COPPER AND NON-FERROUS METAL

In metallurgy, a non-ferrous metal is a metal, including alloys, that does not contain iron (ferrite) in appreciable amounts. Generally, more costly than ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals are used.
We have specialized in the recycling of copper and its forms, but we are always open to other non-ferrous metals.
Further examples are aluminum, zinc, bronze, brass. Usually the abbreviation “non-ferrous metal” is used for this.

Non-ferrous Metals

Non-ferrous Metals are used in less amount compared to steel, nevertheless they are essential due to their characteristics.

According to their thickness they can be split up into two groups:

  • Light metals (e.g. aluminium, titan) and heavy metals (e.g. copper, zinc, nickel, chrome, lead).

Copper

The extraction of copper is a multi-step process, whereby the effort to be operated depends crucially on the answers to the question of whether the material should be conductive and what degree of purity it must possess.

Characteristics

  • Copper, with its density of 8.9 g / cm3, is one of the heavy metals.
  • Unalloyed copper has a high electrical and thermal conductivity and is therefore used especially as conductor material in electrical engineering or for cooling elements.
  • Due to its good plastic deformation and machinability, copper can be processed excellently into wires, tapes, tubes, profiles, etc.
  • Copper has a very good corrosion resistance.

Titanium

A material that is becoming increasingly important is titanium. With a density of 4.5 g / cm3, titanium is still one of the light metals. It has high strength and excellent corrosion resistance. Pure titanium and titanium alloys are often used in the aerospace industry, in medical technology for the manufacture of implants and in chemical apparatus engineering. Disadvantages, however, are that the material reduces its strength properties under continuous load at higher temperatures. Likewise, the processing of titanium is problematic because welding is possible only in a vacuum or under protective gas.