What is Copper Scrap?
What is Copper Scrap? https://www.metalscrapmusaffah.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/copper-scrap.jpg 800 450 admin https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/af9b0c1d0572f086990bdc8fcd1a7676?s=96&d=mm&r=gCopper Scrap
The economy of the copper scrap and copper alloy industry depends on the economic recycling of any surplus products. Process scrap, which arises from manufacturing processes is saved and traded for recycling to keep down the cost of the final product. On average, about 40% of all production is obtained from recycled metal. For a few products, the proportion is more than 90%. Recycling copper and copper alloys are relatively cheap, with small power consumption, and with minimal losses. The recycling of copper and its alloys play a significant role in the economics of production, which has been undertaken since the beginning of the copper industry. The cost of the raw material can be considerably reduced if an alloy can be made using recycled material. If the scrap is high purity copper and has not been contaminated by other metals, it can be used to make a high-quality product. Likewise, if the scrap is kept segregated and comprises only of one alloy composition it is easier to re-melt to a superior quality product conforming to industry standards.
Types / Grades of Copper Scrap
Different grades and varieties of copper scrap are used for recycling purposes and to recover pure copper from the scrap. Given in the table below are some of the important grades/types of copper used in recycling.
Applications
Copper has a variety of attributes that make it useful in so many applications today. The metal is a highly efficient conductor of heat and electricity, in addition to its being flexible, durable, strong, and resistant to corrosion. Metal has been a key to many of the technological advancements of man, the most important being electricity and telegraphic communications. The other important applications of copper metal include its uses in heating, plumbing, air conditioning, brass fittings, roofing, and in the production of various products, which now we take for granted – Radio, television, lighting, computers, mobile phones, etc. All these products require copper wiring, adapters, electrical leads, transformers, and motors. Several copper compounds and chemicals are also used to protect crops and plants to preserve the wood.
Copper Production
In particular, copper is not a rare metal and is produced in several countries across the world. The graphical representation shows the geographical distribution of the primary supply of copper metal. At present, the total supply of copper is made up of two sources, the bulk, 88%, comes from the primary production, which is new copper mined from the ground, however growing importance is of secondary supply that accounts for 12% of the total refined supply of copper. Secondary supply comes from the recycling of copper scrap.
The primary supply comprises mining copper ores that typically come in two forms, copper sulfides or copper oxides. The ore can be processed by one of two methods, which depend on the type of ore mined. Copper sulfide ore is first concentrated, then smelted, and then refined, each of these stages is a distinct process and can be undertaken at a different location.
Future Outlook
The recycling of copper is primarily market-driven across the world and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future, with the recycling sector consistently gaining strength. This strength, however, is typically a reflection of the consistently increasing consumption of metals and production of waste. As long as this is the case, the prices of scrap will remain high and the recycling rates should see at least a marginal improvement every year.
The governments in several countries have played an important role in the past where there is excessive production of waste in a sector or region, where human health risk is contemplated, or where international obligations necessitate action.
- Copper Scrap Recycling – Associations
- Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association
- Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
- Australian Metal Recycling Industry Association
- Copper Development Association
