A Cleaner, Cheaper Way to Make Metals

A startup called Infinium promises to reduce a troubling source of carbon emissions.

For metals such as aluminum and magnesium, Infinium says it can reduce processing costs by 30 to 50 percent.  Making these metals much cheaper could, for one thing, transform car-making.  Parts made of these metals weigh far less than the steel parts ordinarily used in cars, while being just as strong.  The weight savings could reduce fuel consumption by 10 percent, according to an auto industry consortium.

A Cleaner, Cheaper Way to Make Metals