Zurik, a type of steel scrap, is primarily composed of stainless steel, with insulation copper wire, aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel, tin, and zinc. The percentage of each metal in the scrap is determined through negotiation between the buyer and seller. Since the scrap has undergone magnetic separation, it contains almost no iron impurities. The stainless steel composition is mainly 200 and 304 series.
Zurik is typically sourced from automobile shredding facilities or other mixed metal shredding processing systems. After the scrap has undergone magnetic separation, eddy current separation, and screening, it becomes Zurik. Due to the small size of the metal fragments and their mixture with non-metallic materials, further processing is required to separate and recover valuable metals.
Major automobile shredding facilities in the United States and Europe are primary sources of Zurik, with smaller exports from other countries.
The primary value of Zurik lies in its stainless steel content, followed by the copper wire. The stainless steel is mainly composed of 200 and 304 series, with a small amount of 316 series. The 200 series stainless steel is a manganese-substituted nickel, with elemental composition: chromium (Cr) 16% - 18%, nickel (Ni) 3.5% - 5.5%, and manganese (Mn) 5.5% - 7.5%. The 304 series is the most common austenitic stainless steel, with elemental composition: chromium (Cr) 18% - 20%, nickel (Ni) 8% - 10.5%, and manganese (Mn) up to 2%. The 316 series stainless steel is used for producing cutlery, cookware, or medical equipment, and due to the addition of molybdenum (Mo), it has better corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides, making it suitable for marine and chemical industrial environments. Its elemental composition is primarily chromium (Cr): 16% - 18%, nickel (Ni): 10% - 14%, molybdenum (Mo): 2% - 3%, and manganese (Mn): up to 2%. As the value of nickel, chromium, and molybdenum far exceeds that of steel, a higher percentage of 200 series results in lower value, while a higher percentage of 304 or 316 series results in higher value. Some Indian buyers even require a specified nickel/chromium content, necessitating careful evaluation of the material quality to avoid potential claims.
Copper wire generally has a copper content of around 1/3, making its actual price much higher than that of stainless steel. The copper content is also an important value factor. The actual copper content should not deviate from the agreed value by more than 3%, otherwise, there may be a risk of claims.
Zurik is a mixture of metal fragments, mainly non-ferrous, typically sourced from automobile or other metal product shredding. To separate and process these metal fragments, recycling facilities usually employ a series of technologies and equipment:
1. Magnetic separation: using magnetic separators to separate iron and steel.
2. Eddy current separation: this technology is used to separate non-ferrous metals like aluminum and copper. Eddy current separators use a changing magnetic field to induce an electric current in the metal fragments, generating a magnetic field that causes the non-ferrous metal fragments to be repelled, separating them from other materials.
3. Density separation: certain equipment can separate materials based on their density.
4. Manual sorting: in some cases, manual sorting may be required to further improve the accuracy of separation and to separate high-value materials like coins or precious metals.
5. Screening: using vibrating screens to separate fragments of different sizes.
6. Optical sorting: advanced optical sorting systems can identify different types of metals and use air jets or mechanical arms to separate them.
7. X-ray sorting: advanced X-ray sorting technology can more accurately identify and separate various metals.
Through these processes, the valuable metals in Zurik can be separated and prepared for melting and reuse. These separation processes aim to increase the purity of the metals, making them suitable for subsequent recycling and manufacturing processes while reducing environmental impact.
Sampling detection is the primary method, with the following points to note during the sampling process:
1. Sampling quantity: sampling is a scientific random sampling process, which involves quantitative analysis of the material through manual sorting. It emphasizes the balance between accuracy and efficiency. The larger the sampling quantity, the higher the accuracy, but the lower the efficiency; conversely, the smaller the sampling quantity, the higher the efficiency, but the lower the accuracy. For a container of approximately 25 tons, the usual sampling quantity is 300-500 kg. Below this quantity, the accuracy is too low, and it is difficult to draw conclusions; above this quantity, the efficiency of manual sorting is too low, increasing the burden. Therefore, in sampling detection, it is essential to negotiate a sampling quantity that both parties can accept.
2. Sampling portion: during the storage and transportation of Zurik, the different materials may not be evenly distributed due to their varying weights, sizes, and shapes. The heavier, smaller copper materials may accumulate at the bottom or lower part of the pile, while the larger stainless steel materials may accumulate at the top or upper part. If the sampling process does not ensure uniform sampling across different layers, it may lead to deviations due to differences in the sampling portion.
3. Sampling time: prolonged storage, especially outdoor storage, can lead to metal oxidation and corrosion, affecting the material quality. Therefore, if sampling detection is required, it should be arranged promptly and immediately to minimize storage time. This not only ensures that the detection data is closer to the actual value but also reduces customer losses.
Zurik requires professional mechanical and manual sorting before it can become various recycled metal raw materials. Therefore, it is suitable for buyers who have sorting equipment and manual sorting capabilities, such as processing enterprises. The primary value component of Zurik is stainless steel, and in terms of global prices, India has relatively high prices for stainless steel. However, Indian buyers often require a specified nickel/chromium content, necessitating careful evaluation of the material quality to avoid potential claims.
In addition to India, Thailand has relatively high prices, while other markets have lower prices. There is also Zurik with a higher copper content, which can be matched to markets with high copper prices, such as Thailand and Malaysia. The copper content can be separated and smelted into copper ingots, while the remaining stainless steel is packaged and sold.
