Aluminum scrap: standardization

Standardization of aluminum scrap

Levels of standardization

The development of technical specifications and standardization of the processing of aluminum scrap abroad has several levels [1]:

  • international;
  • European;
  • national;
  • individual contracts between individual producers and customers.

Aluminum scrap market generally classified in several characteristics, the main ones are:

  • the chemical composition of metals
  • level of contaminants
  • the physical size and shape
  • degree of homogeneity, i.e. the characteristics of abnormalities within the given technical conditions.

The European standard EN 13920

The European standard EN 13920 It covers all types of aluminum scrap and sets standards for its classification. This standard consists of 16 parts:

  • 1 - general specifications,
  • 2-16 - different types of aluminum scrap.

Specifications ISRI

This classification was developed by the American Institute of Waste and Scrap Recycling Industry (ISRI). Widely used internationally [3]. Classifies scrap and waste of the following materials:

  • non-ferrous metals, including aluminum
  • black metals
  • glass
  • paper
  • electronic products
  • waste tires.

Specifications of National Associations

Many countries have developed in their applicable specifications for aluminum scrap for years. These national specifications take the form of agreements or contracts between the two parties. Usually they are based on a standard classification with additional requirements, that reflect the specific conditions of production as a provider or a scrap recycler, and his customer.

European classification (EN 13920)

  • Concise information presented [2]
  • Chemical composition – in percentage mass fractions.
  • In the figures in brackets – compliance with ISRI classification [3] (see. below).

EN 13920-2 - unalloyed aluminum

  • Suitable metal yield:
    usually 95 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 0.25 %; Fe = 0,4 %; Cu = 0,05 %; Mn = 0,05 %; Mg = 0,05 %; Zn = 0,07 %; Ti = 0,05 %; others, each = 0,05 %

“unalloyed aluminum” [2]
EN 13920-2
(Tablet, Tabloid)

EN 13920-3 - Wires and cables

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 95 %
  • Composition unalloyed aluminum, Max.:
    Si = 0,25 %; Fe = 0,4 %; Cu = 0,05 %; Mn = 0,05 %; Mg = 0,05 %; Zn = 0,07 %; Ti = 0,05 %; others, each = 0,03 %
  • The composition of the 6xxx series alloys, Max.:
    Si = 0,6 %; Fe = 0,3 %, with = 0,05 %; Mn = 0,05 %; Mg = 0,06 %; Cr =0,05 %; Zn = 0,07 %, Ti = 0,10 %; others, each = 0,05 %; others, total = 0,15 %

EN 13920-4 - A wrought alloys

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 95 %
  • Composition: chemical composition of the wrought alloy according to EN 573-3 or other registered alloy (in the form profiles, pipe, sheets, forgings)

“A wrought alloys” [2]
EN 13920-4
(Tata, earnings, Treat)

EN 13920-5 - Two or more wrought alloys of the same series

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 88 %
  • Composition for various bases:
    – multi-purpose base
    – 2xxx series database
    – 3xxx series database
    – 5xxx series database
    – 6xxx series base
    – 7xxx series database

EN 13920-6 - Two or more wrought alloys

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 88 %
  • Composition Alloy A, Max.:
    Si = 1,0 %; Fe = 0,80 %; Cu = 0,80 %; Zn = 0,50 %; Ti = 0,20 %; others, each = 0,10 %.
  • The alloy composition, Max.:
    Si = 1,5 %; Fe = 1,2 %; Cu = 1,0 %; Mn = 0,70 %; Mg = 1,0 %; Zn = 0,70 %; Ti = 0,20 %; others, each = 0,15 %.


“Two or more wrought alloys” [2]
EN 13920-6

EN 13920-7 - Foundry scrap

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 90 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 13,5 %; Fe = 1,1 %; Cu = 3,5 %; Mn = 0,5 %; Mg = 0,3 %Ni = 0,3 %; Zn = 1,2 %; Ti = 0,15 %; Pb = 0,2 %; Sn =0,1 %; others, each = 0,15 %.


“foundry scrap” [2]
EN 13920-7
(Tense, Trump, Twist, Troma)

EN 13920-8 - Unsorted crushed scrap (shredded scrap) of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥90 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 9,0 %; Fe = 1,1 %; Cu = 3,5 %; Mn = 0,5 %, Mg = 0,5 %Ni = 0,3 %; Zn = 1,2 %; Ti = 0,15 %; Pb = 0,2 %; Sn = 0,1 %; others, each = 0,15 %.


“crushed scrap” (shredded scrap) [2]

EN 13920-9 - Sorted crushed foundry scrap (shredded scrap)

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 90 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 9,0 %; Fe = 1,1 %; Cu = 3.5 %; Mn = 0,5 %; Mg = 0,5 %Ni = 0,3 %; Zn = 1,2 %; Ti = 0,15 %; Pb = 0,2 %; Sn = 0,1 %; others, each = 0,15 %.

EN 13920-10 - B / y aluminum cans

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥88 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 0,3 %; Fe = 0,5 %; Cu = 0,2 %; Mn = 1,1 %; Mg = 1,3 %Ni = 0,01 %; Zn = 0,05 %; Ti = 0,05 %; Pb = 0,01 %; Sn = 0,05 %; others, each = 0,05 %; others, total = 0,15 %


“B / u aluminum cans” [2]
EN 13920-10
(Talcred, Taldon)

EN 13920-11 - Aluminum-copper radiators

  • Good metal yield: not regulated
  • Composition, Max.:
    Fe = 0,7 %; Cu = 40 %; other impurities = 0,2 %; Al = rest

“Aluminum-copper radiators” [2]
EN 13920-11
(Talk, Tally)

EN 13920-12 - Chips one alloy

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥90 %
  • Scrap should be oxidized
  • tolerances composition, Max.:
    0,5 % magnetic iron; 5 % moisture and oils; 3 % small fragments, passing through a sieve No. 20 (after drying).


