Ferrous Scrap Metal Recycling Process

31 August 2020

A lot of industries have been maximising the great properties of metal materials in fabricating equipment, appliances, tools, devices, and assembly materials. The construction industry uses specific metal materials in fabricating steel beams, girders, ladders, handrails, and platforms that can support buildings, bridges, and other types of infrastructures. Both aerospace and automotive industries also utilise metal in fabricating their engine parts, chassis components, and other auxiliary elements. The energy and mining industry likewise are both use equipment and components that are equipped with metal parts.

Apart from the mentioned industries, residential and commercial buildings are also known for using and consuming different types of appliances and equipment for their daily tasks. Almost all these products are made from metal materials that help them work.

Initially, the abundance of products made from metal deems it impossible for the metal fabrication companies to meet the growing demands of the said material. Fortunately, the industry of metal recycling has flourished significantly that every industry heavily relies on them now.

Properties of Ferrous Metal

One type of metal that is frequently used in fabricating different components today is ferrous metal. Ferrous metal is a group of metal that has a huge percentage of iron in its overall composition. The presence of other alloying elements allows different types of ferrous metal to possess varying properties. Some ferrous metals are magnetic, while others are not. Most ferrous metals, however, have high tensile strength and exceptional durability that makes them useful in fabricating products.

Without any other elements or sufficient coating, ferrous metals can be susceptible to corrosion. Their surface has low resistance to corrosion, which is why they are typically coated with elements that can prevent rust and other corrosive elements from penetrating their surface.

Some examples of ferrous metals include carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, and cast iron.

Recycling Ferrous Scrap Metal

Aside from the strength and durability of ferrous metals, they are also well-known for their recyclability. All equipment, tiny components, and other products made from ferrous metals can be recycled and reprocessed again into new sheets of ferrous metal. They are also great to be recycled since ferrous metals do not lose any of their defining properties during the whole recycling process. As a matter of fact, there are ferrous metals that can be recycled numerous times.

The recycling of ferrous metals is typically conducted by recycling centres and scrapyards. The whole process of ferrous metal recycling begins with the sortation and separation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Since numerous types of ferrous metals are magnetic, then a powerful magnetic device would be utilised to collect them. A shredder that has magnetic drums can also be used to collect all ferrous metals. Once all ferrous metals are collected, they will then be melted to a liquid state before purifying them. Consequently, the purified ferrous metals will be compacted for them to transform into solid blocks or beams for another process of manufacturing new metal products and equipment.

Ferrous metals can also be subjected to recasting and redrawing processes, which would totally depend on the recycling centre. But no matter what the recycling process is, recycling ferrous metals is undoubtedly one great way of helping the environment preserve metal materials, reduce energy consumption, and eliminate the emission of toxic elements.

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