Applications of Non Ferrous Scrap
Applications of Non Ferrous Scrap:
All metals can be recycled with minimal or no loss of their original physical properties. They are such versatile materials that the possible applications for each metal and their combinations are endless.
Aluminium
Aluminium has (great recycling potential) and is often re-used for the same application for which it was originally manufactured. Its strength, flexibility and light weight, make it ideal for:
- Building & construction: Window frames, building structures, roofs, etc.
- Transportation: Airplanes, trains, boats, cars and trucks. It is also used in smaller vehicles like bicycles, motorbikes and other mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
- Packaging: Aluminium is used mostly in the form of cans and foil.
- Electricity: Since 1945, aluminium has replaced copper in high-voltage transmission lines.
- Cooking and tableware.
Copper
After silver, copper has the best electrical conductivity of all the elements. It is also very good thermal conductor and is readily alloyed with other metals such as lead, tin and zinc for foundry applications to produce, among other goods, products for the transmission of water such as valves.
Other common applications for recovered copper include:
- Electrical applications: Wires, circuits, switches and electromagnets.
- Piping: Plumbing fittings and also in refrigeration, air conditioning and water supply systems.
- Roofing and insulation.
- Household items: cookware, doorknobs, and cutlery.
Lead
Most of recycled lead is used in batteries, but the are many other applications for this metal:
- Car batteries: Lead is still used extensively in the plates that work as electrodes.
- Colouring: Although less common today, it is used in ceramic and glass glazing.
- Radiation protection: Lead offers protection against X-rays.
Zinc
Zinc is present in everyday life in the form of coins. However, it also has other important uses:
- Galvanisation: Zinc is commonly applied as a coating to protect iron and steel from corrosion in a process known as galvanisation.
- Batteries: As an anode component material in batteries.
- Brass: Created by alloying zinc and copper.
Tin
Apart from precious metals, tin is one of the most expensive non-ferrous metals. Hence, recycling from secondary materials is very important.Its applications are very varied:
- Cans: by covering steel sheet with a thin layer of tin one obtains tinplate, the raw material to make cans
- Car production: tin increases the resistance of the motor block, piston rings and clutch plates;
- Springs of any kind become tougher through the addition of tin
Glass
tin oxide coatings of glass surfaces to make them more resistant