“Shavings of the alloy” [2]
EN 13920-12
(Teens)

EN 13920-13 - Mixed chip of two or more alloys

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥90 %
  • Scrap should be oxidized
  • tolerances composition, Max.:
    0,5 % gland; 5 % moisture and oils; 3 % small fragments, passing through a sieve No. 20 (after drying).

EN 13920-14 - B / y aluminum packaging

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 28 %
    Composition, Max.:
    Si = 1,0 %; Fe = 1,0 %; Cu = 2,5 %; Mn = 0,4 %; Mg = 0,2 %; Zn = 0,8 %; Pb+Sn = 0,2 %; others, each = 0,1 %.


“Old aluminum packaging” [2]
EN 13920-14
(Tesla, Tetra)

EN 13920-15 - Old aluminum packaging with coating removal

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 80 %
  • Composition, Max.:
    Si = 1.0 %; Fe = 1,0 %; Cu = 2,5 %; Mn = 0,4 %; Mg = 0,2 %; Zn = 0,8 %; Pb+Sn = 0,2 %, other, each = 0,1 %.


“Old aluminum packaging with coating removal” [2]
EN 13920-15
(Terse)

EN 13920-16 - Aluminum dross, skimmings, spills, etc.. P.

  • Suitable metal yield:
    ≥ 30 %
  • Scrap shall be free of moisture and other foreign materials, such as refractories, stones, plastics and wood.


“aluminum dross, skimmings, splashes and etc.” [2]
EN 13920-16
(Thirl)

American classification (ISRI)

Brief information on the categories of aluminum scrap according to the ISRI classification [3]:

  • Tablet – Blank aluminum lithographic plates:
    – brand 1xxx series aluminum and / or aluminum 3xxx series alloys
  • Tabloid – New blank aluminum lithographic plates:
    – brand 1xxx series aluminum and / or aluminum 3xxx series alloys
  • Taboo – The combined trimming and aluminum pieces with a low content of copper
  • Taint – Pure mixed scrap b / a sheet of aluminum
  • Take – Net trimming sheet for manufacturing aluminum cans
  • Talc – B / y aluminum cans
  • Talcred – Crushed b / y aluminum cans
  • Taldack – Compressed b / y aluminum cans
  • Taldon – B / y aluminum cans in bales
  • Taldork – B / y aluminum cans into briquettes
  • Tale – Painted sheets facing siding
  • Talk – Pure aluminum-copper radiators
  • Tall – Trim pieces of electrical or aluminum
  • Tally – All aluminum automotive radiators
  • Talon – New wires and cables of electrical grades of aluminum
  • Tann – Mixed scrap from new wires and cables:
    to 10 % 6xxx series alloys
  • A Tarry – Pure aluminum pistons:
    – oils and lubricants - to 2 %
  • Tarry B – Pure aluminum pistons with steel parts:
    – oils and lubricants - to 2 %
  • Tarry C – Aluminum pistons with steel parts
  • Tassel – Mixed used wires and cables:
    to 10 % 6xxx series alloys
  • Taste - B / y of wire and cables from electrical grades of aluminum
  • Tata – Process wastes aluminum extrusions
  • This – Extruded aluminum profiles "10/10":
    new / used alloy profiles 6063
    – may include: to 10 % painted profiles and to 10 % profiles of alloy 6061
  • Tutu – Extruded aluminum profiles:
    b / in the profiles of one of the alloys 6063, 6061 or 7075
  • Teens – Drilling and turnings of aluminum alloy
  • Telic – Combined drilling and turnings of two or more aluminum alloys
  • Tense – Mixed aluminum castings
  • Tepid – Airborne aluminum sheets
  • Terse – New aluminum foil:
    1xxx series alloys, 3xxx and 8xxx
  • Tesla – Used aluminum foil:
    1xxx series alloys, 3xxx and 8xxx
  • Tetra – New aluminum coated foil
  • Thigh – Shredded aluminum (grinding product)
  • Thirl – aluminum dross, spills, straits, cake from the walls of furnaces and channels, etc..
  • Throb - Fused Aluminum:
    aluminum scrap, melted in a convenient form for transportation
  • Tooth - Technological waste in the form of segments and pieces of aluminum alloy
  • Tough - Mixed technological waste in the form of segments and two or more pieces of aluminum alloys
  • Tread - Sorted new aluminum castings, Forgings and profiles
  • Troma - Aluminum Wheels
  • Trump - Aluminum casting automobile
  • Twang - Isolated aluminum wires
  • Twirl - Shredded aircraft aluminum scrap:
    series aluminum alloys, 2xxx and 7xxx
  • Twist - Aluminum castings aircraft
  • Twitch - shredded aluminum scrap, sorted by flotation from automobile scrap
  • Tweak – Drobeny aluminum scrap, sorted “dry” methods of automobile scrap
  • Twire - Calcined aluminum scrap

Sources:

1. End-of-waste Criteria for Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Scrap: Technical Proposals /L. Muchová and P. Eder – European Commission, 2010

2. https://www.atm-recyclingsystems.com

3. Scrap Specifications Circular – Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. – 2018

Details on recycling aluminum scrap:

Handbook of aluminium recycling /Ch. Schmitz – 2014

Aluminium recycling /M. Schlesinger – 2017