AC (alternating current) motor

Motors can be classified into two categories based on the material of the coil: copper/aluminum motors.
Common motor coils are made of purple copper material, with an outer layer of insulated paint. However, some low-end motors may use aluminum wire with a paint coating, making it difficult to accurately determine the material from the appearance. In most cases, the coil needs to be checked after removing the outer casing.
Motors can also be classified into two categories based on the material of the outer casing: aluminum/iron casing motors.
Aluminum casing motors can be disassembled to obtain about 7% broken aluminum casing, which can be sold as relatively clean broken aluminum raw materials. The price of aluminum casing motors is relatively high due to the high value of aluminum.
Motors can also be classified into two categories based on the type of energy: AC/DC motors.
DC motors have a higher copper content due to the presence of a commutator. AC motors, on the other hand, have a higher output power and are more stable, making them more suitable for large equipment and industrial applications.

Motors are widely used in various agricultural, industrial, and living environments, and the output of scrap motors is mainly distributed in areas with high population density and industrial concentration. Globally, countries such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea are major producers of scrap motors. Due to the high labor costs required for processing and recycling scrap motors, these countries mainly export their scrap motors.

Hybrid motors are a combination of different sizes and specifications of motors, and the copper content varies depending on the size. For example, small DC motors have a higher copper content, and small motors are mostly made of iron casing, which has a higher value.
The copper content of small, medium, and large motors decreases in sequence. The higher the proportion of small motors in a hybrid motor, the higher its value.

The processing of scrap motors mainly involves mechanical crushing and manual disassembly.
1. Remove the outer casing
This step can be done mechanically or manually. Manual removal of the outer casing involves methods such as hammering and oxygen cutting. This step can produce disassembled motors, broken aluminum, and broken iron, which can be sold or used for production.
2. Separate and disassemble the coil
Next, separate the remaining parts of the motor into a stator and rotor, and then use cutting tools to remove the coil from the stator and rotor. The disassembled rotor shaft (made of 20Mn5Cr manganese steel) and stator casing can be sold separately.
3. Process the coil
The coil can be processed in different ways depending on the requirements, equipment, and export direction. Some processing plants can sell the coil directly, while others may need to burn off the insulation or crush it into copper particles.