Non Ferrous Scrap Metal Recycling

Brass and bronze are both metal alloys, which means they are a combination of two or more different metals. Brass is composed of copper and zinc, whereas bronze is made up of copper and tin, sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus or aluminium added in.

Here is a summary of the different grades of brass and bronze:

• Mixed Brass
• Brass Borings
• Clean brass & copper radiators
• Gun Metal
• Phosphor Bronze

	Mixed Brass Brass Mixed consist of mixed yellow brass solids which include brass castings, rolled brass, rod brass, tubing and miscellaneous yellow brasses. Brass Mixed must be free of manganese-bronze, aluminium bronze, unsweated radiators or radiator parts, iron, and excessively dirty and corroded materials.
	Brass Borings Brass borings are also known as brass swarf. These are the leftover shavings that you will find from machine brass block cuttings. The shavings are normally too small to be reused.
	Clean Brass & Copper Radiators Brass and copper radiators are used in the automotive industry. The brazing of copper-brass radiators uses a non-toxic, low temperature melting alloy that works well in either a conventional vacuum brazing furnace that is back filled with nitrogen, or in a CAB furnace (an electrically heated furnace containing a nitrogen atmosphere). Brazed copper-brass radiators can be tailored to fit the diverse cooling requirements of the world’s automakers.
	Gun Metal Gun metal is an alloy of 88% copper, 10% tin and 2% zinc. It is cast or machined for use in valves, gears and other parts. It is a dark gray with a bluish or purplish tinge.
	Phosphor Bronze Phosphor Bronze is a copper alloy which contains copper, tin and phosphorous. The phosphorous bronze contains between 0.5 and 11% tin and 0.01 to 0.35% phosphorous. Alloyed tin increases the corrosion resistance and strength of copper, while phosphorus increases its wear resistance and stiffness.

Cables are insulated wire housed in a protective casing to send electricity or telecommunication signals. Cables can contain numerous metals but copper is the most common metal used. Aluminium and steel are also used in cables but have a lower conductivity than copper. Electrical devices contain a cable that conducts an electrical current. There is a range of items that will contain electrical cables from, tv’s, fridges, microwaves, hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, computers and telephones.

Here is a summary of the different grades of cable:

• Low Grade Armoured Cable
• Vir Household Cable
• Single Cable

	Low Grade Armoured Cable Low grade armoured cable is made up of conjoined strands of copper which have been covered by ferrous metal armour. These cables are bulkier than other grades of scrap cable due to the amount of material used to protect their copper content.
	Vir Household Cable Vir is household cable that come form household appliances. For example kitchen appliances and electrical goods.
	Single Core Single Core is a cable of a single strand and it must contain 60% copper.

Scrap copper is one of the most valuable recyclable wastes. Many businesses in the UK gain extra profit from sending their copper waste to trusted scrap collectors. Scrap copper sells for high prices since they can be reused and re-purposed without altering the metal’s quality. In fact, around 80 per cent of all copper used today is recycled and re-purposed. Scrap copper can normally be classified as either just copper metal or copper cable.

Here is a summary of the different types of scrap copper

• Dry Bright Copper
• Greasy Bright Copper
• No 2 Burnt Copper Wire
• Heavy Copper
• New Copper Tube
• Braziery Copper
• Electro Plated Copper
• Copper Air Wire
• Copper Tanks
• Grey Braziery
• Pyro Cable/Plastic Pyro

