Steel recycling conserves resources and energy. Sorting scrap types before melting lets recycling facilities recover the highest value. This article outlines steps in preprocessing scrap including ferrous sorting, shearing, baling, and grading. Maximizing value makes recycling economically viable.
Ferrous Metal Sorting and Shearing Large Parts
The first step is separating steel from other metals like aluminum or copper. Magnetic separation identifies ferrous scrap quickly. Non-magnetic items get sorted for alternate recycling streams. Steel recycling factories only accept scrap over 5% non-ferrous content. The first step is sorting ferrous (iron-containing) metals from non-ferrous materials like aluminum, copper, etc. Ferrous scrap is the primary focus for steel mills.
Shearing breaks apart oversized auto bodies or large demolition pieces to uniform size. Hydraulic shears cut through steel easily. Shearing exposes more surface area for fast melting. It protects furnaces from jams too. The resulting pieces measure 6×6 inches for efficient steel recycling. Large structural pieces may need to be cut or sheared into more manageable sizes to fit processing equipment downstream. This prepares the material for baling.
Baling, Grading, and Testing
Sheared scrap gets compressed into bales weighing 800-1000 pounds each for easy handling. Static balers form bales by binding straps or wire. Mobile balers work on demolition sites directly. Baling lets scrap density match furnace charging capacity. Steel scrap is compressed and baled to increase density and ease of handling. Baling creates uniform bundles that are easier for scrap yards and mills to handle.
Steel recyclers sort bales by grade using magnetic properties or chemical tests. Different steel alloys attract various selling prices. Higher grades contain fewer impurities like coatings or metals mixed into the steel scrap. Testing guides downstream processing for maximum material recovery. Bales are graded based on steel type, purity, thickness, etc. Samples may be tested in a lab to determine qualities like carbon content valued by buyers.
Scrap Processing Yards and Steel Mills
Decluttering construction sites or shredding end-of-life vehicles produces mixed scrap needing processing. Ferrous separators isolate valuable steel in yards. Sheared, baled scrap is then assayed and priced before selling to steel mills. Central sorting maximizes output value from diffuse scrap sources. Yards densify and further prepare bales for steel mills, removing contaminants through shears, magnets, and eddy current separators.
Scrap arrives at integrated mills or scrap yards for recycling. Furnaces precisely blend scrap grades to achieve desired alloy compositions in new steel production. Pre-processing readies scrap logistically and chemically for highly efficient melting furnaces to turn into liquid steel. Mills re-melt scrap in electric arc furnaces to manufacture new steel products. High-quality, properly sorted scrap yields the best value.
Conclusion
Maximizing value starts with thorough sorting and preparation at the collection source to meet downstream processing needs. Contact a scrap hauler for help with pre-processing for optimal recycling results. Careful steel scrap pre-processing through sorting, size reduction, baling, and grading recovers maximum value from recycled material. Upfront work optimizes furnace operations and enables accurate testing for precise alloy production. Proper pretreatment connects the loop between scrap generation and new steel output to sustain steel as a perpetual recyclable resource.