Before you decide to participate in scrap metal recycling to save the earth’s resources, it’s crucial to know about the various scrap metal classifications, types, and grades. Without having in-depth knowledge about scrap metal, recycling will be useless and irrelevant.
Most consumers think that scrap metal is waste. But the truth is – it’s more precious than what you can even think of and has become a critical commodity in the current market scenario. Hence, in this extensive guide, we’ll be sharing everything you need to know about scrap metal classifications.
The Classifications of Scrap Metal
According to a well-known wrecking yard in Sydney, scrap metal can be classified into the following two types:
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Ferrous Metal
Ferrous metals are those that have iron content in them. As a result, ferrous metals are attracted by magnets. Some common items that are made from ferrous metal are – ovens, refrigerators, cast iron skillets, cars and so on.
It should be learned that ferrous metals also have an extremely high carbon content, making them highly prone to corrosion or rusting, thereby making them obsolete over time.
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Non-Ferrous Metal
Alternatively, non-ferrous metal doesn’t contain any iron, which means that they’re not attracted by magnets. Moreover, they’re also rust or corrosion-resistant compared to ferrous metals. Non-ferrous metals are mostly used in building and construction applications, such as roofing, gutters, electrical and piping equipment.
Some of the samples of non-ferrous metals include – gold, brass, tin, lead and zinc. The common properties of non-ferrous metals are that they’re lightweight and malleable. Thus, non-ferrous metals are ideal for aircraft construction purposes.
The Types Of Scrap Metal
The most sought-after types of scrap metal in today’s market are:
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Brass
Brass is a very common household metal. You can find brass present in your brass-plated crockery, doorknobs and even in old bed frames.
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Aluminum
Aluminum is also a very common scrap metal and is also one of the highest recycled metals. Aluminium can be found in food wrap aluminum foils, soda or soft drink cans, storm windows, screen door frames and many more.
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Carbide
In case you have household tools, then you’ll notice the presence of carbide in the drill bits or tool bits. Thus, by recycling older tools, you’ll be recycling carbide indirectly.
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Copper
The third most utilized metal in the world is copper. It’s used for manufacturing different items and is used in the construction industry too. Copper is deemed to be highly sought-after & valuable. You can find copper in most of your household items such as electrical wiring, appliances, home décor, plumbing, kitchen pots and the like.
Lastly, if you desire to know more about scrap metal recycling, be sure to connect with our specialists today.
