4 Main Steps Used in Ferrous Steel Recycling Processes

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The idea of recycling metal and plastic is slowly gaining popularity. As landfills continue to choke on the increasing mass of waste, recycling seems to be the most viable solution. Ferrous steel can be recycled severally without compromising its properties and quality. Rather than depleting the earth its natural resources, you may decide to join the campaign to support the recycling industry. But first, you need to learn more about ferrous steel recycling processes. This piece will cover some of the main steps used to recycle metal.

1. Collection and Sorting

Scrap metal is often sold in scrap yards. Materials such as old vehicles, consumer metal scrap, farm equipment, and tools are mainly good sources of scrap metal. Once transported to the factory, employees will sort the metals.

Since ferrous steel is magnetic, workers can use detectors and magnets to make the separation process quicker and easier. Sorters may also examine colors and weight for further separation. For instance, steel will be silver and heavy while brass is red.

2. Initial Processing

After separating ferrous steel metals from the rest of the junk, they will be taken through a shredder. Here, the metals are cut into tiny pieces or blocks that increase the surface area to volume ratio. This should make melting easier and reduce energy consumption. It also reduces the time used to cover the melting process.

After shredding the metals into tiny pieces, they will be taken to a large heating stove for melting. However, it is important to note that the energy used to melt these metals is considerably lower than when extracting virgin steel ores.

3. Refining

The molten metal will then be transferred into a refinement chamber. Recycled metals retain their high-quality standards due to this stage. Certain methods such as electrolysis will take out any contaminants in the metals before proceeding to the final phase.

After refining the melted metal, it is transferred via a conveyor belt into a cooling chamber. Here, molten steel is poured into various molds. The metals will assume the shape of the molds after cooling and solidifying.

4. Delivery to the Market

The chances are high that you are using materials made from recycled metal. After cooling, they are ready to be transported to the market for consumer use. Recycled steel is often applied in the construction industry, automobile manufacture, and small household items. When these products end their lifespan, they are then collected and recycled again to produce new products.

Ferrous steel recycling is a sustainable process that gives natural resources time to rejuvenate. If you have been thinking about joining this great cause, contact the experts to learn more and participate in the process.

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6 August 2021

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