Peter Pollak

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    More Than a Century Ago Nikola Tesla Envisioned the Age of Aluminum

    By Peter Pollak, The Aluminum Association (Retired). Nikola Tesla, a Serbian American inventor and futurist, is considered to be one of the greatest electrical engineers of all time (Figure 1). Best known for harnessing alternating current (AC) for electrical transmission, Tesla was a true visionary, envisioning wireless transmission and communication technologies (now made reality in the […]

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    Outdated Electrical Standard Needs to Be Revised to Reflect Aluminum’s Value as a Conductor

    By Peter Pollak, The Aluminum Association (Retired). In 1914, the National Bureau of Standards and 14 copper wire manufacturers developed an electrical conductivity standard for copper.1 This International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS) enabled the development of uniform resistance tables that became the foundation for electrical engineering, codes, and standards. Back then, the possibility of another […]

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    Emerging Challenges in Copper Bring Opportunity for Aluminum

    By Peter Pollak, The Aluminum Association (Retired). According to goals announced by the U.S. and European Union, there are widespread commitments to eliminate global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. An important aspect of achieving a net-zero emissions goal within this time frame is electrifying the global vehicle fleet and switching power generation to renewable energy […]