What is scrap copper?

Scrap copper is the copper discarded after production and utilization, but it is a metal product with high recycling value and can be recycled. In fact, most metals can be recycled. But copper, as the third metal, is more important.

There are three types of waste copper produced by consumers after use

1. Primary copper scrap

Such as substandard anode, cathode and blank, anode scrap. These wastes cannot be further processed or sold. They are usually returned to the previous process. Substandard copper is usually returned to the converter or anode furnace for electrorefining. Defective billets are remelted and recast. In general, copper scrap has been recycled without "going out of the house", and generally does not enter the copper scrap market.

2. New scrap copper

New copper scrap refers to new scrap or copper scrap produced in the factory. This kind of scrap copper is produced in the process of processing. The main difference between it and primary scrap copper is that it may have been doped in the process of alloying or covering. The quantity of new copper scrap is similar to that of copper products, because no production process can achieve 100% efficiency.

The treatment of new copper scrap depends on its chemical composition and its combination with other materials. The simplest method is internal recovery, which is a common practice in the casting process. Only remelting and recasting are needed. Direct recycling has the following advantages: maintaining the amount of alloying elements (such as zinc or tin) added. If it is fed into the furnace, the alloying elements will be lost. The cost of removing alloying elements is reduced. If copper is reprocessed in the furnace, alloying elements must be removed.

Similar treatment is used for scrap copper pipe and uncoated copper wire.

3. Old copper scrap

Old copper scrap refers to abandoned, used or (production enterprise) external generated copper scrap. It comes from products that have reached their useful life. Old copper scrap is a huge potential resource that can be recycled, but it is also difficult to deal with.

According to the different content of copper in copper scrap, copper scrap can be divided into three types

1.1 scrap copper. The minimum copper content is 99% and the minimum diameter or thickness is 1.6 mm. No. 1 scrap copper includes cable, "heavy" scrap copper (cutting chips, punching chips, bus poles) and wire nodules.

2.2 scrap copper. The minimum copper content of this scrap is 96%, which appears in the form of line, heavy scrap or nodule, and contains several other limitations.

3. Low copper. The lowest copper content of this kind of copper scrap is 92%, and its composition is mainly pure copper. The surface of pure copper is covered by paint or coating (drainage pipe, nozzle) or has been seriously oxidized (boiler, teapot). It usually contains a small amount of copper alloy.

4. Refined brass products. This type includes mixed alloy scrap copper with various compositions, and its minimum copper content is 61.3%, with less other restrictions.

5. Waste containing copper. This type includes all raw materials with low copper content, such as scum, sludge, slag, return material, powder and other wastes.