Nonferrous Metal

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Copper is a mineral and an element essential to our daily lives. Copper ranks as the third-most-consumed metal in the world after iron and aluminum, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Because of its high ductility, malleability, thermal and electrical conductivity and its resistance to corrosion, it is a highly consumed nonferrous metal.  

From soda cans to ladders from electrical wire to automobile rims; countless products are made of Aluminum. Aluminum is used in the manufacturing industry because of its lightweight characteristics, resistance to rust, its heat dissipation, and is the worlds most abundant metal. 

 Brass has an unmistakable color and sheen. It is used to manufacture countless everyday items ranging from plumbing to figurines to serving dishes. It even serves an important part in plumbing and electrical components due to the resistance to rust. It can be manipulated in the manufacturing process by changing the mixture of zinc and copper, which are the main elements brass is made from.  

Industries have used stainless steel to construct skyscrapers, memorials, and even kitchen utensils since the 1990s.   Stainless steel is especially valuable in the nuclear power and aerospace industries because it has a high temperature oxidation resistance. While it has a much higher resistance than many other metals, stainless steel still expands and contracts when the temperature varies.  

The main function of a Catalytic Converter is to convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions before they ever leaving the car’s­ exhaust system. They were introduced in vehicles as a standard in 1975 in response to laws regarding cars and pollution. It works by using a catalyst material, usually made of Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium. 

Batteries became an indispensable part of our daily lives during the 20th Century.  Lead acid batteries pose a potential threat to human health and the environment if improperly discarded. The two main components of these batteries are sulfuric acid and lead.   

Copper has been the first choice for electrical wiring since the invention of the telegraph and electromagnet in the 1820s. Copper is an ideal material to use in electrical wiring  high tensile strength and ductility, excellent flow characteristics, corrosion resistance, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, solderability and ease with which it can be installed.  

This type of wire must have a 75% copper yield or higher. It must be 14 gauge or larger as a solid strand, or 12 gauge or larger as a stranded wire. It does NOT need to be stripped of its insulation. The actual copper inside must not be plated and is unalloyed. 

This type of wire must have a 50-90% copper yield. The most common types of this wire are Cat 5 and Cat 6 phone wire. The stranded electrical wires that are smaller than 12 gauge will also fall into this category.