosed mass-balance check or the residual is investigated;
• gas volumes share declared pressure and temperature conditions and electricity conversion to MJ is reproducible;
• compressed air, nitrogen, and argon are not aggregated or simultaneously counted unless records show distinct uses;
• direct fossil carbon dioxide excludes upstream emissions and aluminium particulate is net ambient release after controls;
• internal recycle is not reported as external waste or co-product and every off-site waste has a documented destination;
• allocation follows section 7, reconciles to shared totals, and includes the required grade sensitivity;
• source identifiers, protocols, inputs, UUID identities, unresolved UUIDs, and quality evidence are reviewable.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset; background_dataset
downstream_use	Publishing a manufacturing process and linking lifecycle models for products using dry aluminium powder or flake
allowed_use	Declared grade, route, geography, technology, packaging, and period, or a justified close analogue with limitations
excluded_use	Paste, aluminium compounds, granules, downstream powder use, or undisclosed market-average route
required_metadata	PCR id; qualifiers; geography; period; route; equipment; feed origin; recycled content; atomizing gas; packaging; allocation; boundary; upstream links
required_quality_disclosure	Representativeness; meter and sampling quality; mass-balance closure; applicability; missing data; allocation; UUID and range-evidence gaps
update_trigger	Material change in grade, route, gas, equipment, energy, feed, controls, packaging, allocation, or three-year dataset age

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
src_unsd_cpc_3_0_2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv, verified 2026-09-04	Official CPC 41531 identity
china-nbs-statistical-products-2010	official_guidance	National Bureau of Statistics of China, Statistical Products Classification 3336, https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/tjbz/tjypflml/2010/33/3336.html, verified 2026-09-04	Chinese product-name corroboration: 铝粉及片状粉末
gopienko-aluminium-powders-2009	literature	V. G. Gopienko, Production of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Powders, Handbook of Non-Ferrous Metal Powders, Elsevier, 2009, pp. 267–283; book DOI 10.1016/B978-1-85617-422-0.X0001-8	Aluminium-specific forms, atomization, dry flake milling, protective gas, classification, and packing
ehmsen-gas-atomization-2025	literature	S. Ehmsen, J. Conrads, M. Klar, and J. C. Aurich, Environmental Impact of Powder Production for Additive Manufacturing: Carbon Footprint and Cumulative Energy Demand of Gas Atomization, 2025, DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6202700/v1	Transferable atomization operations and candidate exchanges; stainless-steel quantities are not used as aluminium ranges
mass-balance-identity	method_factor	Mass conservation and reference-flow normalization identity over the declared campaign boundary	Normalization, internal-recycle treatment, dry-mass allocation, calculation, and validation