	Dry Bright Copper The most valuable type of scrap copper is bare bright copper. This uncoated and unalloyed copper is stripped off insulation, paint and other impurities, making it easy to reuse or recycle.
	Greasy Bright Copper Greasy Bright Copper is very similar to Dry Bright Copper, it is slightly less valuable. Usually sourced from old underground power cable, greasy bright copper often has traces of lead on it.
	No2 Copper Scrap copper that has a dirty appearance falls under the no2 copper grade. To qualify for this category, the material’s copper content should be 94 to 96 per cent. Any unalloyed wire or pipe that has solder, paint, coating and other types of tarnishing falls are classified as no2 copper. Copper fittings with oxidation are generally accepted as long as the damage is not extreme.
	New Copper Tube Copper tubing is most often used for heating systems and as a refrigerant line in HVAC systems. Copper tubing is slowly being replaced by PEX tubing in hot and cold water applications. There are two basic types of copper tubing, soft copper and rigid copper.
	Braziery Copper Braziery Copper consists of copper that are already tinned, soldered, brazed or painted. The copper in this category of scrap often contains items which other grades normally doesn’t have. It should be at least 95% copper and can contain even up to 5% brass. However, it must be free of other iron contaminants.
	Electro Copper In copper electroplating, a metal substrate is placed in an electrolytic bath and an electric current is used to cause copper ions to adhere to the base material’s surface. The result is a thin copper coating on the surface.
	Copper Air Wire Copper is the electrical conductor in many categories of electrical wiring. Copper wire is used in power generation, power transmission, power distribution, telecommunications, electronics circuitry, and countless types of electrical equipment.[5] Copper and its alloys are also used to make electrical contacts. Electrical wiring in buildings is the most important market for the copper industry.[6] Roughly half of all copper mined is used to manufacture electrical wire and cable conductors.
	Copper Tanks Cooper cylinders are manufactured from copper and cocooned in a foam insulating layer, copper cylinders are great at retaining heat, making them the perfect choice for heating, and storing hot water in most domestic properties.
	Grey Braziery Grey Braziery are lead washed copper radiators.
	Pyro Cable/ Plastic Pyro Mineral-insulated copper-clad cable is a variety of electrical cable made from copper conductors inside a copper sheath, insulated by inorganic magnesium oxide powder. The name is often abbreviated to MICC or MI cable, and colloquially known as pyro.

Here is a summery of electric motors that are widely recycled:

• Fridge Motors
• Alternators
• Starter Motors

	Electric Motors Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, usually in the form of rotational motion. Electric motors can be found in any item to provide power. For example washing machines, alternators, microwaves and car engines.
	Fridge Motors The refrigeration compressor is both a motor and a pump that moves the refrigerant through the system. The temperature sensors signal the compressor to start when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises above its set point.
	Alternators Alternators are an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current. These are used to provide cars with the bulk of its electricity and helps recharge the battery.
	Starter Motors Starter motors is a device used to rotate an internal combustion engine so it initiate the engines operation under it’s own power. When an ignition is turned on, the starter motor engages and turns the engine over. It consists of a powerful direct current electric motor.

Stainless Steel is an iron and chromium alloy which contains 10 to 30 percent chromium. It’s resistant to corrosion results from the chromium, which forms a passive film that protects the material and self-heal in the presence of oxygen. It has the best fire resistance of all metallic materials as it does not melt until it reaches a temperature of 1,400 degrees.

Here is a summery of Stainless Steel that is widely recycled:

• 18/8 Stainless Steel Turnings
• 18/8 Stainless Steel Solids
• 316 Stainless Steel Turnings
• 316 Stainless Steel Solids

	18/8 and 316 Stainless Steel Turnings 18/8 and 316 stainless steel turnings are also known as shavings or filings. This is the debris or waste resulting from manufacturing processes that remove layers or parts of the material to produce a finish product.
	18/8 Stainless Steel Solids 18/8 steel is made of 18% chromium and 8% nickel which is added to about 0.8% carbon and roughly 50% iron. The term 18/8 comes from listing the chromium amount as the first number and the nickel as the second. 18/8 is very resistant to corrosion and oxidation, highly durable and fabricated with ease. 18/8 can also been known as 304 grade steel.
	316 Stainless Steel 316 Stainless Steel contains 16% chromium, 10% nickle and 2% molybdenum. The molybdenum gives it improved corrosion resistance and is stronger at elevated temperatures. 316 is durable, clean and easy to fabricate.